What a sad state of affairs here-the Vicar in jail for debt(after his house burns down),his daughter Olivia dies of a broken heart(I can only assume since no actual illness was named),Sophia gets kidnapped and George winds up in the same jail for assault with a possible death penalty to face. How many drama bombs(as my sister would say)can one author drop in a single chapter?

I,for one,don't blame Mrs.Primrose for writing to George about what was really going on-the Vicar seems abit too laid back about his circumstances to take any real action. Finding comfort by helping others while in a bad situation is good but leaving your loved ones' welfare up to fate(yes, he did write to Thornhill's uncle but gave up after hearing no reply)when you could do more about it seems careless to me. His whole attitude is best expressed here,IMO:

“Well, sir,” said I to my fellow prisoner, “you now discover the temper of the man that oppresses me. He can at once be facetious and cruel; but let him use me as he will, I shall soon be free, in spite of all his bolts to restrain me. I am now drawing towards an abode that looks brighter as I approach it; this expectation cheers my afflictions, and though I leave an helpless family of orphans behind me, yet they will not be utterly forsaken; some friend, perhaps, will be found to assist them for the sake of their poor father, and some may charitably relieve them for the sake of their heavenly Father.”