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."