Surtees left for London in 1825, intending to practise law in the capital, but had difficulty making his way and began contributing to the "Sporting Magazine". He launched out on his own with the "New Sporting Magazine" in 1831, contributing the comic papers which appeared as "Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities" in 1838. Jorrocks, the sporting cockney grocer, with his vulgarity and good-natured artfulness, was a great success with the public, and Surtees produced more Jorrocks novels in the same vein, notably "Handley Cross" and "Hillingdon Hall", where the description of the house is very reminiscent of Hamsterley. Another hero, Soapey Sponge, appears in "Mr Sponge's Sporting Tour", possibly Surtees best work.