CHAPTER I. THE PICKWICKIANS
The first ray of light which illumines the gloom, and converts into adazzling brilliancy that obscurity in which the earlier history of thepublic career of the immortal Pickwick would appear to be involved, isderived from the perusal of the following entry in the Transactions ofthe Pickwick Club, which the editor of these papers feels the highestpleasure in laying before his readers, as a proof of the carefulattention, indefatigable assiduity, and nice discrimination, with whichhis search among the multifarious documents confided to him has beenconducted.
'May 12, 1827. Joseph Smiggers, Esq., P.V.P.M.P.C. [Perpetual Vice-President--Member Pickwick Club], presiding. The following resolutionsunanimously agreed to:--
'That this Association has heard read, with feelings of unmingledsatisfaction, and unqualified approval, the paper communicated by SamuelPickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C. [General Chairman--Member Pickwick Club],entitled "Speculations on the Source of the Hampstead Ponds, with someObservations on the Theory of Tittlebats;" and that this Associationdoes hereby return its warmest thanks to the said Samuel Pickwick, Esq.,G.C.M.P.C., for the same.
'That while this Association is deeply sensible of the advantages whichmust accrue to the cause of science, from the production to which theyhave just adverted--no less than from the unwearied researches of SamuelPickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., in Hornsey, Highgate, Brixton, andCamberwell--they cannot but entertain a lively sense of the inestimablebenefits which must inevitably result from carrying the speculations ofthat learned man into a wider field, from extending his travels, and,consequently, enlarging his sphere of observation, to the advancement ofknowledge, and the diffusion of learning.
'That, with the view just mentioned, this Association has taken into itsserious consideration a proposal, emanating from the aforesaid, SamuelPickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., and three other Pickwickians hereinafternamed, for forming a new branch of United Pickwickians, under the titleof The Corresponding Society of the Pickwick Club.
'That the said proposal has received the sanction and approval of thisAssociation.
'That the Corresponding Society of the Pickwick Club is therefore herebyconstituted; and that Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., Tracy Tupman,Esq., M.P.C., Augustus Snodgrass, Esq., M.P.C., and Nathaniel Winkle,Esq., M.P.C., are hereby nominated and appointed members of the same;and that they be requested to forward, from time to time, authenticatedaccounts of their journeys and investigations, of their observations ofcharacter and manners, and of the whole of their adventures, togetherwith all tales and papers to which local scenery or associations maygive rise, to the Pickwick Club, stationed in London.
'That this Association cordially recognises the principle of everymember of the Corresponding Society defraying his own travellingexpenses; and that it sees no objection whatever to the members of thesaid society pursuing their inquiries for any length of time theyplease, upon the same terms.
'That the members of the aforesaid Corresponding Society be, and arehereby informed, that their proposal to pay the postage of theirletters, and the carriage of their parcels, has been deliberated upon bythis Association: that this Association considers such proposal worthyof the great minds from which it emanated, and that it hereby signifiesits perfect acquiescence therein.'
A casual observer, adds the secretary, to whose notes we are indebtedfor the following account--a casual observer might possibly haveremarked nothing extraordinary in the bald head, and circularspectacles, which were intently turned towards his (the secretary's)face, during the reading of the above resolutions: to those who knewthat the gigantic brain of Pickwick was working beneath that forehead,and that the beaming eyes of Pickwick were twinkling behind thoseglasses, the sight was indeed an interesting one. There sat the man whohad traced to their source the mighty ponds of Hampstead, and agitatedthe scientific world with his Theory of Tittlebats, as calm and unmovedas the deep waters of the one on a frosty day, or as a solitary specimenof the other in the inmost recesses of an earthen jar. And how much moreinteresting did the spectacle become, when, starting into full life andanimation, as a simultaneous call for 'Pickwick' burst from hisfollowers, that illustrious man slowly mounted into the Windsor chair,on which he had been previously seated, and addressed the club himselfhad founded. What a study for an artist did that exciting scene present!The eloquent Pickwick, with one hand gracefully concealed behind hiscoat tails, and the other waving in air to assist his glowingdeclamation; his elevated position revealing those tights and gaiters,which, had they clothed an ordinary man, might have passed withoutobservation, but which, when Pickwick clothed them--if we may use theexpression--inspired involuntary awe and respect; surrounded by the menwho had volunteered to share the perils of his travels, and who weredestined to participate in the glories of his discoveries. On his rightsat Mr. Tracy Tupman--the too susceptible Tupman, who to the wisdom andexperience of maturer years superadded the enthusiasm and ardour of aboy in the most interesting and pardonable of human weaknesses--love.Time and feeding had expanded that once romantic form; the black silkwaistcoat had become more and more developed; inch by inch had the goldwatch-chain beneath it disappeared from within the range of Tupman'svision; and gradually had the capacious chin encroached upon the bordersof the white cravat: but the soul of Tupman had known no change--admiration of the fair sex was still its ruling passion. On the left ofhis great leader sat the poetic Snodgrass, and near him again thesporting Winkle; the former poetically enveloped in a mysterious bluecloak with a canine-skin collar, and the latter communicating additionallustre to a new green shooting-coat, plaid neckerchief, and closely-fitted drabs.
Mr. Pickwick's oration upon this occasion, together with the debatethereon, is entered on the Transactions of the Club. Both bear a strongaffinity to the discussions of other celebrated bodies; and, as it isalways interesting to trace a resemblance between the proceedings ofgreat men, we transfer the entry to these pages.
'Mr. Pickwick observed (says the secretary) that fame was dear to theheart of every man. Poetic fame was dear to the heart of his friendSnodgrass; the fame of conquest was equally dear to his friend Tupman;and the desire of earning fame in the sports of the field, the air, andthe water was uppermost in the breast of his friend Winkle. He (Mr.Pickwick) would not deny that he was influenced by human passions andhuman feelings (cheers)--possibly by human weaknesses (loud cries of"No"); but this he would say, that if ever the fire of self-importancebroke out in his bosom, the desire to benefit the human race inpreference effectually quenched it. The praise of mankind was his swing;philanthropy was his insurance office. (Vehement cheering.) He had feltsome pride--he acknowledged it freely, and let his enemies make the mostof it--he had felt some pride when he presented his Tittlebatian Theoryto the world; it might be celebrated or it might not. (A cry of "It is,"and great cheering.) He would take the assertion of that honourablePickwickian whose voice he had just heard--it was celebrated; but if thefame of that treatise were to extend to the farthest confines of theknown world, the pride with which he should reflect on the authorship ofthat production would be as nothing compared with the pride with whichhe looked around him, on this, the proudest moment of his existence.(Cheers.) He was a humble individual. ("No, no.") Still he could not butfeel that they had selected him for a service of great honour, and ofsome danger. Travelling was in a troubled state, and the minds ofcoachmen were unsettled. Let them look abroad and contemplate the sceneswhich were enacting around them. Stage-coaches were upsetting in alldirections, horses were bolting, boats were overturning, and boilerswere bursting. (Cheers--a voice "No.") No! (Cheers.) Let that honourablePickwickian who cried "No" so loudly come forward and deny it, if hecould. (Cheers.) Who was it that cried "No"? (Enthusiastic cheering.)Was it some vain and disappointed man--he would not say haberdasher(loud cheers)--who, jealous of the praise which had been--perhapsundeservedly--bestowed on his (Mr. Pickwick's) researches, and smartingunder the censure which had been heaped upon his own feeble attempts atrivalry, now took this
vile and calumnious mode of--
'MR. BLOTTON (of Aldgate) rose to order. Did the honourable Pickwickianallude to him? (Cries of "Order," "Chair," "Yes," "No," "Go on," "Leaveoff," etc.)
'MR. PICKWICK would not put up to be put down by clamour. He had alludedto the honourable gentleman. (Great excitement.)
'MR. BLOTTON would only say then, that he repelled the hon. gent.'sfalse and scurrilous accusation, with profound contempt. (Greatcheering.) The hon. gent. was a humbug. (Immense confusion, and loudcries of "Chair," and "Order.")
'Mr. A. SNODGRASS rose to order. He threw himself upon the chair.(Hear.) He wished to know whether this disgraceful contest between twomembers of that club should be allowed to continue. (Hear, hear.)
'The CHAIRMAN was quite sure the hon. Pickwickian would withdraw theexpression he had just made use of.
'MR. BLOTTON, with all possible respect for the chair, was quite sure hewould not.
'The CHAIRMAN felt it his imperative duty to demand of the honourablegentleman, whether he had used the expression which had just escaped himin a common sense.
'MR. BLOTTON had no hesitation in saying that he had not--he had usedthe word in its Pickwickian sense. (Hear, hear.) He was bound toacknowledge that, personally, he entertained the highest regard andesteem for the honourable gentleman; he had merely considered him ahumbug in a Pickwickian point of view. (Hear, hear.)
'MR. PICKWICK felt much gratified by the fair, candid, and fullexplanation of his honourable friend. He begged it to be at onceunderstood, that his own observations had been merely intended to bear aPickwickian construction. (Cheers.)'
Here the entry terminates, as we have no doubt the debate did also,after arriving at such a highly satisfactory and intelligible point. Wehave no official statement of the facts which the reader will findrecorded in the next chapter, but they have been carefully collated fromletters and other MS. authorities, so unquestionably genuine as tojustify their narration in a connected form.