Moses parting the Red Sea: British politicians depicted drowning in the sea. Colour lithograph by Tom Merry, 5 December 1885.

Presumably referring to the 1885 United Kingdom general election, which was held 24 November-18 December 1885, and led to Lord Salisbury becoming Prime Minister in a minority government. In the present print, Lord Salisbury as Moses points to the parting of the Red Sea, labelled "Conservative reaction". Following him on the right are crowds of Israelites. Richard Assheton Cross kneels at his feet. Left, W.E. Gladstone as "the modern Pharaoh" rides through the shallows in a chariot drawn by "Scottish asses". His Liberal colleagues are drowning in the water, though some are begging the Conservatives to rescue them: they include Charles Bradlaugh (being pulled out by the arm), Joseph Chamberlain (wearing monocle), George Goschen as a woman being rescued by Lord Hartington, and others. In the foreground people representing Religion, Empire and Industry also ask the Israelites (Conservatives) to rescue them.