He desired to be informed, by return of post, of the present place of residence of Madame Fontaine and her daughter.

If I refused to comply with this request, he could not undertake to control himself, and he thought it quite likely that he might "follow his heart's dearest aspirations," and set forth on the journey to Frankfort in search of Minna.
My aunt's letter was full of the subject of Jack Straw.
In the first place she had discovered, while arranging her late husband's library, a book which had evidently suggested his ideas of reformation in the treatment of the insane.

It was called, "Description of the Retreat, an institution near York for insane persons of the Society of Friends.
Written by Samuel Tuke." She had communicated with the institution; had received the most invaluable help; and would bring the book with her to Frankfort, to be translated into German, in the interests of humanity.
(1) (1) Tuke's Description of the Retreat near York is reviewed by Sydney Smith in a number of the "Edinburgh Review," for 1814.
As for her merciful experiment with poor Jack, it had proved to be completely successful--with one serious drawback.

So long as he was under her eye, and in daily communication with her, a more grateful, affectionate, and perfectly harmless creature never breathed the breath of life.

Even Mr.Hartrey and the lawyer had been obliged to confess that they had been in the wrong throughout, in the view they had taken of the matter.