The Constitutional came to an end in 1837, and Thackeray returned to London and took up his abode for a time at 18, Albion Street, Hyde Park, where his mother was then living, and where he had stayed in 1834 when first contributing to Fraser’s Magazine. Anne Isabella Thackeray, his eldest daughter, was born at this house. A removal was made not long afterwards to No. 13, Great Coram Street, Brunswick Square, where the Thackerays lived for some years. During this period “The Paris Sketch-Book” was written, being published in 1840 by Macrone. Owing to the misfortune of his wife’s illness the author’s household became unsettled, and about 1843 the home at Great Coram Street was given up.
“Comic Tales and Sketches”
see page 13
Thackeray had published in 1841 a collection of “Comic Tales and Sketches, edited and illustrated by Mr. Michael Angelo Titmarsh,” with a preface dated “Paris, April 1st, 1841,” from which the following is an extract:
When there came to be a question of republishing the tales in these volumes, the three authors, Major Gahagan, Mr. Fitzroy Yellowplush, and myself, had a violent dispute upon the matter of editing; and at one time we talked of editing each other all round. The toss of a halfpenny, however, decided the question in my favour.... On the title-page the reader is presented with three accurate portraits of the authors of these volumes. They are supposed to be marching hand-in-hand, and are just on the very brink of Immortality.
Drawing from “Punch”: “Authors’ Miseries”
see page 12
During the same year “The History of Samuel Titmarsh and the Great Hoggarty Diamond” commenced to run its course in Fraser’s Magazine. Punch had been started on July 17th, and Thackeray’s first contributions appeared the following June. In the course of his ten years’ connection with this periodical he contributed something like 500 sketches irrespective of letterpress. One of these, reproduced on page 12, is taken from a series entitled “Authors’ Miseries,” and represents Jerrold and the artist himself in a railway carriage listening to the other occupants discussing the members of the Punch staff:—
Old Gentleman, Miss Wiggets, Two Authors.
Old Gentleman: “I am so sorry to see you occupied, my dear Miss Wiggets, with that trivial paper, Punch. A railway is not a place, in my opinion, for jokes. I never joke—never.”