‘May 12, 1827. Joseph Smiggers, Esq., P.V.P.M.P.C. [Perpetual Vice–President — Member Pickwick Club], presiding. The following resolutions unanimously agreed to:—
‘That this Association has heard read, with feelings of unmingled satisfaction, and unqualified approval, the paper communicated by Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C. [General Chairman — Member Pickwick Club], entitled “Speculations6 on the Source of the Hampstead Ponds, with some Observations on the Theory of Tittlebats;” and that this Association does hereby return its warmest thanks to the said Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., for the same.
‘That while this Association is deeply sensible of the advantages which must accrue7 to the cause of science, from the production to which they have just adverted8 — no less than from the unwearied researches of Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., in Hornsey, Highgate, Brixton, and Camberwell — they cannot but entertain a lively sense of the inestimable benefits which must inevitably9 result from carrying the speculations of that learned man into a wider field, from extending his travels, and, consequently, enlarging his sphere of observation, to the advancement10 of knowledge, and the diffusion11 of learning.
‘That, with the view just mentioned, this Association has taken into its serious consideration a proposal, emanating12 from the aforesaid, Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., and three other Pickwickians hereinafter named, for forming a new branch of United Pickwickians, under the title of The Corresponding Society of the Pickwick Club.
‘That the said proposal has received the sanction and approval of this Association. ‘That the Corresponding Society of the Pickwick Club is therefore hereby constituted; and that Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., Tracy Tupman, Esq., M.P.C., Augustus Snodgrass, Esq., M.P.C., and Nathaniel Winkle, Esq., M.P.C., are hereby nominated and appointed members of the same; and that they be requested to forward, from time to time, authenticated13 accounts of their journeys and investigations14, of their observations of character and manners, and of the whole of their adventures, together with all tales and papers to which local scenery or associations may give rise, to the Pickwick Club, stationed in London.
‘That this Association cordially recognises the principle of every member of the Corresponding Society defraying his own travelling expenses; and that it sees no objection whatever to the members of the said society pursuing their inquiries15 for any length of time they please, upon the same terms.
‘That the members of the aforesaid Corresponding Society be, and are hereby informed, that their proposal to pay the postage of their letters, and the carriage of their parcels, has been deliberated upon by this Association: that this Association considers such proposal worthy16 of the great minds from which it emanated17, and that it hereby signifies its perfect acquiescence18 therein.’
A casual observer, adds the secretary, to whose notes we are indebted for the following account — a casual observer might possibly have remarked nothing extraordinary in the bald head, and circular spectacles, which were intently turned towards his (the secretary’s) face, during the reading of the above resolutions: to those who knew that the gigantic brain of Pickwick was working beneath that forehead, and that the beaming eyes of Pickwick were twinkling behind those glasses, the sight was indeed an interesting one. There sat the man who had traced to their source the mighty19 ponds of Hampstead, and agitated20 the scientific world with his Theory of Tittlebats, as calm and unmoved as the deep waters of the one on a frosty day, or as a solitary21 specimen22 of the other in the inmost recesses23 of an earthen jar. And how much more interesting did the spectacle become, when, starting into full life and animation24, as a simultaneous call for ‘Pickwick’ burst from his followers25, that illustrious man slowly mounted into the Windsor chair, on which he had been previously26 seated, and addressed the club himself had founded. What a study for an artist did that exciting scene present! The eloquent27 Pickwick, with one hand gracefully28 concealed29 behind his coat tails, and the other waving in air to assist his glowing declamation30; his elevated position revealing those tights and gaiters, which, had they clothed an ordinary man, might have passed without observation, but which, when Pickwick clothed them — if we may use the expression — inspired involuntary awe31 and respect; surrounded by the men who had volunteered to share the perils32 of his travels, and who were destined33 to participate in the glories of his discoveries. On his right sat Mr. Tracy Tupman — the too susceptible34 Tupman, who to the wisdom and experience of maturer years superadded the enthusiasm and ardour of a boy in the most interesting and pardonable of human weaknesses — love. Time and feeding had expanded that once romantic form; the black silk waistcoat had become more and more developed; inch by inch had the gold watch-chain beneath it disappeared from within the range of Tupman’s vision; and gradually had the capacious chin encroached upon the borders of the white cravat35: but the soul of Tupman had known no change — admiration36 of the fair sex was still its ruling passion. On the left of his great leader sat the poetic37 Snodgrass, and near him again the sporting Winkle; the former poetically38 enveloped39 in a mysterious blue cloak with a canine-skin collar, and the latter communicating additional lustre40 to a new green shooting-coat, plaid neckerchief, and closely-fitted drabs.
Mr. Pickwick’s oration41 upon this occasion, together with the debate thereon, is entered on the Transactions of the Club. Both bear a strong affinity42 to the discussions of other celebrated43 bodies; and, as it is always interesting to trace a resemblance between the proceedings44 of great men, we transfer the entry to these pages.
‘Mr. Pickwick observed (says the secretary) that fame was dear to the heart of every man. Poetic fame was dear to the heart of his friend Snodgrass; the fame of conquest was equally dear to his friend Tupman; and the desire of earning fame in the sports of the field, the air, and the water was uppermost in the breast of his friend Winkle. He (Mr. Pickwick) would not deny that he was influenced by human passions and human feelings (cheers)— possibly by human weaknesses (loud cries of “No”); but this he would say, that if ever the fire of self-importance broke out in his bosom45, the desire to benefit the human race in preference effectually quenched46 it. The praise of mankind was his swing; philanthropy was his insurance office. (Vehement cheering.) He had felt some pride — he acknowledged it freely, and let his enemies make the most of it — he had felt some pride when he presented his Tittlebatian Theory to the world; it might be celebrated or it might not. (A cry of “It is,” and great cheering.) He would take the assertion of that honourable47 Pickwickian whose voice he had just heard — it was celebrated; but if the fame of that treatise48 were to extend to the farthest confines of the known world, the pride with which he should reflect on the authorship of that production would be as nothing compared with the pride with which he looked around him, on this, the proudest moment of his existence. (Cheers.) He was a humble49 individual. (“No, no.”) Still he could not but feel that they had selected him for a service of great honour, and of some danger. Travelling was in a troubled state, and the minds of coachmen were unsettled. Let them look abroad and contemplate50 the scenes which were enacting51 around them. Stage-coaches were upsetting in all directions, horses were bolting, boats were overturning, and boilers52 were bursting. (Cheers — a voice “No.”) No! (Cheers.) Let that honourable Pickwickian who cried “No” so loudly come forward and deny it, if he could. (Cheers.) Who was it that cried “No”? (Enthusiastic cheering.) Was it some vain and disappointed man — he would not say haberdasher (loud cheers) — who, jealous of the praise which had been — perhaps undeservedly — bestowed53 on his (Mr. Pickwick’s) researches, and smarting under the censure54 which had been heaped upon his own feeble attempts at rivalry55, now took this vile56 and calumnious57 mode of —–
‘Mr. BLOTTON (of Aldgate) rose to order. Did the honourable Pickwickian allude58 to him? (Cries of “Order,” “Chair,” “Yes,” “No,” “Go on,” “Leave off,” etc.)
‘Mr. PICKWICK would not put up to be put down by clamour. He had alluded59 to the honourable gentleman. (Great excitement.)
‘Mr. BLOTTON would only say then, that he repelled60 the hon. gent.‘s false and scurrilous61 accusation62, with profound contempt. (Great cheering.) The hon. gent. was a humbug63. (Immense confusion, and loud cries of “Chair,” and “Order.”)
‘Mr. A. SNODGRASS rose to order. He threw himself upon the chair. (Hear.) He wished to know whether this disgraceful contest between two members of that club should be allowed to continue. (Hear, hear.)
‘The CHAIRMAN was quite sure the hon. Pickwickian would withdraw the expression he had just made use of.
‘Mr. BLOTTON, with all possible respect for the chair, was quite sure he would not.
‘The CHAIRMAN felt it his imperative64 duty to demand of the honourable gentleman, whether he had used the expression which had just escaped him in a common sense.
‘Mr. BLOTTON had no hesitation65 in saying that he had not — he had used the word in its Pickwickian sense. (Hear, hear.) He was bound to acknowledge that, personally, he entertained the highest regard and esteem66 for the honourable gentleman; he had merely considered him a humbug in a Pickwickian point of view. (Hear, hear.)
‘Mr. PICKWICK felt much gratified by the fair, candid67, and full explanation of his honourable friend. He begged it to be at once understood, that his own observations had been merely intended to bear a Pickwickian construction. (Cheers.)’
Here the entry terminates, as we have no doubt the debate did also, after arriving at such a highly satisfactory and intelligible68 point. We have no official statement of the facts which the reader will find recorded in the next chapter, but they have been carefully collated69 from letters and other MS. authorities, so unquestionably genuine as to justify70 their narration71 in a connected form.
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1 immortal | |
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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2 derived | |
vi.起源;由来;衍生;导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取 | |
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3 perusal | |
n.细读,熟读;目测 | |
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4 indefatigable | |
adj.不知疲倦的,不屈不挠的 | |
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5 confided | |
v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的过去式和过去分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等) | |
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6 speculations | |
n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 );思考;投机活动;推断 | |
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7 accrue | |
v.(利息等)增大,增多 | |
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8 adverted | |
引起注意(advert的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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9 inevitably | |
adv.不可避免地;必然发生地 | |
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10 advancement | |
n.前进,促进,提升 | |
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11 diffusion | |
n.流布;普及;散漫 | |
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12 emanating | |
v.从…处传出,传出( emanate的现在分词 );产生,表现,显示 | |
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13 authenticated | |
v.证明是真实的、可靠的或有效的( authenticate的过去式和过去分词 );鉴定,使生效 | |
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14 investigations | |
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究 | |
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15 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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16 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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17 emanated | |
v.从…处传出,传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 );产生,表现,显示 | |
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18 acquiescence | |
n.默许;顺从 | |
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19 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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20 agitated | |
adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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21 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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22 specimen | |
n.样本,标本 | |
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23 recesses | |
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭 | |
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24 animation | |
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作 | |
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25 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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26 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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27 eloquent | |
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的 | |
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28 gracefully | |
ad.大大方方地;优美地 | |
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29 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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30 declamation | |
n. 雄辩,高调 | |
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31 awe | |
n.敬畏,惊惧;vt.使敬畏,使惊惧 | |
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32 perils | |
极大危险( peril的名词复数 ); 危险的事(或环境) | |
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33 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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34 susceptible | |
adj.过敏的,敏感的;易动感情的,易受感动的 | |
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35 cravat | |
n.领巾,领结;v.使穿有领结的服装,使结领结 | |
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36 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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37 poetic | |
adj.富有诗意的,有诗人气质的,善于抒情的 | |
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38 poetically | |
adv.有诗意地,用韵文 | |
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39 enveloped | |
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 lustre | |
n.光亮,光泽;荣誉 | |
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41 oration | |
n.演说,致辞,叙述法 | |
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42 affinity | |
n.亲和力,密切关系 | |
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43 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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44 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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45 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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46 quenched | |
解(渴)( quench的过去式和过去分词 ); 终止(某事物); (用水)扑灭(火焰等); 将(热物体)放入水中急速冷却 | |
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47 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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48 treatise | |
n.专著;(专题)论文 | |
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49 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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50 contemplate | |
vt.盘算,计议;周密考虑;注视,凝视 | |
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51 enacting | |
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的现在分词 ) | |
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52 boilers | |
锅炉,烧水器,水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
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53 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54 censure | |
v./n.责备;非难;责难 | |
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55 rivalry | |
n.竞争,竞赛,对抗 | |
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56 vile | |
adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的 | |
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57 calumnious | |
adj.毁谤的,中伤的 | |
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58 allude | |
v.提及,暗指 | |
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59 alluded | |
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60 repelled | |
v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 );使厌恶;排斥;推开 | |
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61 scurrilous | |
adj.下流的,恶意诽谤的 | |
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62 accusation | |
n.控告,指责,谴责 | |
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63 humbug | |
n.花招,谎话,欺骗 | |
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64 imperative | |
n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的 | |
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65 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
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66 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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67 candid | |
adj.公正的,正直的;坦率的 | |
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68 intelligible | |
adj.可理解的,明白易懂的,清楚的 | |
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69 collated | |
v.校对( collate的过去式和过去分词 );整理;核对;整理(文件或书等) | |
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70 justify | |
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护 | |
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71 narration | |
n.讲述,叙述;故事;记叙体 | |
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