The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-08
Dickens Story ofthe Origin orpiek
wick

mr pekens has lately been issuing what /.
called popular edition of his works, In which be
1ies's US 10 THIS little account OF the origin of
pickwick: 90 -
was young man OF three. and. twenty when
ane p.essn. publishers attracted by some pieces
~ mat tune writing in the Morning Chron fcle
oa,Ta,p, soI which one series had lately been
So'ieeteu sed published in two volumes illustrated
py nay esteemed friend, Mr.. George Cruikshank !
waited upon meto propose a something that should
ee published In shilling numbers-tben onIv
shown mo 70 me. or believe to anybody else, by a
uu .ecoiiection OF certain interminable novels in
that form which used to be carried about the
.ry py peddlers and over some Of which remem-
pcr 70 nave shed innuhierabie tears before 1 had
served my apprenticeship to life
'hhen opened my door in Furnival's Inn TO the
managing partner who represented the firm, re-
Seghized IN him the person from whose hands
uad ponght, two or three years previously. and
whom had never seen before or since, my first
Sopy OF the magazine in which my first effusion-
dropped stealthfly one evening at twilight with
lear and trembling, into dark letter box in
DARK ofhoe, up dark court in Fleet street-ap-
peared in all the glory ofprint on which memora-
Die occasion-how well recollect it'll walked
down to Westminster Hall and turned into il for
half an honr, because my eyes were 30 dimmad
with JOY and pride that they could not bear the
street, and were not fit TO be there. told my
visitor OF the coincidence, which we both hailed as
n good omen, and so fell to business
"The idea propounded to me was that the
monthly something should be a vehicle for certain
plates to be executed by Mr.. Seymour; and there
was notion, either on the part of that admirabIe
humorous artist or fmy visitor, Il forgot which
that 'Nimrod Club the members of which we-e
to go ont shooting, fishing, and forth, and get
ting themselves into difficulties through their want
OF dexterity, would be tho best means of introduc
ing these. | objected, on consideration, that al
though born and partly bred in the country. L was
no great sportsman, except in regard of all kind,
Of iocomotion that the idea not novel, and had
been already much used; that it woula be infinite
ly better for the plates to arise naturally ont of
the text; and that should like to take nv own
way, with freer range of English scenes and peo
pie, aud was afraid should ultimately do so in
any case, whatever course might prescribe to
myself at starting. My views being deferred to
thought of Mr.. Pickwick, aud wrote the first
number, from the proofsheets of which Mr. Sew
mour made his drawing of the Club, and that hap
py portrait of its founder by which he is always
recognized, aud which may be said to have made
him reality. / connected Mr.. Pickwick with
club because of the original suggestion, and put
Mr.. Wrinkle expressly for the of Mr Seymour
We started with number of twenty-four pages
instead of thirtytwo and four illustrations in lien
of a couple. Mr.. Seymour's sudden and lamen ted
death before the second number was published
brought about quick decision upon point al.
ready in agitation; the number became one of thir.
ty-two pages with two illustrations, and remained
80 to the end. My friends told me ii was a low
cheap form of publication, by which should ruin
all my rising hopes; and how right my friends
turned out to be everybody now knows
'"'Doz,' my signature in the Morning CTopicye an
pended TO the monthly cover of this book, and re-
tanned long afterward WAS the nickname Of a pet
child, younger brother, whom had dubbed No
ses, in honor of the Vicar OF Wakefield. which, be-
ing iacetiously pronounced through the nose be-
came Bosses, and being shortened became Boz
long before was an author, and SO came to adop,
it,"