 the supposition
that his wife's nerves were too delicate to bear expostulation; and that it
would only serve to overwhelm her with such distress as would make himself
miserable.
    Baynard is a man of spirit, and had she proved a termagant, he would have
known how to deal with her; but, either by accident or instinct, she fastened
upon the weak side of his soul, and held it so fast, that he has been in
subjection ever since - I afterwards advised him to carry her abroad to France
or Italy, where he might gratify her vanity for half the expence it cost him in
England; and this advice he followed accordingly - She was agreeably flattered
with the idea of seeing and knowing foreign parts, and foreign fashions; of
being presented to sovereigns, and living familiarly with princes. She forthwith
seized the hint which I had thrown out on purpose, and even pressed Mr. Baynard
to hasten his departure; so that in a few weeks they crossed the sea to France,
with a moderate train, still including the aunt; who was her bosom counsellor,
and abetted her in all her opposition to her husband's will - Since that period,
I have had little or no opportunity to renew our former correspondence - All
that I knew of his transactions, amounted to no more than that after an absence
of two years, they returned so little improved in oeconomy, that they launched
out into new oceans of extravagance, which, at length, obliged him to mortgage
his estate - By this time she had bore him three children, of which the last
only survives, a puny boy of twelve or thirteen, who will be ruined in his
education by the indulgence of his mother.
    As for Baynard, neither his own good sense, nor the dread of indigence, nor
the consideration of his children, has been of force sufficient to stimulate him
into the resolution of breaking at once the shameful spell by which he seems
enchanted - With a taste capable of the most refined enjoyment, a heart glowing
with all the warmth of friendship and humanity, and a disposition strongly
turned to the more rational pleasures of a retired and country life, he is
hurried about in a perpetual tumult, amidst a mob of beings pleased with
rattles, baubles, and gew-gaws, so void of sense and distinction, that even the
most acute philosophy would find it a very hard task to discover for what wise
purpose of providence they were created - Friendship is not to be found; nor can
the amusements for which he sighs be enjoyed within the rotation of absurdity,
to which he is
