His tastes, however, inclined towards literature, and on 19 November 1845 he produced at the Haymarket Theatre a comedy, The Maiden Aunt, which, aided by the acting of William Farren and Mrs. Glover (née Julia Betterton), had a run of thirty nights. In 1849 he joined the church of Rome, and became editor of the Catholic Standard, a publication which was subsequently purchased by Henry Wilberforce, and renamed the Weekly Register. From 1853 to 1855 he edited the Illustrated London Magazine, a series of five volumes. He was one of the chief writers on The Standard from 1857 to 1860, but some display of religious intolerance on the part of the proprietors led to an abrupt termination of his engagement.
His tastes, however, inclined towards literature, and on 19 November 1845 he produced at the Haymarket Theatre a comedy, The Maiden Aunt, which, aided by the acting of William Farren and Mrs. Glover (née Julia Betterton), had a run of thirty nights. In 1849 he joined the church of Rome, and became editor of the Catholic Standard, a publication which was subsequently purchased by Henry Wilberforce, and renamed the Weekly Register. From 1853 to 1855 he edited the Illustrated London Magazine, a series of five volumes. He was one of the chief writers on The Standard from 1857 to 1860, but some display of religious intolerance on the part of the proprietors led to an abrupt termination of his engagement.