The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

Jeremy describes the visit to Sir Thomas Bulford; Bulford enjoys playing pranks, and played practical jokes on both Lismahago and a corrupt local judge named Justice Frogmore. While Jeremy was surprised that Lismahago seemed unusually forgiving of Bulford, Lismahago eventually played a prank on Bulford in revenge.

Winifred writes to tell her friend that she will soon be back home. She also predicts that Tabitha is going to marry Lismahago, and explains that she will look for a new job if this happens, since she does not like Lismahago.

Lydia laments that she is tired of travelling and that “nature never intended me for the busy world—I long for repose and solitude” (308). She also shares a recent, upsetting incident: She saw Wilson outside the inn where she and her family are staying. Jeremy also saw Wilson, and Lydia fears that her brother will find Wilson and challenge him to a duel. Lydia wonders if she should confide in her uncle, but doesn’t want to reveal that she has encountered Wilson a number of times during the journey.

Jeremy writes to his friend about a mysterious incident: He and Lydia both saw Wilson passing by near their inn. Jeremy was “equally astonished and incensed” (310), and he sent a servant to follow Wilson and challenge him to a duel. However, when Jeremy showed up for the duel at the appointed location, he met with a man he had never seen before. This man’s name was also Wilson, but he was not the actor who had courted Lydia. Jeremy and this other man parted with “mutual professions of good will and esteem” (311). In light of these mysterious events, Jeremy wonders if Lydia could be carrying on a secret relationship with Wilson, but finds it hard to believe that his virtuous and innocent sister could behave in this way.

Jeremy writes about recent and dramatic events: While the family’s carriage was crossing a river, it was swept away by floodwaters. Jeremy, Lismahago, and Humphry rescued the three women (Lydia, Tabitha, and Winifred); Humphry then pulled Matthew out of the river, but Matthew almost drowned. Matthew praised Humphry for saving him and tried to give him money.

In the aftermath of the accident, the group paused at a nearby inn; the innkeeper summoned a wealthy local man named Dennison, who turned out to be an old friend of Matthew’s. Dennison was a bit confused because he knew Matthew Bramble as Matthew Lloyd, and Matthew explained that he had changed his surname. Humphry was astonished and explained some information about his own past: His mother was unmarried when he was born, and he never met his father, but his mother told him that his father’s name was Matthew Lloyd. She was not able to find her lover after she found out that she was pregnant, and she raised her son alone; Humphry’s name was originally Matthew Lloyd Junior, but he eventually took the name of the blacksmith who raised him. Humphry, it turns out, is Matthew’s illegitimate son.

Matthew quickly confirms this information and accepts that Humphry is “a crab of my own planting in the days of hot blood and unrestrained libertinism” (319). Despite his abrupt change in social status, Humphry assures Winifred that he remains devoted to her. While Matthew recovers and everyone processes the news, the group plans to stay with Mr. Dennison. He is also eager for them to meet his son, who is going to be returning home shortly.

Matthew briefly describes the accident and the news that Humphry is actually his son. However, he spends most of the letter talking about Mr. Charles Dennison, and explains that Dennison was born into humble financial circumstances but worked hard and now lives a peaceful and comfortable life as a country gentleman. Matthew also notes that Mr. Dennison and his wife have a happy and supportive marriage.

Matthew describes further recent events: He and Mr. Dennison were catching up, and Dennison explained some past events about his son. A handsome and intelligent young man, George strongly objected to his parents’ plan to marry him to a local heiress. He left home and lived under an alias for some time; eventually, the heiress married someone else, and George reconciled with his parents. Dennison now proposes that George could marry Lydia; Matthew likes this idea, but worries since Lydia seems to still have feelings for Wilson. Mr. Dennison reveals that his son George is actually the same man whom Lydia knew as Wilson; Wilson was the alias George assumed while estranged from his family.

Matthew immediately consents to the marriage; when George Dennison/Wilson arrives back home, he is warmly greeted by both Matthew and Jeremy, who “hugged one another as if they had been intimate friends from their infancy” (330). Wilson and Lydia realize with delight that their families heartily support their engagement; the wedding is to occur at the Dennison estate in a few weeks, and the return home will be delayed until after the wedding. Tabitha and Lismahago will also be married on the same day.

Jeremy quickly summarizes the revelation that Wilson is actually an honorable, wealthy, and well-educated gentleman; he has also found out that the “other Wilson” (the man he almost mistakenly dueled) is a neighbor of the Dennison family, and the father of George Dennison/Wilson’s good friend. Jeremy reflects with happiness that he is “on the eve of acquiring a brother-in-law so worthy of my friendship and esteem” (332), and he is enjoying spending time with the Dennison family. Amidst the happy wedding preparations, Humphry confided to Jeremy that he is soon going to ask Winifred to marry him. Jeremy told him not to be too hasty: Now that Humphry is known to be the son of Matthew, he might be able to marry a wealthier or higher-ranking woman. Humphry, however, insists that he is honor bound to marry Winifred and doesn’t want anyone else.

Lydia tells her friend everything that has happened and expresses her delight that she and Wilson/George Dennison will soon be getting married. Nonetheless, Lydia feels nervous and overwhelmed: “[M]y mind is harassed with a continued tumult, made up of hopes and wishes, doubts and apprehensions” (335). Lydia wants Laetitia to come and attend her wedding, and she offers to have Humphry escort Laetitia if she decides to make the journey.

Since Laetitia is still residing at the boarding-school (run by Mrs. Jermyn) where and she Lydia first met, Lydia writes to Mrs. Jermyn, asking her to intercede with Laetitia’s mother and encourage her to allow Laetitia to attend the wedding. Lydia explains that “the slighted Wilson is metamorphosed into George Dennison, only son and heir of a gentleman” (336), and includes a note from Mrs. Dennison (George’s mother) to further support her case.

Winifred briefly shares updates about the impending marriages of Lydia and Tabitha, but is more concerned with her own future. Humphry is delaying proposing to Winifred because he wants to secure approval from Matthew (his biological father). Winifred believes that Humphry, newly elevated in status, is now reluctant to marry a working-class woman. She writes that she is every bit as good as Humphry, pointing out that “I didn’t come on the wrong side of the blanket” (338), referring to Humphry’s illegitimacy. She alludes to looking for other suitors if Humphry won’t commit to marrying her soon.

Matthew shares the news that Mrs. Baynard, the spendthrift wife of his friend Baynard, has died; Matthew is hopeful that Baynard’s life will now improve, and is playing an active role in managing his friend’s financial affairs. Matthew notices that now that Baynard is widowed, Tabitha seems quite interested in him, and reflects that “she attached herself to Lismahago for no other reason but that she despaired of making a more agreeable conquest” (343). However, he is not concerned because he knows Baynard will not be interested, and even Tabitha would not be so reckless as to abandon a man to whom she is already engaged.

Matthew informs his friend that Laetitia Willis has arrived at the Dennison estate to be with Lydia and that he has given permission for Humphry to marry Winifred.

In early November, Jeremy writes to his friend to report that the triple wedding has taken place: Lydia married Wilson/George Dennison, Tabitha married Lismahago, and Winifred married Humphry. All of the couples seem quite happy, and Jeremy predicts that the group will soon begin to depart to their various destinations. He hopes to be able to visit Phillips in Oxford soon.

Matthew writes to Dr. Lewis, reporting with satisfaction that everyone seems settled and ready to start the next chapter of their lives. The whole group will go first to Gloucester, where they will drop off Laetitia and her mother at their home. From there, Lydia, George, and Mr. and Mrs. Dennison will go to Bath for Christmas. Matthew, however, finds that “it must be something very extraordinary that will induce me to revisit either Bath or London” (351). He, Tabitha, Lismahago, Humphry, and Winifred will all finally return to Brambleton Hall directly from Gloucester. Baynard is also going to come with them so that he doesn’t have to stay alone with his grief.

Tabitha writes with instructions about how the house should be prepared for herself and her new husband; she also notes that since Winifred is now married to a man affiliated with the family, she can no longer work as a servant, and Tabitha will have to hire a new maid instead.

Winifred writes to report her marriage, smugly noting her new social station; she is now “removed to a high spear [sphere]” (353).