wives in the world. However, heaven be praised, shes gone; and if I believed she was in the moon, according
to a book I once read, which teaches that to be the receptacle of departed spirits, I would never look at
it for fear of seeing her; but I wish, sir, that the moon was a looking-glass for your sake, and that Miss
Sophia Western was now placed before it. My dear Partridge, cries Jones, what a thought was there!
A thought which I am certain could never have entered into any mind but that of a lover. O Partridge!
could I hope once again to see that face; but, alas! all those golden dreams are vanished for ever, and
my only refuge from future misery is to forget the object of all my former happiness. And do you really
despair of ever seeing Miss Western again? answered Partridge; if you will follow my advice I will engage
you shall not only see her but have her in your arms. Ha! do not awaken a thought of that nature,
cries Jones: I have struggled sufficiently to conquer all such wishes already. Nay, answered Partridge,
if you do not wish to have your mistress in your arms you are a most extraordinary lover indeed. Well,
well, says Jones, let us avoid this subject; but pray what is your advice? To give it you in the military
phrase, then, says Partridge, as we are soldiers, To the right about. Let us return the way we came; we
may yet reach Gloucester to-night, though late; whereas, if we proceed, we are likely, for aught I see, to
ramble about for ever without coming either to house or home. I have already told you my resolution is
to go on, answered Jones; but I would have you go back. I am obliged to you for your company hither; and
I beg you to accept a guinea as a small instance of my gratitude. Nay, it would be cruel in me to suffer
you to go any farther; for, to deal plainly with you, my chief end and desire is a glorious death in the
service of my king and country. As for your money, replied Partridge, I beg, sir, you will put it up; I will
receive none of you at this time; for at present I am, I believe, the richer man of the two. And as your
resolution is to go on, so mine is to follow you if you do. Nay, now my presence appears absolutely
necessary to take care of you, since your intentions are so desperate; for I promise you my views are
much more prudent; as you are resolved to fall in battle if you can, so I am resolved as firmly to come
to no hurt if I can help it. And, indeed, I have the comfort to think there will be but little danger; for a
popish priest told me the other day the business would soon be over, and he believed without a battle.
A popish priest! cries Jones, I have heard is not always to be believed when he speaks in behalf of
his religion. Yes, but so far, answered the other, from speaking in behalf of his religion, he assured
me the Catholicks did not expect to be any gainers by the change; for that Prince Charles was as good
a Protestant as any in England; and that nothing but regard to right made him and the rest of the popish
party to be Jacobites.I believe him to be as much a Protestant as I believe he hath any right, says
Jones; and I make no doubt of our success, but not without a battle. So that I am not so sanguine as
your friend the popish priest. Nay, to be sure, sir, answered Partridge, all the prophecies I have ever
read speak of a great deal of blood to be spilt in the quarrel, and the miller with three thumbs, who is
now alive, is to hold the horses of three kings, up to his knees in blood. Lord, have mercy upon us all,
and send better times! With what stuff and nonsense hast thou filled thy head! answered Jones: this
too, I suppose, comes from the popish priest. Monsters and prodigies are the proper arguments to support
monstrous and absurd doctrines. The cause of King George is the cause of liberty and true religion. In
other words, it is the cause of common sense, my boy, and I warrant you will succeed, though Briarius
himself was to rise again with his hundred thumbs, and to turn miller. Partridge made no reply to this.
He was, indeed, cast into the utmost confusion by this declaration of Jones. For, to inform the reader
of a secret, which he had no proper opportunity of revealing before, Partridge was in truth a Jacobite,
and had concluded that Jones was of the same party, and was now proceeding to join the rebels. An
opinion which was not without foundation. For the tall, long-sided dame, mentioned by Hudibrasthat
many-eyed, many-tongued, many-mouthed, many-eared monster of Virgil, had related the story of the
quarrel between Jones and the officer, with the usual regard to truth. She had, indeed, changed the
name of Sophia into that of the Pretender, and had reported, that drinking his health was the cause for
which Jones was knocked down. This Partridge had heard, and most firmly believed. Tis no wonder,
therefore, that he had thence entertained the above-mentioned opinion of Jones; and which he had almost
discovered to him before he found out his own mistake. And at this the reader will be the less inclined
to wonder, if he pleases to recollect the doubtful phrase in which Jones first communicated his resolution
to Mr. Partridge; and, indeed, had the words been less ambiguous, Partridge might very well have construed
them as he did; being persuaded as he was that the whole nation were of the same inclination in their