Seymour was very fond of horticultural pursuits, and took great pains in cultivating his own garden; but the result of his efforts in this direction proved disappointing, and when dilating upon his want of success, it was suggested that the misfortunes of an amateur gardener might be made the subject of some entertaining drawings. After pondering over this idea, and mindful of the fact that he still possessed a number of unpublished sketches reflecting upon the abilities of amateur sportsmen, he resolved upon reproducing some of a sporting character. His original notion was to bring out a work similar in plan to that of "The Heiress," a pictorial novel which he illustrated in 1830, and he first proposed the subject to the printseller McLean in 1835, and then to Spooner, the well-known publisher. The latter highly approved the project, and in discussing it they concluded it would be desirable to supplement the pictures with suitable letterpress. The undertaking was so far advanced that Seymour etched four plates, but, owing to unforeseen delays on the part of Spooner, the matter was held in abeyance for about three months, by which time Seymour determined to issue the work on his own responsibility, and to endeavour to get H. Mayhew or Moncrieff to write for it. * * * * * [Sidenote: =The Pickwick Papers, 1836-37.=] When, in February 1836, Edward Chapman (of Chapman & Hall) called upon him with reference to a drawing which the firm had commissioned him to undertake, the artist mentioned the scheme of a work to be illustrated by him, having, as a central idea, a "Club of Cockney Sportsmen." Chapman thought favourably of the notion, and proposed that it should be brought out in two half-guinea volumes; but Seymour, desiring the widest circulation, insisted on the plan he originally conceived, that of shilling monthly numbers. Then came the question, Who should prepare the requisite text? Leigh Hunt, Theodore Hook, and other prominent writers of the day declined to undertake it, and shortly afterwards Seymour, having just been reading "Sketches by Boz," the humour and originality of which highly delighted him, proposed that Dickens should be asked to contribute the letterpress. PLATE XVI "MR. PICKWICK ADDRESSES THE CLUB" _Facsimile_ of the Original Drawing for "The Pickwick Papers" by R. SEYMOUR _Lent by Mr. Augustin Daly._ [Illustration]