No. 3 is the first of Mr. Punch's long series of cartoons. This was done by A. S. Henning, and it makes a much nicer picture in its present reduced size than in its original large size, where the work is too coarse in texture. In the forties, there were no ingenious photographic processes for reproducing an artist's work to any scale; the work had to be cut on the wood-block and shown the same size as the original drawing. Hence, in a weekly paper such as _Punch_, there was often not much time to spend on the wood-engraving, and so many of the drawings, especially the early ones, are wanting in finish.
9.--THE FIRST PICTURE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES. 1843.]
Picture No. 4 is the first by famous John Leech--Mr. Punch's first great artist--and in addition to the signature "John Leech" at the bottom of the block, there is in the middle of the design the curious sign-manual, a leech in a bottle, which John Leech often used to mark his work. This first design by Leech was in the fourth number of _Punch_, August 7, 1841, and its title "Foreign Affairs" has reference to the groups of foreign refugees who at that time were specially numerous in Soho and Leicester Square--places that even nowadays are characterized by the presence of numerous and not too desirable foreigners.
[Illustration: THE WHISTLING OYSTER, as it appeared whilst executing the charming air of--"Come to these yellow sands."
10.--A FANCIFUL DISCOVERY BY "PUNCH." 1843.]
The facsimile in No. 5 is from the commencement of Thackeray's first literary contribution to _Punch_, and the sketch which forms the initial letter T is also by Thackeray. Mr. Spielmann says this sketch is "undoubtedly" by Thackeray; the full contribution is on page 254 of Volume II.
The cartoon shown in No. 6 contains the first picture of Queen Victoria in _Punch_, and it represents Sir Robert Peel sent for by the Queen to form an Administration in place of the beaten Ministry of Lord Melbourne. This was in the autumn of 1841. The words, The Letter of Introduction, at the bottom of the cartoon, are the title of "a MS. drama, called the 'Court of Victoria,'" on page 90 of Volume I. of _Punch_, which commences:--
[_Her Majesty discovered sitting thoughtfully at an escritoire._]