Brief description: Manuscript leaf from 'Pickwick Papers', Numbered 74, Chapter XXXVI, Installment 13, c.1837
Label: Dickens pledged to finish The Pickwick Papers, his first novel, in twenty 'numbers' or monthly issues. However, he frequently missed his copy deadlines. He found providing text to the printer two months ahead of publication challenging. At this time he was also editor of the magazine Bentley’s Miscellany, wrote the play The Village Coquettes and contributed to the Morning Chronicle newspaper. This was combined with a busy personal life as a newly married husband and father.
Collection: Archives & Manuscripts
Object number: A998
Object type: manuscript
Production date: c.1837
Inscription content: ‘Perhaps we had better be walking,’ said Mr. Smauker, consulting a copper timepiece which dwelt at the bottom of a deep watch-pocket, and was raised to the surface by means of a black string, with a copper key at the other end.

‘P’raps we had,’ replied Sam, ‘or they’ll overdo the swarry, and that’ll spile it.’

‘Have you drank the waters, Mr. Weller?’ inquired his companion, as they walked towards High Street.

‘Once,’ replied Sam.

‘What did you think of ‘em, Sir?’

‘I thought they was particklery unpleasant,’ replied Sam.

‘Ah,’ said Mr. John Smauker, ‘you disliked the killibeate taste, perhaps?’

‘I don’t know much about that ‘ere,’ said Sam. ‘I thought they’d a wery strong flavour o’ warm flat irons.’

‘That is the killibeate, Mr. Weller,’ observed Mr. John Smauker contemptuously.

‘Well, if it is, it’s a wery inexpressive word, that’s all,’ said Sam.
Credit line: Purchased with support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund, the Friends of the Nation's Libraries and The Dickens Fellowship.

Manuscript leaf from Pickwick Papers, c.1837