The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

Along the ongoing journey, Matthew Bramble realizes he is close to the estate belonging to his friend, Mr. Baynard. Matthew decides to visit Baynard, but immediately senses that something is wrong at the estate: “[T]he tall oaks that shaded the avenue, had been cut down, and the iron gates at the end of it removed” (285). Matthew quickly figures out what has gone wrong: Baynard married a vain and superficial woman who hates living in the country and spends far beyond their means. As a result, Baynard and his family have lived an unsettled life, and they spend more money than they have. Matthew describes how Baynard has more or less given up on trying to assert any authority within his family: “[H]e has long resigned all views of improving his fortune by management and attention to the exercise of husbandry […] and as to domestic happiness, not the least glimpse of hope remains to amuse his imagination” (290).

Baynard and his wife have one son, who is rude and uneducated; he gropes Lydia during the visit, and she responds by hitting him. Matthew is so concerned for Baynard that he makes his friend promise to let him help with managing his finances.