Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 339: what you’re looking at

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

278 Pickwick Abroad. had not been affected with a stammering fit, which not unfrequently lasted five minutes. Mr. Goble began by a long flourish relative to his deep researches and perseverance ; having done as much egotism as is usually per- formed in such cases, he proceeded to handle his subject, He said that analogy was a great proof towards the demonstration of the truth of craniology. In support of his argument he produced a cast of the skull of Captain Cook, the great navigator; and then compared a cer- tain bump with one upon the head of a carrier-pigeon. ‘‘ Now, ladies and gentlemen,” said Mr. Goble, with the complacent smile of one who is certain to carry conviction to every breast; ‘‘ ob- serve this remarkable coincidence. The skull of the great Cook, who discovered Otaheite and Owhyhee, bears the bump of locomotiveness, Then examine the head of this pigeon, and you will find the same convex demonstration. Captain Cook, it is true, travelled thousands of leagues—whereas this pigeon confined its journeys to within a range of twelve miles round the French capital. But there are pigeons which, as well as men, perform vast journeys; and I dare say that they also possess similar bumps.” universal shout of applause welcomed this assertion—Mr. Goble declared it was the proudest moment of his life—and when the audience had terminated its oecupation of beating the floor, &c., &c., the learned professor threw himself back gravely in his chair, and requested the postilion to stand forward. “If any proof were wanting, ladies and gentlemen,” continued Mr. Goble, stammering at every word,—‘‘ if any proof to the confirmation of my system were wanting, it could be found, ladies and gentlemen, —not in the views of the visionary theorist, nor in the speculations of the shallow philosopher—not in the minds of the specious, nor in the ravings of the naturalist—oh ! no—ladies and gentlemen—l] assure you, ladies and gentlemen—that—ladies and gentlemen—that is, | would assert—”’ And as Mr. Goble here began to ramble more than a little, he deemed it prudent to cough, and thus recover breath and the string of bis ideas, both of which he had lost. The audience, however, thought he had arrived at some great crisis, and applauded accordingly. ‘‘Well, ladies and gentlemen,” continued Mr. Goble with the most unblushing effrontery, ‘‘as I was about to say, when you honoured me with interrupting me with your valued applause—hem— hem.—as I was about to say, if any evidence were wanting to demon- strate my system—” ‘“‘ He hasasystem, too, you perceive,’ whispered Mr. Hook Walker to Mr. Tracy Tupman. “Tt would be found,” pursued Mr. Goble, ‘‘on this man’s head. Postilion, stand for’ard.”’ But ag the postilion did not know the English language, he stood still instead of forward. Mr. Chitty was therefore called upon to act as interpreter ; and the wondering coachman was at length induced to submit his head to the inspection of the professor. “‘} find,” said the learned Mr. Goble, triumphantly, ‘that this man’s head presents the bump of locomotiveness. Now he has been employed, according to the information obtained through the medium, DGe q) COL SS (c@