The Inns and Taverns of "Pickwick": With Some Observations on Their Other Associations — John Shaqi
The Inns and Taverns of "Pickwick": With Some Observations on Their Other AssociationsMatz, B. W. (Bertram Waldrom)
History
The Inns and Taverns of "Pickwick": With Some Observations on Their Other Associations
Matz, B. W. (Bertram Waldrom)
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870. Pickwick papers; Taverns (Inns) -- England
Whether Mr. Pickwick had some idea of finding other quarters when he
said he was "at present suspended" we do not know; at all events he
made the tavern his London residence until, at the end of his
adventures, he retired to Dulwich. Before, however, he settled down
there, many incidents connected with his career took place within the
walls of his favourite tavern. It was in his sitting-room here that
the subpoenas re Bardell v. Pickwick were served on his three friends
and Sam Weller on behalf of the plaintiff. The Pickwickians were
seated round the fire after a comfortable dinner when Mr. Jackson, the
plaintiff's man, by his unexpected appearance, disturbed their happy
gathering. It was from the "George and Vulture" they all drove to the
Guildhall on the day of the trial, and it was in Mr. Pickwick's room
in the tavern that he vowed to Mr. Perker he would never pay even a
halfpenny of the damages.
The next morning the Pickwickians again continued their travels,
Bath being their choice of place. Returning after a week's absence,
we are told that Mr. Pickwick with Sam "straightway returned to his
old quarters at the 'George and Vulture.'" Before another week
elapsed the fateful and inevitable day came when Mr. Pickwick was
arrested and eventually conveyed to the Fleet Prison. He was in bed
at the time, and so annoyed was Sam that he threatened to pitch the
officer of the law out of the window into the yard below. Mr.
Pickwick's deliverance from prison took him once again to the
"George and Vulture," and to him came Arabella Allan and Winkle to
announce to him that they were man and wife and made it their place
of residence whilst Mr. Pickwick went off to Birmingham to make
peace with Nathaniel's father. Mr. Winkle, senior, eventually
visited the old hostel and formally approved of his daughter-in-law.
It was whilst in the inn also that Sam Weller received the news
of the death of his "mother-in-law," conveyed in the extraordinary
letter from his father, which he read to Mary in one of the
window seats.
Here, also, came Tony Weller to make his offer of the L530 "reduced
counsels" which he had inherited, to Mr. Pickwick, adding--"P'raps
it'll go a little way towards the expenses o' that 'ere conwiction.
All I say is, just you keep it till I ask you for it again," and
bolted out of the room.
The last specific reference to the "George and Vulture" is on the
occasion when the party left it to join Mr. Wardle and other friends
at dinner at Osborne's Adelphi Hotel. So, it will be seen, from the
first mention of the tavern about midway through the book, until
its closing pages, the "George and Vulture" may be said to have been
Mr. Pickwick's headquarters in London.
Is it, therefore, to be wondered at, considering all the incidents
and events these few references recall, that the whole atmosphere of
the "George and Vulture" positively reeks with Pickwick?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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