Macready, on the 27th April of that year, says in his _Diary_; "At Garrick Club, where I dined and saw the papers.

Met Thackeray, who has spent all his fortune, and is now about to settle in Paris, I believe as an artist." But at this time he was, in truth, turning to literature as a profession.
[2] The article was written by Abraham Hayward, who is still with us, and was no doubt instigated by a desire to assist Thackeray in his struggle upwards, in which it succeeded.
[3] For a week there existed at the _Punch_ office a grudge against Thackeray in reference to this awkward question: "What would you give for your _Punch_ without John Leech ?" Then he asked the confraternity to dinner,--_more Thackerayano_,--and the confraternity came.

Who can doubt but they were very jolly over the little blunder?
For years afterwards Thackeray was a guest at the well-known _Punch_ dinner, though he was no longer one of the contributors.
[4] I had begun an Irish story and half finished it, which would reach just the required length.

Would that do, I asked.

I was civilly told that my Irish story would no doubt be charming, but was not quite the thing that was wanted.