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and the extreme Sabbatarian party, and had immediate reference to a bill "for the better observance of the Sabbath," which the House of Commons had recently thrown out by a small majority. The illustrations in this little work were drawn by HABLOT BROWNE, and are very choice examples of wood-engraving of the school that existed half a century ago. Its original price was one shilling, but having become very scarce, it is now worth more than its weight in gold. These early productions of BROWNE'S pencil at once introduced him to public notice, and DICKENS showed his appreciation of their excellence by selecting him as the illustrator of the _Pickwick Papers_, which appeared during the early part of that year. It is well known to the readers of Forster's _Life of Dickens_, that the idea of "Pickwick" was suggested to the author by ROBERT SEYMOUR, whose tastes induced him to etch a few plates of sporting subjects to which DICKENS was to supply the text. Thus commenced that immortal work known as _The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club_. SEYMOUR produced seven illustrations, when he committed suicide, which obliged the publishers to make arrangements with another artist. R. W. BUSS[B] succeeded SEYMOUR, and etched two plates, which DICKENS, who had by this time assumed the control of the work, thought so unsatisfactory (as indeed they were), that he declined his further services. Here a fresh opening was created, and WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY competed with HABLOT KNIGHT BROWNE for the post; both submitting to DICKENS' inspection some specimens of their work. The choice fell upon "Phiz," the artist whose ability has so admirably proved the wisdom of the selection; and THACKERAY thereupon determined to adopt another profession, with what happy results let _Esmond_ testify. Who could say whether _Vanity Fair_ would ever have been written had this mighty penman been chosen to succeed BUSS? It is curious to note THACKERAY'S great anxiety to become an artist; he even went abroad to study, but SALA tells us that "Mr. THACKERAY drew, perhaps, rather worse than he had done before beginning his continental studies, although at that time he actually supplied a series of etchings to illustrate DOUGLAS JERROLD'S _Men of Character_, which were prodigies of badness." When "Phiz" had been selected as the illustrator of the _Pickwick Papers_, his generous rival was the first to tell him the good news, and offer his congratulation
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