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"I was a young man of three-and-twenty when the present publishers, attracted by some pieces I was at that time writing in the Morning Chronicle newspaper (of which one series had lately been collected and published in two volumes, illustrated by my esteemed friend Mr. George Cruikshank), waited upon me to propose a something that should be published in shilling numbers. The idea propounded to me was that the monthly something should be a vehicle for certain plates to be executed by Mr. Seymour; and there was a notion, either on the part of that admirable humorous artist, or of my visitor (I forget which), that a "Nimrod Club," the members of which were to go out shooting, fishing, and so forth, and getting themselves into difficulties through their want of dexterity, would be the best means of introducing these. I objected, on consideration, that, although born and partly bred in the country I was no great sportsman, except in regard of all kinds of locomotion; that the idea was not novel, and had been already much used; that it would be infinitely better for the plates to arise naturally out of the text; and that I should like to take my own way, with a freer range of English scenes and people, and was afraid I should ultimately do so in any case, whatever course I might prescribe to myself at starting. My views being deferred to, I thought of Mr. Pickwick, and wrote the first number; from the proof-sheets of which Mr. Seymour made his drawing of the club, and that happy portrait of its founder, by which he is always recognised, and which may be said to have made him a reality. I connected Mr. Pickwick with a Club, because of the original suggestion, and I put in Mr. Winkle expressly for the use of Mr. Seymour. We started with a number of twenty-four pages instead of thirty-two, and four illustrations in lieu of a couple. Mr. Seymour's sudden and lamented death before the second number was published brought about a quick decision upon a point already in agitation; the number became one of thirty-two pages with two illustrations, and remained so to the end. My friends told me it was a low, cheap form of publication, by which I should ruin all my rising hopes; and how right my friends turned out to be, everybody now knows."

In the same preface Mr. Dickens clears up another point: -"Boz," my signature in the Morning Chronicle, appended to the monthly issue of this book, and retained long after

wards, was the nickname of a pet child, a younger brother, whom I had dubbed Moses, in honour of the Vicar of Wakefield; which being facetiously pronounced through the nose became Boses, and being shortened became Boz. 'Boz' was a very familiar household word to me, long before I was an author, and so I came to adopt it."

Here is an interesting record of the popularity of this masterpiece of humour. Mr. Davy, who accompanied Colonel Chesney up the Euphrates, was, for a time, in the service of Mehemet Ali Pacha. "Pickwick" happening to reach Davy while he was at Damascus, he read part of it to the Pacha, who was so delighted with it, that Davy was, on one occasion, called up in the middle of the night to finish the reading of the chapter in which he and the Pacha had been interrupted. Mr. Davy read, in Egypt, upon another occasion, some passages from these unrivalled Papers to a blind Englishman, who was in such ecstasy with what he heard, that he exclaimed, he was almost thankful he could not see he was in a foreign country; for that, while he listened, he felt completely as though he were again in England.

JOHN BLACK, THE MORNING CHRONICLE, AND ITS

CONTRIBUTORS.

This fearlessly honest journalist, who was editor of the Morning Chronicle nearly a third of a century, was one of the old school, and lived at his workshop, in the upper storey of the then office, in Norfolk-street, Strand. He was twice married his second wife was Miss Cromeck, sister of the artist of that name, in Newman-street, Oxford-street, and where Black temporarily lodged. Mrs. Black was herself a remarkable woman-something like Meg Merrilies in person. The garret habits of the couple were a frequent source of amusement to their friends. Black's rooms, including the bed-room, were so encumbered with books, both on the walls and on the floor-the gleanings of nearly half a centurythat it was difficult to walk through them. At one time, the pair were obliged to creep into bed at the end, the bedsides being piled up with dusty volumes of divinity and politics.

Black had a very wide circle of political and literary associates, and personally knew every leading Liberal of his time. Every eminent man in the wide world of British and Irish politics sought his aid; and he kept the secrets entrusted to

him with scrupulous fidelity: he never professionally betrayed his contributors. The Duke of Sussex was an active purveyor for him, especially during the illness of George III., and the Regency. His other frequent writers were, Sheridan, Adair, D. Kinnaird, General Palmer, Mr. E. Dubois, the Rev. Mr. Colton, Lord Holland (very often), John Allen, Porson, Jekyll, "Tommy Hill" (facetiously reported to have been older than the Monument, the Great Fire of 1666 having destroyed his baptismal register!), Horace Smith, and other worthies. To these especially, and as more eminent political writers, may be added the names of Albany Fonblanque, James Mill, David Ricardo, C. P. Thomson (afterwards Lord Sydenham), Mr. McCulloch (one of his most steady and attached friends), and Mr. Senior. These gentlemen wrote chiefly on subjects of political economy. Mr. Chadwick provided Mr. Black with ample material on the Poor-laws. Mr. Francis Place, though a Charing-cross tailor, supplied Mr. Black, as also did Mr. Hume, with invaluable material in the discussion of the Repeal and Alteration of the Combination Laws, and the Export of Machinery, in 1824-5. Many members of the Upper House also favoured Mr. Black with contributions, especially the "Jockey of Norfolk" (called the first Protestant Duke), the Lords Erskine, Moira, Lauderdale, Essex, and Durham. Charles Buller, then a student in Mr. Coulson's chambers, first used his pen for Black. The supposed ghost of Junius also haunted the editor's room. Sir Philip Francis was the author of the "Historical Questions" which appeared in the Chronicle; and Proby, the sub-editor, was struck by the similitude of the handwriting to the facsimiles of the Letters of Junius in the Public Ledger.

Lord Brougham's handwriting was well known during the Queen's Trial, and for fully a quarter of a century afterwards. The Right Hon. Edward Ellice, the member for Coventry, was a frequent and valued correspondent. His handwriting could scarcely be deciphered by any one but Black, and occasioned no little difficulty to the compositors. On one occasion, the overseer brought down the manuscript of the right honourable member into Black's room in despair: "Sir, I wish the gentleman of the hieroglyphics would write legibly—the men can't make out his signs." Black would reply, "The asses! let them try again; no man writes a finer hand or a more rocket leader!

Mr. Joseph Parkes was a constant contributor on Tithes, and Municipal, Parliamentary, and Law Reforms; Colonel Thompson, on the Corn-law Question; and Colonel Jones, as "Radical." Tom Moore deposited with Black occasional leaders on Irish party subjects; he also contributed poetry to the Chronicle. Black's old friend and schoolfellow, Mr. Thomas Young, was another invaluable friend, especially in the crisis of the Reform Acts, writing numerous articles for the Chronicle, and also keeping the press au courant in such information as Lord Melbourne (to whom Mr. Young was then Private Secretary) considered important for the right direction of public opinion. Sir Robert Peel, with all his prudery, did not think it inconsistent with his dignity to send a 66 'communication," now and then, with "Sir Robert Peel's compliments." He also had communications from Windsor, in subsequent reigns. George III. was more than suspected by Mr. Black of the perpetration of a leading article, the subject being himself. Nor was Black's useful connexion confined only to noblemen and gentlemen: he had a powerful corps of female contributors, amongst whom were Miss Edgeworth, Mrs. Marcet, and Lady Caroline Lamb.

Our editor was twice engaged in "affairs of honour"—the first time with a colleague on the press, for provocation arising out of a personal squabble or argumentation on politics; and the second time with Mr. Roebuck, in consequence of an article in the Chronicle, which, however, Mr. Black did not write. Both these affairs were, happily, bloodless.

Mr. Black retired from the management of the Morning Chronicle in 1844, when he was compelled to sell his valuable library, the collection of which had been the great charm of his life. Every reader of the Chronicle must remember it as an authority upon bibliographical matters. With the proceeds of the sale of the library, added to a sum contributed by the proprietors of the Chronicle, and other moneys raised for him among the leaders of the Liberal party, Black bought himself a small annuity. Lords Melbourne and Campbell contributed the sum of 100l. each. The annuity thus purchased was amply sufficient for the simple tastes and moderate wants of Mr. Black; and from 1844 to his decease, in 1855, his years were passed in the calm and rational enjoyment of a wellearned repose. Mr. Coulson, it should be added, gave his friend a cottage, at a nominal rent, and a piece of land to

cultivate. Here the ancient editor read Greek, walked with his dogs, fed pigs, weeded his garden, and heard afar off the roar of that great world which he had quitted for ever. It was here at Birling, near Town Malling-that the philosopher died, bequeathing to his friend, Mr. Coulson, his books and papers.

Our editor was a great favourite with Lord Melbourne, who, on one occasion, said to him: "Mr. Black, you are the only person who comes to see me who forgets who I am." The editor opened his eyes with astonishment. "You forget that I am the Prime Minister!" Mr. Black was about to apologise; but the Premier continued: "Every body else takes especial care to remember it; but I wish they would forget it, for they only remember it to ask me for places and favours. Now, Mr. Black," added his Lordship, "you never ask me for anything, and I wish you would; for, seriously, I should be most happy to do anything in my power to serve you." "I am truly obliged," said Mr. Black, "but I don't want anything. I am Editor of the Morning Chronicle-I like my business, and I live happily on my income." "Then, by G-," said the Peer, "I envy you; and you're the only man I ever did!"

It should be noted that Mr. Black had a keen eye for the discovery of youthful genius-a warm heart to appreciate, a sound head to advise, and a liberal hand to reward it. It was Mr. Black who was among the first to discover and encourage the extraordinary gifts of the young Charles Dickens, when he was a reporter for the Morning Chronicle. Many other instances might be mentioned, among living authors, of Black's literary friendship and kind encouragement, bestowed upon them when support was most needed; to him they owed their first footing on the ladder of fortune.1

Mr. Black was distinguished by two or three sobriquets. In early life, his love of argumentation led to his being called "Professor of Logic," and "The Flying Scotchman." Cobbett abused him in his Register as the "Feelosopher," and "Doctor Black." The latter led to some droll mistakes. Mr. Place, of Charing-cross, having printed a political pamphlet, desired his publisher to send a copy to Black, for review in the Chronicle. This was done; but the review appeared not.

1 Abridged from a Contribution to The Illustrated London News, July 7, 1855.