Oh Willie We Have Missed You!

This wood engraving satirizes William Ewart Gladstone's return to Scottish politics, showing a working-class woman greeting him warmly while her household descends into comic chaos—children fighting, animals scattering, domestic disorder everywhere. The caption presents her effusive welcome against visual evidence of neglect, suggesting her need for Gladstone's leadership during his absence.

The print belongs to the tradition of British political satire descending from Gillray and Rowlandson—combining exaggerated figure drawing, sharp social observation, and punchy text to comment on public figures and moments. Such satirical engravings, distributed widely in newspapers and as broadsides, formed a direct ancestor to the comic strip's blend of image, humor, and political commentary.