You have seen the literary articles which have appeared at intervals in

the Eatanswill GAZETTE in the course of the last three months, and

which have excited such general - I may say such universal - attention

and admiration?'

'Why,' replied Mr Pickwick, slightly embarrassed by the question, 'the

fact is, I have been so much engaged in other ways, that I really have

not had an opportunity of perusing them.'

You should do so, Sir,' said Pott, with a severe countenance.

I will,' said Mr Pickwick.

They appeared in the form of a copious review of a work on Chinese

metaphysics, Sir,' said Pott.

Oh,' observed Mr Pickwick; 'from your pen, I hope?'

From the pen of my critic, Sir,' rejoined Pott, with dignity.

An abstruse subject, I should conceive,' said Mr Pickwick.

Very, Sir,' responded Pott, looking intensely sage. 'He CRAMMED for

it, to use a technical but expressive term; he read up for the subject,

at my desire, in the ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica.’ '

Indeed!' said Mr Pickwick; 'I was not aware that that valuable work

contained any information respecting Chinese metaphysics.'

He read, Sir,' rejoined Pott, laying his hand on Mr Pickwick's knee,

and looking round with a smile of intellectual superiority - 'he read

for metaphysics under the letter M, and for China under the letter C,

and combined his information, Sir!'

Mr Pott's features assumed so much additional grandeur at the

recollection of the power and research displayed in the learned

effusions in question, that some minutes elapsed before Mr Pickwick

felt emboldened to renew the conversation; at length, as the editor's

countenance gradually relaxed into its customary expression of moral

supremacy, he ventured to resume the discourse by asking -

Is it fair to inquire what great object has brought you so far from

home?'

That object which actuates and animates me in all my gigantic

labours, Sir,' replied Pott, with a calm smile: 'my country's good.' 'I

supposed it was some public mission,' observed Mr Pickwick.

The Pickwick Papers