Benjamin Bombastes P.R.S.A. 1000 Mile trial

1000 Mile trial

In the foreground figures stand on the riverbank and on decorated barges looking towards London Bridge lined with flags

This cartoon relates to the proposal of the Great Western Railway to establish their factory and working base in Oxford

who is joining the cast of the BBC TV drama serial Dr Who

just visible on left

Benjamin Bombastes P.R.S.A. 1000 Mile trial'Benjamin Bombastes', 1877. Benjamin Disraeli, now Earl of Beaconsfield, the Conservative Prime Minister, is depicted standing next to a signpost marked Egypt and Constantinople. His boots, handing from a peg, bear the words 'British Interests'. Egypt was where the British had a key interest in the Suez Canal and Constantinople represents the main focus of the war between Russia and Turkey. Britain had asked for assurances that the Suez would not be