[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:-- SCENE IN WINDSOR CASTLE. [_Her Majesty discovered sitting thoughtfully at an escritoire._] _Enter_ the Lord Chamberlain. LORD CHAMBERLAIN: May it please your Majesty, a letter from the Duke of Wellington. THE QUEEN (_opens the letter_): Oh! a person for the vacant place of Premier--show the bearer in, my lord. [_Exit Lord Chamberlain._] THE QUEEN (_muses_): Sir Robert Peel--I have heard that name before, as connected with my family. If I remember rightly he held the situation of adviser to the Crown in the reign of Uncle William, and was discharged for exacting a large discount on all the State receipts; yet Wellington is very much interested in his favour. Etc., etc., etc. [Illustration: THE MODERN SISYPHUS "Sisyphus is said to be doomed for ever to roll to the top of a great mountain a stone, which continually falls down again." SISYPHUS SIR R. P--L. THE STONE D. O'C----L. THE FURIES LORD J. R----L, S----L, &c. 11.--RICHARD DOYLE'S FIRST CARTOON. 1844.] In facsimile No. 7 we see the first mention in _Punch_ of the Prince of Wales. It is the first part of a full-page article on page 222 of Volume I., which records the birth of the Prince on November 9, 1841, and which also refers to the disappointment caused to the King of Hanover by the birth of the Queen's second child. _Punch_ writes: "There are now two cradles between the Crown of England and the White Horse of Hanover." How many British Royal "cradles" are there now between the two things named by _Punch_? [Illustration: THE QUARREL. MASTER WELLINGTON. You're too good a judge to hit me, you are! MASTER JOINVILLE. Am I? MASTER WELLINGTON. Yes, you are. MASTER JOINVILLE. Oh, am I! MASTER WELLINGTON. Yes, you are. MASTER JOINVILLE. Ha! MASTER WELLINGTON. Ha! [MORAL.--_And they don't fight after all._] 12.--A SUPPOSITITIOUS CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE (OF THE FRENCH NAVY). 1844.]