 admit the Evidence
of a Wife for or against her Husband. This, says a certain learned Author, who,
I believe, was never quoted before in any but a Law-book, would be the Means of
creating an eternal Dissention between them. It would, indeed, be the Means of
much Perjury, and of much Whipping, Fining, Imprisoning, Transporting, and
Hanging.
    Partridge stood a while silent, till being bid to speak, he said, he had
already spoken the Truth, and appealed to Heaven for his Innocence, and lastly,
to the Girl herself, whom he desired his Worship immediately to send for; for he
was ignorant, or at least pretended to be so, that she had left that Part of the
Country.
    Mr. Allworthy, whose natural Love of Justice, joined to his Coolness of
Temper, made him always a most patient Magistrate in hearing all the Witnesses
which an accused Person could produce in his Defence, agreed to defer his final
Determination of this Matter, till the Arrival of Jenny, for whom he immediately
dispatched a Messenger; and then having recommended Peace between Partridge and
his Wife (tho' he addressed himself chiefly to the wrong Person) he appointed
them to attend again the third Day: For he had sent Jenny a whole Day's Journey
from his own House.
    At the appointed Time the Parties all assembled, when the Messenger
returning brought word, that Jenny was not to be found: For that she had left
her Habitation a few Days before, in company with a recruiting Officer.
    Mr. Allworthy then declared, that the Evidence of such a Slut as she
appeared to be, would have deserved no Credit; but he said he could not help
thinking that had she been present, and would have declared the Truth, she must
have confirmed what so many Circumstances, together with his own Confession, and
the Declaration of his Wife, that she had caught her Husband in the Fact, did
sufficiently prove. He therefore once more exhorted Partridge to confess; but he
still avowing his Innocence, Mr. Allworthy declared himself satisfied of his
Guilt, and that he was too bad a Man to receive any Encouragement from him. He
therefore deprived him of his Annuity, and recommended Repentance to him, on
account of another World, and Industry to maintain himself and his Wife in this.
    There were not, perhaps, many more unhappy Persons, than poor Partridge. He
had lost the best Part of his Income by the Evidence of his Wife, and yet was
daily upbraided by her for having, among other Things, been
