We cannot distinctly say whether it was the prospect of the pipe, or the consolatory reflection that a fatal disposition to get married ran in the family, and couldn't be helped, which calmed Mr. Weller's feelings, and caused his grief to subside. We should be rather disposed to say that the result was attained by combining the two sources of consolation, for he repeated the second in a low tone, very frequently; ringing the bell meanwhile, to order in the first. He then divested himself of his upper coat; and lighting the pipe and placing himself in front of the fire with his back towards it, so that he could feel its full heat, and recline against the mantel-piece at the same time, turned towards Sam, and, with a countenance greatly mollified by the softening influence of tobacco, requested him to "fire away."

Sam dipped his pen into the ink to be ready for any corrections, and began with a very theatrical air — "Lovely —" [Chapter XXXIII, “Mr. Weller the Elder Delivers Some Critical Sentiments Respecting Literary Composition; And, Assisted by his Son Samuel, Pays a Small Instalment of Retaliation to the Account of the Reverend Gentleman with the Red Nose,” 343]

Commentary

Sam Weller, Mr. Pickwick' trusted valet and travelling companion, prepares a Valentine's Day card for the Nupkins' maid, Mary — but he signs it with his master's name, rather than his own. Shortly the frivolity will end as Mr. Pickwick, found guilty, is fined seven hundred and fifty pounds in damages in the trial of Bardell v. Pickwick.

This illustration first appeared in monthly part 12 (March 1837). The version of the steel engraving given here, according to Johannsen (1956) is B1; the notable difference between this and the two previous versions is the newspaper lying on the floor, right. "The maid behind the screen, especially her head, is more sharply defined than in Plate A" (49).

Phiz's Other Scenes Involving The Convivial Tony Weller

• The Red-Nosed Man Discourseth (August 1837 instalment)
• Tony Weller ejects Mr. Stiggins (November 1837 instalment)
• Mr. Weller and his friends drinking to Mr. Pell (November 1837 instalment)

The Jovial Tony Weller in the British and American Household Editions (1873-74)

Left: Phiz in the British Household Edition woodcut reworked his original steel engraving as Before Sam could interfere to prevent it, his heroic parent had penetrated into a remote corner of the room, and attacked the Reverend Stiggins with manual dexterity (Ch. XXII, 1874). Right: Phiz's British Household Edition woodcut reworks his August 1837 steel engraving as Mr. Stiggins, getting on his legs as well as he could, proceeded to deliver an edifying discourse for the benefit of the company (Ch. XLV, 1874). [Click on the images to enlarge them.]

Left: The American Household Edition's illustration by Thomas Nast gives us the climactic scene from inside the public house, Resuming his kicking with greater agility than before (1873). Right: Phiz's re-drafted version of the same scene for the Household Edition, Mr. Weller . . . . . immersing Mr. Stiggins's head in a horse-trough. [Click on the images to enlarge them.]

Tony Weller in Onwhyn's "Extra" Illustrations (1837)

• “He called me a wessel, Sammy — a wessel of wrath — and all sorts of names. So my blood being reg’larly up, I first gave him two or three for himself, and then two or three more to hand over to the man with the red nose, and walked off.” Page 225. [Chapter XXII, “In which Mr. Pickwick Journeys to Ipswitch and Meets with a Romantic Adventure with a Middle-Aged Lady in Yellow Curl-Papers,” issued August 31, 1837]
• “Well, that's a blessing,’” said Mr. Weller. “Sammy, help your master up to the box; t’other leg, Sir, that’s it; give us your hand, Sir. Up with you. You was a lighter weight when you was a boy, Sir.’” Page 227. [Chapter XXII, issued September 30, 1837]
• “Brother Tadger, Sir,” said Mr. Stiggins, suddenly increasing in ferocity, and turning sharp round on the little man in the drab shorts, “you are drunk, Sir.” Page 214. [Chapter XXXIII, “Mr. Weller the Elder Delivers Some Critical Sentiments Respecting Literary Composition; And, Assisted by his Son Samuel, Pays a Small Instalment of Retaliation to the Account of the Reverend Gentleman with the Red Nose,” issued October 26, 1837]
• “Mr. Weller surveyed the attorney from head to foot with great admiration, “And what’ll you take, Sir?” / “Why, really,” replied Mr. Pell “you’re very_Upon my word and honour, I’m not in the habit of_ It’s so very early in the morning, that, actually, I am almost_Well, you may bring me three penn’orth of rum, my dear.” Page 458. [Chapter LV, “Mr. Solomon Pell, Assisted by a Select Committee of Coachmen, Arranges the Affairs of the Elder Mr. Weller,” issued October 26, 1837]
• “Well, I’ll bet you half a dozen of claret,” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire_ This was addressed to a very smart young gentleman who wore his hat on his right whisker, and was lounging over the desk killing flies with a ruler.” Page 591. [Chapter LV, issued November 30, 1837]

Bibliography

Cohen, Jane Rabb. Charles Dickens and His Original Illustrators. Columbus: Ohio State U. P., 1980.

Dickens, Charles. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Illustrated by Robert Seymour, Robert Buss, and Phiz. London: Chapman and Hall, November 1837. With 32 additional illustrations by Thomas Onwhyn (London: E. Grattan, April-November 1837).

Hammerton, J. A. The Dickens Picture-Book. London: Educational Book Co., 1910.

Johannsen, Albert. "Part XII. Plate 26. Page 343. The Valentine." Illustrations from the Novels of Charles Dickens.. Chicago: University of Chicago Press,1956. Pp. 47-49.

Steig, Michael. Dickens and Phiz. Bloomington & London: Indiana U. P., 1978. Pp. 51-85.

Dickens, Charles. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. The Diamond Edition. Illustrated by Sol Eytinge, Jr.. Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1867.

_______. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Papers. Illustrated by Thomas Nast and Phiz. The Household Edition. London: Chapman and Hall, 1874; New York: Harpers, 1873.

Created 10 December 2011

Last modified 19 February 2024