Partridge, Bernard. Scene from from King Henry the Fourth (Part I., Act 2, Scene IV.)

Folger bibliographic ID: 352877
Folger call number: Sh.Misc. 2303, page 377
Folger holdings ID: 501413
Accession Number: 269818

Cartoon depicting a scene from Shakespeare's King Henry the Fourth, Part I (act 2, scene 4). Lord Salisbury is portrayed as Falstaff, Winston Churchill is portrayed as Prince Henry, and the "Conservative press" is portrayed as Poins. Falstaff/Salisbury stands with hand on hip and gestures at Prince Henry/Churchill, who listens with arms folded and a skeptical expression. Poins/the Conservative press watches the two. Caption title: "Scene from King Henry the Fourth (Part. I, Act 2, Scene IV.)." Printed dialogue: "Dramatis personae. Falstaff .. Lord S-l-sb-y. Prince Henry .. W-nst-n Ch-rch-ll. Poins .. Conservative Press. Falstaff: 'Call you that backing of your friends? A plague upon such backing!' [The resolution on which the Army Scheme will be based was more powerfully criticised from the Conservative side than from the Opposition Benches.]" The drawing is signed by Bernard Partridge in the lower right corner

General notes

Editorial cartoon published as page 377 of Punch, volume CXX (May 22, 1901). The cartoon refers to Lord Robert Salisbury's backing of the "Army Scheme," a plan to expand Britain's standing army, particularly for foreign expeditions. The Army Scheme was unpopular among Salisbury's own Conservative party; Churchill, then a newly-elected MP associated with an offshoot of the Conservatives, was a strong opponent of the plan. From 1891-1902, Britain was engaged in the Second Boer War Also available as a digital reproduction

Item information about Folger Sh.Misc. 2303, page 377

Bound in a volume with multiple issues of Punch, volume CXX. Faded purple cloth boards. Spine stamped in gold

Extended title: Scene from from King Henry the Fourth (Part I., Act 2, Scene IV.)

Salisbury, Robert Cecil, Marquess of, 1830-1903 Churchill, Winston, 1874-1965 Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Henry IV Great Britain. Army

artist: Partridge, Bernard, 1861-1945
depiction: Salisbury, Robert Cecil, Marquess of, 1830-1903
depiction: Churchill, Winston, 1874-1965
subject: Great Britain. Army