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.” _Miss W._: “So I should think, sir.” _Old Gentleman_: “And besides, are you aware who are the conductors of that paper, and that they are Chartists, Deists, Atheists, Anarchists, to a man? I have it from the best authority, that they meet together once a week in a tavern in St. Giles’s, where they concoct their infamous print. The chief part of their income is derived from threatening letters, which they send to the nobility and gentry. The principal writer is a returned convict. Two have been tried at the Old Bailey; and as for their artist--as for their artist....” _Guard_: “Swin-dun! Station!” [_Exeunt two Authors._ In the latter half of 1842 Thackeray made a tour in Ireland, and recorded his experiences in “The Irish Sketch-Book,” which made its appearance the following year. [Sidenote: =The Strangers’ Room, Reform Club= _see page 17_]