1-150-540 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Great Lion Show', 1868. Sir Robert Napier is shown standing on the right of this cartoon. He had recently fought a victorious campaign in Abyssinia against King Theodore which had resulted in the British captives held by the King being freed. The decisive battle had been fought at Magdala and, upon his return home, Sir Robert was created Lord Napier of Magdala and given a pension of two thousand pounds per annum. The one shilling must be a reference to those in the army often being said to have taken the 'Queen's shilling' when they joined up. From Punch, or the London Charivari, July 18, 1868.