Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-08

DIckens's story--Origin OF Pickwick.

DIckens's Story--Ortgtn OF Ptckwtck.
Mr. Dickens has iatterly been issuing what
is called popular edition of his works, in
which be treats US to this little account Of
the origin of Plckwick and how eagerly we
r,sh behind the scenes to see bow he con-
trved the thunder:
II was young man Of three and twenty
when the present publishers, attracted oy
some pieces was at that time writiog IN the
Morning Chronicle newspaper, (of which
one series bad lately been collected snd pub
lished in two volumes, illustrated by my es-
teemed freud, Mr.. George Cruikshank, }
waited upon me 10 propose a something that
Should be published 10 shilling numbers
then only known TO me, or l beneve to any
body else, by a dim recollection of certain
interminable novels in that form which used
10 be carried about the country by pedlars,
and over some of which remember TO have
shed inuumcrable tears before l had served
my apprenticeship to Life.
"When opened my door in turni7als lon
to the managing partner who represented
the firm, | recognized in him the person
from whose hands, | had bought, two or
three years previously, and whom l had
never seen before or since, my first copy OF
the magazine in which my first etfusIOn -
dropped steItthily one evening at twilight,
with fear and trembling into dark letter
box, in q dark Office, up dark court 10 Fleet
street--appcared 10 ali the glory Of print :;
on which memorable occasion-how well |
rec1iIect it II walked down to Westmin ter
II II ii - Ear boil bo-
cause my eyes were 50 dlmmed with Joy and
pride that they could not bear the street, and
were not tit II be seeo there. | told my
visitor of the coincidence, which we both
hailed as a good omen, and 50 fell TO bu-
slness.
The idea propounded to me was that the
monthly should be vehicle Tor certain plates
to be executed by Mr.. Seymour; and there
was "A notion, either on the part OF that ad-
mirat lie humorous artist or OF my visitor, Il
forget which, that a 'Nimrod Club the
members OF which were to 90 out shooting,
fishing, and so forth, and getting themselves
into d faculties through their want of dexter
ity would be the best means of introducing
these. | objected, on consideration, that,
although born and partly bred 10 the coun-
try, | was no great sportsman, except In re-
gard of all kinds Of locomOtOn that the
idea was not novel, aud had been already
much used that il would be infinitely better
tor the plates TO arise naturally out Of the
text; and that should like TO take my own
way, with freer range of English scenes
and people, and was afraid should Ultimate
ly do 50 IN any case, whatever course
might prescribe u myself at starting. My
views being deferred to, | thought Of MIR.
Pickwck, add wrote the first nun ber--from
the prUOf-shcets of which Mr.. Seymour made
bis drawing Of the Club, and that happy por-
trait ot its founder by which he IL always
recognized, and which may be said to have
made him reality. | connected Mr.. Pick
wick with u club, because Of the original sug-
yestion, aud | put in Mr.. Wrinkle expressly
for the use Of Mr.. Seymour. We started
with u number Of twenty-fOur pages instead
of thirty two, and -four illustrations in lieu
of a coul lie. MIR. SeymOur's sudden and la.
mented death before the second number was
published, brought about quick decision
upon point already in agitation; the num-
Der became one of thlrty-twO pages, with
two illustrations, and remained SO to the
end. My lriends told me it was q low,
cheap fern of publication by which should
ruin all my rising hopes, and bow right
my friends turned out to be, everybody now
knows. Boz my signature in the Morning
Chronicle, appended to the monthly cover Of
this book, and retained long stterward, was
the nickname Of a pet child, younger brother,
whom | had dubbed Moses, in honor of the
Vicar of Wakefield, which being facetiously
pronounced through the nose, became Bosses,
and being shortened, became Boz Boz
was a very familiar household word to me
long before | wac an author, and SO came
to adopt it,"