"PICKWICK'S" ILLUSTRATORS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 9

"PICKWICK'S" ILLUSTRATORS.

Tho story of the illustrators of th© first edition of the "Pickwick Papers" is well known to collectors—how the work was begun by Robert Seymour, who, after etching t':o seven plates contained in tho first two numbers, committed suicide; how he was succeeded by E. W.. liuss, described by the publishers as "A genllcman aiready well known to the public as a very humorous find talented artist," but with so slight a knowledge of etching that tho two plates which ho made for number iii wero suppressed and appeared in only the earliest issue of that number, and. lastly, how Uablol K. Browne ('Thi/,'') was employed to mafco substitute plates for the discarded, ones by Buss, and to continue the work.

In 1810 Mrs. Seymour printed privately "An Account of the Origin of tho I'ickwick Papers," full of bitterness and containing many fake statements, but contending, and with souk- jnstieo probably, that the series of "Papers" were actually originated by her husband. The original of this pamphlet is exceedingly rare. A reprint was published in 1!)01. That Buss prepared an account of the affair, giving his grievances and % defence of himself, is not so well known. The original man;: scrip lof this document was acquired some years ago by Frederick I'. Halsny. of New York. It. is a quarto blank book, bo;:.,'id in half leather, and containing 120 pages, including a number of drawings and photographs. It is dated on page 114, "IS"", March L'nd," and signed "Robert Wid. Buss." Tho maimscrifl't begins i--*

"Many years ago, in fact, at tho commencement of Dickens's brilliant career as a novelist, it was my misfortune to bo temporarily in connection with Jlossrs. Chapman and Hall and through them with Charles Dickens.

' "in justice to myself i feel called upon to explain the whole all'air, as somo few points for the lirst time arc spoken of, with which, not merely tho publishers, but Dickens himself as well as tho public wero and arc unacquainted."

Tho narrative begins with an account of Seymour's early life. Buss's statements as to his parentage do not agree with those given in the Dictionary of National Biography, but this is of small moment now. He was without book education, and his knowledgo of drawing was pickcd up by himself. By 1836 he had acquired a considerable reputation as a humorous illustrator, and was doing work for many publishers, among them Chapman and Hall. In the words of Buss:—

"Ho repeatedly spoko to them about a scheme ho had for a lons timo had in his mind that was to publish these cockney scenes ho had prepared and to work them up as a 'Club of Cockney Sportsmen/ while tho illustrations were to be tacked together with some comic letterpress, so as to form a book.

"After considerable time- and frequent mention of the subject, Chapman and Hall paid somo attention to Seymour's suggestions and looked over the collcction ho had made. Upon this, Messrs. Chapman and Hall considered tho matter as settled, and began to think of soino author who would accomplish their object satisfactorily, Tho' work was proposed to Leigh Hunt, and declined by him, and then to other known men who wrote light articles for tho magazines, but not one of them seemed to enter with cordiality upon tho proposal."

Buss then tolls of tho purchase by Chapman and Hall from tho assignees of Macronc, of tho remainder of Dickens's "Sketches by Boz," and continues

"On Seymour's next visit to the above publishers, they, bearing in mind tho ' Cockney Clti!),' presented a copy of the volume to him and asked him to read tho book and give them his opinion as to the capability of the author, Charles Dickons, then, only, heard of under tho noin do plume of ' Box,' to work up the idea he had so long entertained." Upon Seymour's return home lie found a party of convivial friends to wliom'he read aloud selections from tho "Sketches by Boz." They were unanimous in their opinion that the author of thoso. stories was the man to writo the text for Seymour's pictures. Arrangements _ were therefore made for tho publication of the sketches and text, and tho first number, with four plates, duly appeared. Then Seymour shot himself iu the head with his fowling piece, leaving three etchings ready for No. 2. "At the time," again quoting Buss, "it was a very difficult tiling indeed to find a designer of humorous subjects capable of etching them on stool. With the exception of George Cruikshank, there was really no artist-etcher of his own designs to bo found, ror the stylo of illustrations was, with tho single exception alluded to, a novelty; in fact, tho rango or fashion for otching had not then set in." To fill the want, John Jackson, tho wood engraver, recommended Buss to Chapman and Hall, and Mr. Hall visited him and urged him to undertake tho work. Then, in Buss's own words:—

by surprise at the application, X told hmi I had never in tho whole course of my life held an etching needle in my hand, and that I was entirely ignorant of_ the process of etching as far as etching was concerned. He assured mo it was very easy to do, and that, with my talent, I was suro to succeed. On my (hesitation ho urged me still more to try," and help them in tho hour of need, hinting that, of course, duo consideration would bo shown towards the want of practico in etching. Situated thus, urged by Hall, feeling complimented by ni.v friend Jackson, and sharing tlio public sympathy 111 poor Seymour's fate, besides which was my great admiration of tho talent shown by Dickens, whoso work as Boz I had from tho first skotclics in olic Horning Chronicle 1 held in great esteem, I consented to put aside my pictures, and devoto my whole timo to tho acquiring of the peculiar touch for etchlug and getting practice in biting-in the design on the steel plate. Drawings of the two plates bv Buss which were published iu No. 3 wero submitted to Chapman and Hall and declared to be satisfactory. On account of the limited timo and his lack of experience, tho two illustrations were etched on tho steel plate by an "engraver friend" and a pencil memorandum in the margin suggests "Mr Adcock." For these two illustrations Buss received "the wretchecm- rirticutoi-a sum of thirty shillings for the two designs the etching, bit,ing-in, finishing.'"the steel plate, and the cost and trouble of proving." Mr. Hall assured him that this sum.was what they had paid Sevmour. and Buss adds: "I can only say that I do not wonder at Seymour or any other unfortunate devil of an artist blowing out his brains, if he had any after such an experience of publishers' nav." Buss had inteimeir to continue tho work until "a'curt note from Messrs Chapman and Hall informed him that thev had placed the work of illusfrntiii" Pickwick in the hands of Mr. Hablo't Browne."

There is much more of reminiscence and complaint, with some commendation of other publishers for whom Buss had worked. _ It is well known that among the artists who made aoplicatffrii for the position nf illustrator for "Pickwick" was IV. M. Thackeray. Hero is Buss's account, of Thackeray's capabilities as an illustrator:—

"Thackeray had practised etching for some jears, havinc taken lessons of m\ friend, W illiani I\ie, an engraver a"d print seller, at Cambridge, while T lackerar was nti undergraduate. Thackeray's strip of design tains founded upon a study of the "works of Bunbury. an amateur caricaturist of a past generation, bad no originality whatever, and was quite unsnitod to succeed in the .'tens of P"vnioiir. for the ereat pomilnrity nf Pickwick Ji n ,l introduce a fashion, for popular art has its fashions much the same as bo.nnots and crowns, and tin's fashion began with Seymour and, after a time, so.ireelv any bonV was nublfshed without light touchy etchings of subjects founded 110011 scenes and actual men and women."