But, perhaps, by way of preface I shall remind the reader that the final number of _Pickwick_ was issued in November, 1837. The first French version--which Mr. Percy Fitzgerald justly calls 'a rude adaptation rather than a translation'--appeared in 1838, and was entitled _Le Club de Pickwickistes, Roman Comique, traduit librement de l'Anglais par Mdme. Eugenie Giboyet_. With equal justice Mr. Fitzgerald complains (_The History of Pickwick_, p. 276) that "the most fantastic tricks are played with the text, most of the dialogue being left out and the whole compressed into two small volumes." Yet, in fact, Mme. Giboyet (as will appear) was more sinned against than sinning. Clearly she undertook to translate the immortal novel in collaboration with a M. Alexandre D--', and was driven by the author's disapproval to suppress M. D--'s share of the work. The dates are sufficient evidence that this was done (as it no doubt had to be done) in haste. I regret that my researches have yielded no further information respecting this M. Alexandre D--'. The threat in the second letter may or may not have been carried out. I am inclined to hope that it was, feeling sure that the result, if ever discovered, will prove in the highest degree entertaining. With this I may leave the letters to speak for themselves. (1) "45 Doughty Street," "September 25th, 1837." "MY DEAR MADAM,--It is true that when granting the required permission to translate _Pickwick_ into French, I allowed also the license you claimed for yourself and your _collaborateur_--of adapting rather than translating, and of presenting my hero under such small disguise as might commend him better to a Gallic audience. But I am bound to say that--to judge only from the first half of your version, which is all that has reached me--you have construed this permission more freely than I desired. In fact, the parent can hardly recognise his own child. "Against your share in the work, Madame, I have little to urge, though the damages you represent Mrs. Bardell as claiming--300,000 francs, or 12,000 pounds of our money--strikes me as excessive. It is rather (I take as my guide the difference in the handwriting) to your _collaborateur_ that I address, through you, my remonstrances.