diff -u ajax-orig.js ajax.js
--- ajax-orig.js        2007-04-12 12:27:36.000000000 -0700
+++ ajax.js      2007-05-07 09:18:19.000000000 -0700
@@ -708,6 +708,10 @@
                                if(s.async )
                                        xml = null;
                        }
+                       else if (xml && xml.readyState == 3){
+                               if (s.partial)
+                                       s.partial( xml, 'partial' );
+                       }
                };
 
                // don't attach the handler to the request, just poll it instead

I have a demo, it just shows the count of characters.

But kills opera with the over 4meg ajax load, works fine in FF 2 & Safari.

http://jpassoc.com/Library.html

$(function(){

	$.ajax(
		{type: "GET"

		,url: '/cat.cgi?Library.xml'

		,complete:function(r){
			var t = r.responseText

			$('#status').text('loaded')

			var v = t.substr(0,500) + '…'
			$('#msg').text(v)

		 }
		,
partial:function(r){
			var t = r.responseText

			$('#status').html(t.length)

		 }
		})

});