the serial character. It is only the form of their appearance
which gives them a place among the periodicals."

In the light of more recent events and tendencies, this appears to have
been the first serious attempt to popularize and broaden the sale of
literature to any considerable extent, and it may be justly inferred that
the cheap "Libraries," "Series," and "Reprints" of the present day are but
an outgrowth therefrom.

As for Dickens' own share in this development, it is only necessary to
recall the demand which has for many years existed for the original issues
of such of the novels as appeared in parts. The earliest issues were: "The
Pickwick Papers," in 20 parts, 1836-37, which contained the two suppressed
Buss plates; "Nicholas Nickleby," in 20 parts, 1838-39; "Master Humphrey's
Clock," in 88 weekly numbers, 1840-41; "Master Humphrey's Clock," in 20
monthly parts, 1840-41; "Martin Chuzzlewit," in 20 parts, 1843-44; "Oliver
Twist," in 10 octavo parts, 1846.

At the time when "Oliver Twist" had scarce begun, Dickens was already
surrounded by a large circle of literary and artistic friends and
acquaintances. His head might well have been turned by his financial
success, many another might have been so affected. His income at this time
(1837-38) was supposed to have increased from L400 to L2,000 per annum,
surely an independent position, were it an assured one for any litterateur
of even the first rank, of Dickens' day or of any other.

In November of 1837 "Pickwick" was finished, and the event celebrated by a
dinner "at the Prince of Wales" in Leicester Place, off Leicester Square.
To this function Dickens had invited Talfourd, Forster, Macready, Harrison
Ainsworth, Jerdan, Edward Chapman, and William Hall.

Dickens' letter to Macready was in part as follows:

"It is to celebrate (that is too great a word, but I can think of no
better) the conclusion of my 'Pickwick' labours; and so I intend, before
you take that roll upon the grass you spoke of, to beg your acceptance of
one of the first complete copies of the work. I shall be much delighted if
you would join us."

Of "Nicholas Nickleby," written in 1838-39, Sydney Smith, one of its many
detractors, finally succumbed and admitted: "'Nickleby' is very good--I
held out against Dickens as long as I could, but he has conquered me."

Shortly after the "Pickwick" dinner, and after the death of his wife's
sister Mary, who lived with them, Dickens, his wife, and "