and the extreme
Sabbatarian party, and had immediate reference to a bill "for the better
observance of the Sabbath," which the House of Commons had recently
thrown out by a small majority. The illustrations in this little work
were drawn by HABLOT BROWNE, and are very choice examples of
wood-engraving of the school that existed half a century ago. Its
original price was one shilling, but having become very scarce, it is
now worth more than its weight in gold.

These early productions of BROWNE'S pencil at once introduced him to
public notice, and DICKENS showed his appreciation of their excellence
by selecting him as the illustrator of the _Pickwick Papers_, which
appeared during the early part of that year. It is well known to the
readers of Forster's _Life of Dickens_, that the idea of "Pickwick" was
suggested to the author by ROBERT SEYMOUR, whose tastes induced him to
etch a few plates of sporting subjects to which DICKENS was to supply
the text. Thus commenced that immortal work known as _The Posthumous
Papers of the Pickwick Club_. SEYMOUR produced seven illustrations, when
he committed suicide, which obliged the publishers to make arrangements
with another artist. R. W. BUSS[B] succeeded SEYMOUR, and etched two
plates, which DICKENS, who had by this time assumed the control of the
work, thought so unsatisfactory (as indeed they were), that he declined
his further services. Here a fresh opening was created, and WILLIAM
MAKEPEACE THACKERAY competed with HABLOT KNIGHT BROWNE for the post;
both submitting to DICKENS' inspection some specimens of their work.

The choice fell upon "Phiz," the artist whose ability has so admirably
proved the wisdom of the selection; and THACKERAY thereupon determined
to adopt another profession, with what happy results let _Esmond_
testify. Who could say whether _Vanity Fair_ would ever have been
written had this mighty penman been chosen to succeed BUSS? It is
curious to note THACKERAY'S great anxiety to become an artist; he even
went abroad to study, but SALA tells us that "Mr. THACKERAY drew,
perhaps, rather worse than he had done before beginning his continental
studies, although at that time he actually supplied a series of etchings
to illustrate DOUGLAS JERROLD'S _Men of Character_, which were prodigies
of badness."

When "Phiz" had been selected as the illustrator of the _Pickwick
Papers_, his generous rival was the first to tell him the good news, and
offer his congratulation