Good thoughts, Robbin, and they bring to mind another Thorpe critique that I think JA has placed in the scene where CM leaves Bath: when we see a rich man's horses in action, most likely far superior to John Thorpe's horse, they are described as traveling "at the sober pace in which the handsome, highly fed four horses of a gentleman usually perform a journey of thirty miles." There is no mention at all of the General or Henry expecting them to travel at 10 mph or anything close to it.

Thorpe's pretensions to importance are once again belied by comparison with other characters in the book, just like his manners contrast poorly with Henry (and James to a degree).