y that have come
down to us are specially interesting. Here are a few "pieces," which
will be welcomed by all Pickwickians. The first is a letter of our
author to his publishers.

"Furnival's Inn,
"Friday Morning.

"DEAR SIR,--I am very glad to find I shall have the pleasure of
celebrating Mr. Pickwick's success with you on Sunday. When you have
sufficiently recovered from the fatigues of publication, will you just
let me know from your books how we stand. Drawing 10 pounds one day,
and 20 pounds another, and so forth, I have become rather mystified,
and jumbled up our accounts in my brain, in a very incomprehensible
state.

"Faithfully yours,
"CHARLES DICKENS."

This must have been written at the conclusion of the story in 1837, and
is in a very modest tone considering how triumphant had been the success.
Connected with this is a paper of yet more interest, a receipt for
payment for one of the early numbers.

{Manuscript of a letter by Dickens: p88.jpg}

For this Pickwickian Banquet, he had reluctantly to give up one at the
home of his new friend Forster. In an unpublished letter, he writes to
him as "Dear Sir"--the beginning of a four-and-thirty years'
friendship--"I have been so much engaged in the pleasing occupation of
moving." He was unable to go to his new friend to dinner because he had
been "long engaged to the Pickwick publishers to a dinner in honour of
that hero, which comes off to-morrow."

In an interesting letter of Dickens'--Pickwickian ones are rare--sold at
Hodgson's rooms, July, 1895, he writes: "Mr. Seymour shot himself before
the second number of the Pickwick papers, not the third as you would have
it, was published. While he lay dead, it was necessary the search should
be made in his working room for the plates to the second number, the day
for publication of which was drawing near. The plates were found
unfinished, with their faces turned to the wall." This scrap brought 12
pounds 10s. Apropos of prices, who that was present will forget the
scene at Christie's when the six "Pickwick Ladles" were sold? These were
quaint things, like enlarged Apostle Spoons, and the figures well
modelled. They had been made specially, and presented to "Boz" on the
conclusion of his story, by his publishers. The Pickwick Ladle brought
69 pounds. Jingle, 30 pounds. Winkle, 23 pounds. Sam, 64 pounds. Old
Weller, 51 pounds; and the Fat Boy, 35 pounds 14s., or o