A WEEK'S TRAMP
IN
DICKENS-LAND
The Marshes, Cooling.A WEEK'S TRAMP
IN
DICKENS-LAND
Personal Reminiscences of the 'Inimitable Boz'
THEREIN COLLECTED.
BY
WILLIAM R. HUGHES, F.L.S.
WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED
ILLUSTRATIONS BY F. G. KITTON
AND OTHER ARTISTS.
LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL, Limited.
BOSTON: ESTES AND LAURIAT.
1891.
London & Bungay.
[All Rights reserved.]
MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS,
EMILY AND EDITH,
I DEDICATE
THIS RECORD OF "A WEEK'S TRAMP,"
TO REMIND THEM OF
THE MANY PLEASANT READINGS FROM DICKENS
WE HAVE ENJOYED TOGETHER
AT HOME.
PREFACE.
"'I should like to show you a series of eightarticles, Sir, that have appeared in the EatanswillGazette. I think I may venture to say that youwould not be long in establishing your opinions on afirm and solid basis, Sir.'
"'I dare say I should turn very blue long before Igot to the end of them,' responded Bob.
"Mr. Pott looked dubiously at Bob Sawyer forsome seconds, and turning to Mr. Pickwick said:—
"'You have seen the literary articles which haveappeared at intervals in the Eatanswill Gazette in thecourse of the last three months, and which have excitedsuch general—I may say such universal—attentionand admiration?'
"'Why,' replied Mr. Pickwick, slightly embarrassedby the question, 'the fact is, I have been so muchengaged in other ways, that I really have not had anopportunity of perusing them.'
"'You should do so, Sir,' said Pott with a severecountenance.
"'I will,' said Mr. Pickwick.[viii]
"'They appeared in the form of a copious review ofa work on Chinese metaphysics, Sir,' said Pott.
"'Oh,' observed Mr. Pickwick—'from your pen Ihope?'
"'From the pen of my critic, Sir,' rejoined Pottwith dignity.
"'An abstruse subject I should conceive,' said Mr.Pickwick.
"'Very, Sir,' responded Pott, looking intenselysage. 'He crammed for it, to use a technical but expressiveterm; he read up for the subject, at mydesire, in the Encyclopædia Britannica.'
"'Indeed!' said Mr. Pickwick; 'I was not awarethat that valuable work contained any informationrespecting Chinese metaphysics.'
"'He read, Sir,' rejoined Mr. Pott, laying his handon Mr. Pickwick's knee, and looking round with asmile of intellectual superiority, 'he read for metaphysi