IF, after the dissolution of a partnership between A. and B., the parties agree that the former shall pay, with his own funds, certain debts of the latter, and certain debts of the firm, in discharge of a note, which, previously to such agreement, had been given by A. to B., 'and the payments be accordingly made, such payments, to the amount of the private *325debts of B., and of half of the partnership debts, thus paid, constitute a good defence to a suit at law on the