And how are matters going on in Eatanswill?' inquired Mr Pickwick,

when Pott had taken a seat near the fire, and the whole party had got

their wet boots off, and dry slippers on. 'Is the INDEPENDENT still in

being?'

'The INDEPENDENT, sir,' replied Pott, 'is still dragging on a wretched

and lingering career. Abhorred and despised by even the few who are

cognisant of its miserable and disgraceful existence, stifled by the very

filth it so profusely scatters, rendered deaf and blind by the

exhalations of its own slime, the obscene journal, happily unconscious

of its degraded state, is rapidly sinking beneath that treacherous mud

which, while it seems to give it a firm standing with the low and

debased classes of society, is nevertheless rising above its detested

head, and will speedily engulf it for ever.'

Having delivered this manifesto (which formed a portion of his last

week's leader) with vehement articulation, the editor paused to take

breath, and looked majestically at Bob Sawyer.

You are a young man, sir,' said Pott.

Mr Bob Sawyer nodded.

So are you, sir,' said Pott, addressing Mr Ben Allen.

Ben admitted the soft impeachment.

And are both deeply imbued with those blue principles, which, so

long as I live, I have pledged myself to the people of these kingdoms to

support and to maintain?' suggested Pott.

'Why, I don't exactly know about that,' replied Bob Sawyer. 'I am - '

'Not buff, Mr Pickwick,' interrupted Pott, drawing back his chair, 'your

friend is not buff, sir?'

No, no,' rejoined Bob, 'I'm a kind of plaid at present; a compound of

all sorts of colours.'

'A waverer,' said Pott solemnly, 'a waverer. I should like to show you a

series of eight articles, Sir, that have appeared in the Eatanswill

GAZETTE. I think I may venture to say that you would not be long in

establishing your opinions on a firm and solid blue basis, sir.' 'I dare

say I should turn very blue, long before I got to the end of them,'

responded Bob.

Mr Pott looked dubiously at Bob Sawyer for some seconds, and,

turning to Mr Pickwick, said -

The Pickwick Papers