d
identifying the Pickwickian localities. It is astonishing the number of
persons that have been engrossed with this pursuit. Take Muggleton for
instance, which seems to have hitherto defied all attempts at discovery.
The younger Charles Dickens fancied that town, Malling, which lies to the
south of Rochester. Mr. Frost, Mr. Hughes, and other "explorers" all
have their favourite town. I, myself, had fixed on Maidstone as
fulfilling the necessary conditions of having a Mayor and Corporation; as
against this choice and that of all the towns that were south of
Rochester there was always this fact, that Boz describes the party going
up the street as they left Rochester, a route that led them north-east.
But the late Miss Dickens--"Mamie" as she was affectionately called--in
her pleasing and very natural little book, "My Father as I Recall Him,"
has casually dropped a hint which puts us on the right track. When
driving with her on the "beautiful back road to Cobham once, he pointed
out a spot. There it was, he said, where Mr. Pickwick dropped his whip."
The distressed travellers had to walk some twelve or fourteen miles--about
the distance of Muggleton--which was important enough to have a Mayor and
Corporation, etc. We ourselves have walked this road, and it led us
to--Gravesend. Gravesend we believe to be Muggleton--against all
competitors. Further, when chasing Jingle, Wardle went straight from
Muggleton to town, as you can do from Gravesend; from which place there
is a long walk to Cobham.

For abundance of editions the immortal Pickwick can hold its own with any
modern of its "weight, age, and size." From the splendid yet unwieldy
_edition de luxe_, all but Bible-like in its proportions, to the one
penny edition sold on barrows in Cheapside, every form and pattern has
been supplied.

The Gadshill Edition, with Introduction by Andrew Lang, has recently been
issued by Messrs. Chapman and Hall, and is all that can be desired.
Print, paper, and size are excellent, perfect, even captivating. The old
illustrations, from the original plates, are bright and clear, unworn and
unclogged with ink. The editor has been judiciously reserved in his
introduction and annotations. While Mr. Lang's lack of sympathy with
Dickens is well-known, and, like Sam Weller after leaving the witness-
box, he has said just as little respecting Mr. Pickwick as might be,
"which was precisely the object he had in view all along." But it a