THE FIRST light which brightens the darkness and shadows which hide the early history of the famous Mr Pickwick comes from reading the following entry in the Record of events at the Pickwick Club. The editor of these papers is very pleased to show this record to his readers. It shows that, even though the editor had many documents to read, he did it with careful attention, untiring energy, and with careful choices of what to do with the papers which he searched through. This is what the first document says -

'May 12, 1827. Joseph Smiggers, Esq., P.V.P.M.P.C. [Perpetual Vice-President--Member Pickwick Club], was in charge of the meeting. Everyone has agreed that-'

'We have heard with complete satisfaction and total approval, the reading of a paper by Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C. [General Chairman--Member Pickwick Club]. This paper was called "Speculations on the Source of the Hampstead Ponds, with some Observations on the Theory of Tittlebats*;". We thank Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., very much for this paper.'

*The vocabulary in this title is supposed to sound very important and scientific, but it does not mean very much.