The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club

— More new Friends — An

s; and whatever ambition we might have felt under other circumstances to lay claim to the authorship of these adventures, a regard for truth forbids us to do more than claim the merit of their judicious arrangement and impartial narration. The Pickwick papers are our New River Head; an

ed, we frankly say, that to the note-book of Mr. Snodgrass are we indebted for the particulars recorded in this and the succeedi

bustle and excitement. A grand review was to take place upon the lines. The manoeuvres of half a dozen regiments were to be inspected by the eagl

ng could have been more delightful to him — nothing could have harmonised so well with the peculiar feeling of each of his companions — as this sight. Accordi

Colonel Bulder, in full military uniform, on horseback, galloping first to one place and then to another, and backing his horse among the people, and prancing, and curvetting, and shouting in a most alarming manner, and making himself very hoarse in the voice, and very red in the face, without any assignable cause or reason whatev

sticity highly inconsistent with the general gravity of his demeanour; at another moment there was a request to ‘keep back’ from the front, and then the butt-end of a musket was either dropped upon Mr. Pickwick’s toe, to remind him of the demand, or thrust into his chest, to insure its being complied with. Then some facetious gentlemen on the left, after pressing sideways in a body, and squeezing Mr. Snodgrass into the very last extreme of human torture, would request to know ‘ver

column after column poured on to the plain. The troops halted and formed; the word of command rang through the line; there was a general clash of muskets as arms were presented; and the commander-in-chief, attended by Colonel Bulder and numerous officers, cantered to the front. The military bands struck up altogethe

f horses, that he had not enjoyed sufficient leisure to observe the scene before him, until it assumed the appearance we h

or more delightful?’ he

r. Snodgrass, in whose bosom a blaze of poetry was rapidly bursting forth, ‘to see the gallant defenders of their country drawn up in brilliant array before its peaceful citizens; their face

ntelligence burned rather feebly in the eyes of the warriors, inasmuch as the command ‘eyes front’ had been given, and all the s

looking round him. The crowd had gradually dispersed i

both Mr. Snodgra

’ inquired Mr. Pickwick,

Winkle, changing colour —‘I rat

said Mr. Pic

y are,’ urged Mr. Snodg

d their muskets as if they had but one common object, and that object the Pickwickians, and burst forth with th

at Mr. Pickwick displayed that perfect coolness and self-possession, which are the indispensable accompaniments of a great mind. He seized Mr. Winkle by the arm, and placing himself between that

nkle, pallid at the supposition he was himself conjuring up. ‘I heard something whistle through the air now

ht quiver, and his cheek might blanch, but no expression

en regiments, with fixed bayonets, charged at double-quick time down upon the very spot on which Mr. Pickwick and his friends were stationed. Man is but mortal; and there is a point beyond which human courage cannot extend. Mr. Pickwick gazed through his spectacles for an instant on the advancing mass, and then fairly turned his back and

he sham besiegers of the citadel; and the consequence was that Mr. Pickwick and his two companions found themselves suddenly inclos

he officers of t

cried the officers o

to?’ screamed the ag

y tramp of footsteps, a violent concussion, a smothered laugh; the half-dozen regiments w

eyes of the latter as he sat on the ground, staunching with a yellow silk handkerchief the stream of life which issued from his

judgment, are requisite in catching a hat. A man must not be precipitate, or he runs over it; he must not rush into the opposite extreme, or he loses it altogether. The best way is to keep gently up with the object of pursuit, to be wary

the hat rolled over and over as merrily as a lively porpoise in a strong tide: and on it might have rolled, far beyond Mr. Pickw

icles on the spot to which his steps had been directed. Mr. Pickwick, perceiving his advantage, darted briskly forward, secured his property, planted it on his head, and paused to take breath. He had not been st

rs, a lady of doubtful age, probably the aunt of the aforesaid, and Mr. Tupman, as easy and unconcerned as if he had belonged to the family from the first moments of his infancy. Fastened up behind the barouche was a hamper of spacious dimensions — one of those hampers which always awakens in a contemplative mind associations connecte

on these interesting objects, when he w

said Mr. Tupman; ‘com

leep again. — Joe, let down the steps.’ The fat boy rolled slowly off the box, let down the steps

x. Now, Sir, come along;’ and the stout gentleman extended his arm, and pulled first Mr. Pickwick, and then Mr. Snodgrass, into

n’t remember me. I spent some ev’nin’s at your club last winter — picked up my friend Mr. Tupman here this

ment, and cordially shook hands with

to Mr. Winkle)? Well, I am glad to hear you say you are well; very glad I am, to be sure. My daughters, gentlemen — my gals these are; and that’s my sister, Miss Rachael Wardle

d Miss Wardle, with

ch other, let’s be comfortable and happy, and see what’s going forward; that’s what I say.’ So the stout gentleman put on his spectacles, and Mr.

cades of baskets, and behaving in the most gallant manner possible. Then there was such a ramming down of the contents of enormous guns on the battery, with instruments like magnified mops; such a preparation before they were let off, and such an awful noise when they did go, that the air resounded with the screams of ladies. The young Misses Wardle were so frightened, that Mr. Trundle was actu

ged sat down to dinner. ‘Damn that boy, he’s gone to sleep again. Be good enough to pinch him

een the finger and thumb of Mr. Winkle, rolled off the box once again, and proceeded to unpa

blushing at sundry jocose proposals, that the ladies should sit in the gentlemen’s laps, the whole party were stowed down in the barou

ed in, and the ladies and gentlemen inside, and Mr. Winkle o

ilar process employed in the

oe!’ (Sundry taps on the head with a stick, and the fat boy, with som

s boy. He jumped up, and the leaden eyes which twinkled behind his mountai

on, which he seemed wholly unable to part with. The boy sighed deeply, and, best

the dressing.’ Such were the hurried orders which issued from the lips of Mr. Wardle, as he handed in the different articles described, and placed dishes in eve

Winkle, who was carv

s of

‘You’d better have a bottle to

e very

oe

this time, having just succeed

gentleman on the box.

his glass, and placed the bottl

e the pleasure, Sir?’ said

ndle, and then the two gentlemen took wine, after wh

leman,’ whispered the spinster aunt, with true sp

say — nothing unusual. Mr. Pickwick, some wine, Sir?’ Mr. Pickwick, who ha

ster aunt, with a patronising a

, au

’ whispered Miss Isabella Wardle to her sister Emily. The young ladies laughed

an air of gentle commiseration, as if animal spirits were contraband

xactly making the sort of reply that was e

ss Wardle, rat

touching the enchanting Rachael’s wrist with one hand, and ge

expressed her fear that more guns were going off, in whi

pretty?’ whispered their af

here,’ replied the ready Pickw

lexions were a little better, don’t you think th

,’ said Mr. Tupman, with

know what you we

ho had not precisely made up h

it can’t be denied; and, certainly, if there is one thing more than another that makes a girl look ugly it is

e reputation at so cheap a rate: so he lo

d the admiring Rachael; ‘I de

id of

thing from me — I know what

n, who had not the sli

hink how wretched it makes me sometimes — I’m sure I cry about it for hours together — my dear brother is SO good, and so unsuspicious, that he never sees it; if he did, I’m quite

ed Miss Emily Wardle to her sister —‘I’m qu

ed Isabella. —‘

my dea

handkerchief to tie round your dear old head — you re

ell have been resorted to. There is no guessing in what form of reply the aunt’s indignation would hav

the old gentleman, ‘he

t,’ said Mr. Pickwick; ‘does

always asleep. Goes on errands fast a

dd!’ said M

ouldn’t part with him on any account — he’s a natural curiosity! Here, J

eposited them in the hamper. The fresh bottle was produced, and speedily emptied: the hamper was made fast in its old place — the fat boy once more mounted the box — the spectacles and pocket-glass were again adjusted — and the evolutions of the milita

t the conclusion of a conversation which had been carried on at intervals,

ly,’ replied

got the

you off, mind, under a week; and undertake that you shall see everything worth seeing. If you’ve come down for a country life

riage rattled off. As the Pickwickians turned round to take a last glimpse of it, the setting sun cast a rich glow on the f

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