Section I, ch. 1-4 Summary

In May, 1827, the Pickwick Club gathers to listen to Mr. Samuel Pickwick's paper entitled "Speculations on the Source of the Hampstead Ponds, with Some Observations on the Theory of Tittlebats." Then, they vote to extend their knowledge by creating a traveling club which consists of Samuel Pickwick, Tracy Tupman, Augustus Snodgrass and Nathaniel Winkle. Each man will be required to pay his own expenses for their travels. As Mr. Pickwick elaborates on his desire to benefit mankind through scientific research, another member, Blotton, makes a derogatory comment, causing an argument. Mr. Pickwick and Blotton are reconciled after Blotton explains that he meant the comment in a "Pickwickian" sense.

Mr. Pickwick prepares for his first trip and takes a cab to meet the other Pickwickians. In the cab, Mr. Pickwick takes notes about the cabbie, but the cabbie...