Chapter I

The Pickwickians

The first ray of light which illumines the gloom, and converts into a

dazzling brilliancy that obscurity in which the earlier history of the

public career of the immortal Pickwick would appear to be involved, is

derived from the perusal of the following entry in the Transactions of

the Pickwick Club, which the editor of these papers feels the highest

pleasure in laying before his readers, as a proof of the careful

attention, indefatigable assiduity, and nice discrimination, with which

his search among the multifarious documents confided to him has

been conducted.

May 12, 1827. Joseph Smiggers, Esq., P.V.P.M.P.C. [Perpetual Vice-

President Member Pickwick Club], presiding. The following

resolutions unanimously agreed to: -

That this Association has heard read, with feelings of unmingled

satisfaction, and unqualified approval, the paper communicated by

Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C. [General Chairman - Member

Pickwick Club], entitled ‘Speculations on the Source of the Hampstead

Ponds, with some Observations on the Theory of Tittlebats;’ and that

this Association does 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 which

must accrue to the cause of science, from the production to which

they have just adverted - no less than from the unwearied researches

of Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., in Hornsey, Highgate, Brixton,

and Camberwell - they cannot but entertain a lively sense of the

inestimable benefits which must inevitably result from carrying the

speculations of that learned man into a wider field, from extending his

travels, and, consequently, enlarging his sphere of observation, to the

advancement of knowledge, and the diffusion of learning.

That, with the view just mentioned, this Association has taken into its

serious consideration a proposal, emanating from the aforesaid,

Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., and three other Pickwickians

hereinafter named, for forming a new branch of United Pickwickians,

under the title of The Corresponding Society of the Pickwick Club.

'That the said proposal has received the sanction and approval of this

Association. 'That the Corresponding Society of the Pickwick Club is

therefore hereby constituted; 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

The Pickwick Papers