Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ é . + i + ‘wy i. s ¢ 6 *e 24 “when ; inform you that I myself am a gen- darme!”—* Pry | “A gendarme!” exclaimed Mr. Winkle, turning ashy pale, and almost falling for- ward on Mr. Adolphus Crashem, who ut- tered a similar ejaculation, and gave a sim- jilar start. re Ab ae ee “Yes—gentlemen—a gendarme!” added _M. Dumont, with a laugh, for his oral organs had caught the sound of the sudden move- ment the declaration of his) profession had occasioned, although it was too dark to dis- tinguish the countenances which turned so very pale. “But you need not be afraid of me: I amin plain clothes now—and am returning to Paris to resume my functions as lieutenant of gendarmes.” “ A singular life, sir—is it not ?”’ inquired Mr, Pickwick. WF “Very,” replied Dumont, with something of bitterness in his manner.. - But the conversation gradually became languid—Mr. Boozie declared that he was not at all sleepy, and then effectually con- tradicted himself by snoring aloud—Mr. Crashem swore that he was too much accus- tomed to travel ever to slumber in a vehicle, and immediately tumbled into Mr. Winkle’s lap—and Messieurs Pickwick and Tupman commenced an agreeable little duet, which they performed together through the me- dium of their noses, to the great satisfaction of M. Dumont. In fine, the passengers in the interieur were all soon laboring under the happy influence of Morpheus; and of this state of quiesence and oblivious beati- tude shall we take advantage, to introduce to the reader a few of Mr. Pickwick’s. private notes, taken by that gentleman at Meurice’s hotel at Calais, and descriptive of the events immediately preceding his arrival at the town where he first burst in all his glory on the eyes of phe great French | nation, 1) je CHAPTER VL ~ —_ - 5 Mr. Snodgrass proves himself to be a poet.—Par- ticulars related in Mr. Pickwick’s journal.— |, Meurice’s hotel in Paris.—Mr. Tims and Mr. . Sugden. To Mr. Pickwick’s private journal we are indebted for the following particulars of his journey from Dulwich to Calais; and as every circumstance connected with either PICKWICK ABROAD. ew é #: : ‘ ° ‘ the private or, the sublic proceedings of this ‘extraordinary man is caleulated not only to interest the reader, but also to instruct and improve his mind, we shall not » omit a duty we owe to ourselves and to mankind in general, but shall execute i important trust, confided to us, with the utmost impartiality. We accordingly lay the following important memoranda before ' the public: ) ‘i PASSAGES FROM THE PRIVATE JOURNAL OF SAMUEL PICKWICK, ESQ. 7 . November 11th, 183400 A Wolke this morn: ing at seven o'clock, and ordered Sam to bring me a bottle of soda-water, Felt ~- exceedingly thirsty and a partial head-ache, © | Do not know whether the anxiety which we & experience on the eve of travelling, or t port-wine I drank last night at Snodgrass’s house, could be the cause of these disagree able sensations. Questioned Sam on the subject, and thought he laughed slily. ie ‘ cellent-hearted fellow, that Sam! ~ - Was a quarter of an hour too early for my breakfast, so took up the biography of , myself and friends, and gianced cursorily over the notes which I have’ prepared for my editor, “Boz.” Found that in 1827 I had made Mr. Jingle declare himself to | have written a poem on the French Revo- lution, which only took place iny 1830. Could not mean the first Revolution, as Mr. Jingle was present (according to my notes) at the one of which he wrote; and he was not born when the first began. Must think of this: there is a grievous error somewhere, . Discovered another error.. In the memo- randa of a speech which I made on the night before my first sally-forth in search of , adventures in 1827, 1 am represented to have said that “ philanthropy was my Swing f Now the incendiary Swing—the fabled illuminator of all the hay-stacks in the kingdom—had not then acquired his name, nor was he known. Must correct this error also.* yal k Made a hearty breakfast, without any _ accident worth noticing, save that little James Weller, in playful sport, threw an egz on my tights, while his brother, in sympathetic mirth, decamped with my toast. Tupman and ‘Winkle then made * We are sorry to find that Mr. Pickwick omitted F these necessary corrections; and that his Editor, ‘‘ Boz,’? has alse unaccountably sufferei them to remain. i ‘Ae ee ’ Co < DOG (E)