1-150-222 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'The Queen in her Store-room', 1859. At this time there was an ongoing struggle between France and Austria over Italian independence as the Italian states tried to rid themselves of despotic rulers. Britain was generally supportive of the Italian struggle but very suspicious of French involvement and intentions. Napoleon fought an only partly conclusive war with Austria to help achieve Italian independence of Austrian rule of some of its regions. Whilst Britain was not directly involved at this time, the conflicts in Europe revived fears of the possibility of war with France. Here, John Bull, the representative of the British People, is showing Queen Victoria the British stockpile of gunpowder. Punch's song starts, 'It is not that a small bird sings With aught of warning voice And bids distrust Anointed kings, Or chiefs, the People's Choice, We trust them all, with all our soul, We know their honour's high; But still we think, upon the whole, We'll keep our powder dry'. From Punch, or the London Charivari, March 5, 1859.