Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/194

 would by no means have Mr. Allworthy take any Reolution either to the Prejudice of the Child or its Father, before he was atisfied that the latter was guilty: For tho’ he had privately atisfied himelf of this from one of Partridge’s Neighbours, yet he was too generous to give any uch Evidence to Mr. Allworthy.  The Trial of Partridge, the Schoolmater, for Incontinency; The Evidence of his Wife; A hort Reflection on the Widom of our Law; with other grave Matters, which thoe will like bet who undertand them mot.

T may be wondered that a Story o well known, and which had furnihed o much Matter of Converation, hould never have been mentioned to Mr. Allworthy himelf, who was perhaps the only Peron in that Country who had never heard of it.

To account in ome meaure for this to the Reader, I think proper to inform him that there was no one in the Kingdom les intereted in oppoing that Doctrine con-