THE FIRST ILLUSTRATORS OF “PICKWICK.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 12

THE FIRST ILLUSTRATORS OF “PICKWICK.”

Some years ago, Mr Frederick R. Halsey, of New York, as is the way of his countrymen, secured an interesting original manuscript, which is described in tho "New York Nation/ - ' under the heading “News for Bibliophiles”~not that there is much news in it for keen Hickcnsians. Tho story of tho illustrators of the first edition of the “Pickwick Papers” is well known to collocToro —how tlio work was begun by Robert Seymour, who, after etching the seven plates contained in the first two numbers, committed suicide; how ho was succeeded by R. W. Buss, described by the publishers as “a gentleman already well known to the public as a very humorous and talented artist,” but with so slight a knowledge of etching that the two plates which ho made for number three were suppressed and appeared in only the earlier issue of that number, and lastly, 'how Hablot K. Browne (“Phiz' 5 ) was employed to make substitute plates for tho discarded ones by Buss, and to continue the work.

In 1549 Mrs -Seymour printed privately “An Account of the Origin of the Pickwick Papers/' full ‘ of bitterness, and containing many false statements, but contending, amt vrith some justice probably. that the series of “Papers" were actually originated by her The original of this pamphlet is exceedingly rare. A reprint was published in 1901. That Buss prepared an account of the affair, giving his grievances and a defence of himself, is not so well known. The original manuscript of this document was acquired some years ago by Frederick It. Halsey, of this city, and through his kindness wo arc permitted to describe it. It is a quarto blank book, bound in half leather, and containing 125 pages, including a number of drawings and photographs. it is dated on page 114, r *iß72, March 2nd," and signed “ Robert IVm. Buss." Tly? manuscript begins: Many years ago, in fact at the com*

menoement of Dickens' brilliant career as a novelist, it was my misfortune to be temporarily in connection with Messrs Chapman and Hall, and through them with Charles Dickens. In justice to myself I feel called ,upon to explain the whole affair, as some few points for the first time aro spoken of, . with which, not merely the publishers, but Dickens himself, as' well as tho public, wore and are unacquainted.

The 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 knowledge of drawing was picked up’by himself. By 1836 he had acquired a considerable reputation ae a humorous illustrator, and wrfs doing work for many publishers, among them Chapman and Hall. In the words of Buss;

He repeatedly spoke to them about a scheme he had for a long time had in his mind, that was, to publish these cockney scenes he had prepared and to work them up as a "Club of Cockney Sportsmen/' while the illustrations were to be tacked together with somo ooraic letterpress, so far to form a book. After a considerable time and frequent mention of the subject. Chapman and Hall paid some attention to Seymour's suggestions, and looked over the collection he had made. Upon tliis, Messrs Chapman and Hall considered the matter as settled, and began to think of some author who would accomplish their object satisfactorily. The, work was to Heigh Hunt and declined by him, and then to other known men who wrote light articles for the magazines, but not one of them seemed to enter

with cordiality upon the proposal. Buss then tells of the purchase by Chapman - and Hall from the assignees of Macrone, of the remainder'of Dickens’ "Sketches by Boz/' and continues: On Seymour's next visit to- the above publishers, they bearing in mind me “"Cockney Club" presented a copy of the volume to him and asked him to read the book and givo them his opinion as to the capability of the author, Charles Dickens, then only heard of under the nom_ de plume of fr ßoz," to work up the idea he had so long entertained. '

Upon Seymour’s return homo he found a party of convivial friends to whom he read aloud selections from the ‘'Sketches by Boz." They were unanimous in their opinion that tho author of those stories was the man to write tho test for Seymour's pictures. Arrangements were therefore made for tho publication of tho sketches and text, and the first number, with four' plates, duly appeared. Then Seymour shot himself in tho head with his fowling piece, leaving three etchings ready for No. 2. "At the time,” again quoting, Buss, "it was a very difiigplt thing indeed to find a designer of humorous subjects capable of etching them on steel. With the exception of George Cruickshank, there was really no artist-etcher of his _ own designs to be foundf'for the style of illustration was, with the single exception alluded to, a novelty, in fact tho range or fashion for etching had not then set in." To fill tho want, John Jackson, tho wood engraver, recommended JJuss to Chapman and Hall, and Mr Hall visited him and urged him to undertake tho work. Then, in Buss’s own words: Taken by surprise at tho application, I told him I had never in the wholo course of my life held ,an etching needle in my hand, and that I was entirely ignorant of tho process of etching as far as etching was concerned. He assured mo it was very easy to do, and that with my talent X was sure to succeed. -' On my hesitation he urged me still more to try and help them in tho hour of ; need, hinting that, of course, due consideration would bo shown towards the want of practice in etching. •Situated thus, urged by Hall, feeling complimented by my friend Jackson, and sharing the public sympathy iu poor Seymour’s fate, besides which my great admiration of tho talent ’ shown by Dickens, whoso work as Boz I had from tho first sketches in tho "Morning Chronicle” held iu great esteem, I consented to put aside my picture, and devote my whole time to acquiring tho peculiar touch for etching and getting practice in biting-in, tho design on tho steel

plate. Mounted in tlie book before us, says the “Nation’s” correspondent, are upwards of a hundred pen and ink sketches, some slight, others more elaborate, done at this time by Buss to acquire facility in the use of the etching needle.. Also, in this book, is inserted his first attempt at an etched illustration. The volume once contained the original drawings for several Pickwick illustrations, but these are now replaced by photographs. Drawings of the two plates by Buss, which were published in No. 3. were submitted to Chapman and Hall, and declared to be satisfactory. On account of tho limited tamo and his lack of experience, the two illustrations were etched on the steel plate by an “engraver friend,” and a pencil memorandum in the margin suggests “Mr Adcock.” For these two illustrations Buss received “the wretchedly ridiculous sum of thirty shillings for the two designs, the etching, biting-in, finishing the steel plate, and tho cost and trouble of proving." Mr Hall assured him that this sum' was what they had paid Seymour, and Buss adds“l 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* pay.” Buss had intended to continue the work, until a ’“curt note from Messrs Chapman and Hall informed him that thor had placed tho work of illustrating Pickwick in the hands of Mr Hablot 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 mad© application for the position of illustrator for “Pickwick” was W. AI. Thackeray. With Buss's account of Thackeray's capabilities as an illustrator, we shall close our extracts from his interesting manuscript; Thackeray had practised etching for some years, ho having taken lessons of my friend, William Rae, an engraver and printsellcr, at Cambridge, while Thackeray was an undergraduate. Thackeray's stylo of design, being founded upon a study of the works of Bunbury, an amateur caricaturist of a past generation, bad no originality whatever, and was quite, unsuited to succeed in thb steps of Seymour, for the great popularity of Pickwick had introduced a fashion, for popular art has its fashions much the same as bonnets and gowns, and this fashion began with Seymour and, after a time, scarcely any book was published without light touchy etchings of subjects founded> upon actual scenes and actual men and women.