ast Malling is a smaller town, and lies
nearer to Maidstone. Our object in visiting this pretty, old-fashioned
Kentish country town, is to verify its identity with that of Muggleton
of the _Pickwick Papers_. Great weight must be attached to the fact
that the present Mr. Charles Dickens, in his annotated Jubilee Edition
of the above work, introduces a very pretty woodcut of "High Street,
Town Malling," with a note to the effect that--

"Muggleton, perhaps, is only to be taken as a fancy sketch of a small
country town; but it is generally supposed, and probably with sufficient
accuracy, that, if it is in any degree a portrait of any Kentish town,
Town Malling, a great place for cricket in Mr. Pickwick's time, sat for
it."

The reader will remember that when at the hospitable Mr. Wardle's
residence at Manor Farm in Dingley Dell (by the bye, there is a
veritable "Manor Farm" at Frindsbury, near Strood, with ponds adjacent,
which may perhaps have suggested the episode of Mr. Pickwick on the
ice), an excursion was determined on by the Pickwickians to witness a
grand cricket match about to be played between the "All Muggleton" and
the "Dingley Dellers," a conference first took place as to whether the
invalid, Mr. Tupman, should remain or go with them.

"'Shall we be justified,' asked Mr. Pickwick, 'in
leaving our wounded friend to the care of the
ladies?'

"'You cannot leave me in better hands,' said Mr.
Tupman.

"'Quite impossible,' said Mr. Snodgrass."

The result of the conference was satisfactory.

"It was therefore settled that Mr. Tupman should
be left at home in charge of the females, and that
the remainder of the guests under the guidance of
Mr. Wardle should proceed to the spot, where was
to be held that trial of skill, which had roused
all Muggleton from its torpor, and inoculated
Dingley Dell with a fever of excitement.

"As their walk, _which was not above two miles
long_,[27] lay through shady lanes and
sequestered footpaths, and as their conversation
turned upon the delightful scenery by which they
were on every side surrounded, Mr. Pickwick was
almost inclined to regret the expedition they had
used, when he found himself in the main street of
the town of Muggleton."

The chronicle of _Pickwic