I am not sure that all lovers of poetry would recognise a _Lycidas_ coming from some hitherto unknown Milton.

Gradually the good picture or the fine poem makes its way into the minds of a slowly discerning public.
_Punch_, no doubt, became very popular, owing, perhaps, more to Leech, its artist, than to any other single person.

Gradually the world of readers began to know that there was a speciality of humour to be found in its pages,--fun and sense, satire and good humour, compressed together in small literary morsels as the nature of its columns required.

Gradually the name of Thackeray as one of the band of brethren was buzzed about, and gradually became known as that of the chief of the literary brothers.

But during the years in which he did much for _Punch_, say from 1843 to 1853, he was still struggling to make good his footing in literature.