r 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, Ip