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 tronger and more natural Motive will appear in the next Chapter.

Thee Solicitations were nevertheles unuccesful: For tho’ Mr. Allworthy did not think, with ome late Writers, that Mercy conits only in punihing Offenders; yet he was as far from thinking that it is proper to this excellent Quality to pardon great Criminals wantonly, without any Reaon whatever. Any Doubtfulnes of the Fact, or any Circumtance of Mitigation was never diregarded; but the Petitions of an Offender, or the Interceions of others, did not in the leat affect him. In a word, he never pardoned, becaue the Offender himelf, or his Friends, were unwilling that he hould be punihed.

Partridge and his Wife were therefore both obliged to ubmit to their Fate; which was indeed evere enough: For o ar was he from doubling his Indutry on the account of his leened Income, that he did in a manner abandon himelf to depair; and as he was by Nature indolent, that Vice now increaed upon him, by which means he lot the little School he had; o that neither his Wife nor himelf wou!d have had any Bread to eat, had not the Charity of ome good Chritian inter-