Pickwickian Studies | Page 3

been despatched by the proprietors of the Chronicle to report the
speeches at the election, and he did not care to take advantage of his
mission for literary purposes. The father of the late Mr. Alfred
Morrison, the well- known, amiable virtuoso, was one of the candidates
for Ipswich at the election in 1835, and he used to tell how young
"Boz" was introduced into one of the rooms at the "Great White
Horse," where the head-quarters of the candidate was. Sir Fitzroy Kelly
was the other candidate, a name that seems pointed at in Fizkin.
This high and mighty point of the locality of Eatanswill has given rise
to much discussion, and there are those who urge the claims of other
towns, such as Yarmouth and Norwich. It has been ingeniously urged
that, in his examination before Nupkins, Mr. Pickwick stated that he
was a perfect stranger in the town, and had no knowledge of any
householders there who could be bail for him. Now if Eatanswill were
Ipswich, he must have known many--the Pott family for instance--and
he had resided there for some time. But the author did not intend that
the reader should believe that the two places were the same, and wished
them to be considered different towns, though he considered them as
one. It has been urged, too, that Ipswich is not on the direct road to
Norwich as stated by the author; but on consulting an old road book
(Mogg's) I find that it is one of the important stages on the coach line.
But what is conclusive is the question of distance. On hurrying away so
abruptly from Mrs. Leo Hunter's, Mr. Pickwick was told by that lady
that the adventurer was at Bury St. Edmunds, "not many miles from
here," that is a short way off. Now Bury is no more than about
four-and-twenty miles from Ipswich, a matter of about four hours'
coach travelling. Great Yarmouth is fully seventy by roundabout roads,
which could not be described as being "a short way from here." It
would have taken eight or nine hours--a day's journey. Mr. Pickwick
left Eatanswill about one or two, for the lunch was going on, and got to
Bury in time for dinner, which, had he left Yarmouth, would have

taken him to the small hours of the morning.
No one was such a thorough "Pressman" as was "Boz," or threw
himself with such ardour into his profession. To his zeal and
knowledge in this respect we have the warmest testimonies. When he
was at Ipswich for the election, he, beyond doubt, entered with zest and
enjoyment into all the humours. No one could have written so minute
and hearty an account without having been "behind the scenes" and in
the confidence of one or other of the parties. And no wonder, for he
represented one of the most important of the London "dailies."
The fact is, Ipswich was a sort of a tempestuous borough, the scene of
many a desperate conflict in which one individual, Mr. Fitzroy
Kelly--later Chief Baron--made the most persevering efforts, again and
again renewed, to secure his footing. Thus, in December, 1832, there
was a fierce struggle with other candidates, Messrs. Morrison, Dundas,
and Rigby Wason, in which he was worsted--for the moment. But, in
January, 1835, when he stood again, he was successful. This must have
been the one in Pickwick, when the excesses there described may have
taken place. There were four candidates: one of whom, Mr. Dundas--no
doubt depicted as the Honourable Mr. Slumkey--being of the noble
family of Zetland. We find that the successful candidate was unseated
on petition, and his place taken by another candidate. In 1837, he stood
once more, and was defeated by a very narrow majority. On a scrutiny,
he was restored to Parliament. Finally, in 1847, he lost the seat and
gave up this very uncertain borough. Now all this shows what forces
were at work, and that, with such determined candidates, electoral
purity was not likely to stand in the way. All which makes for Ipswich.
It must be said, however, that a fair case can be made for Norwich. In
introducing Eatanswill, Boz says that "an anxious desire to abstain
from giving offence" prompted Mr. Pickwick, i.e., Boz, to conceal the
real name of the place. He adds that he travelled by the Norwich coach,
"but this entry (in Mr. Pickwick's notes) was afterwards lined through
as if for the purpose of concealing even the direction." Some might
think that this was a veiled indication, but it seems too broad and
obvious a method, that is, by crossing out a name to reveal the name. It

is much more likely he meant that the town was somewhere between
Norwich and London, and on that