File talk:A Word of Comfort2.jpg

Significance and humour

The decripion for this image provides a lot of useful information, including this: "Joseph Priestley, preaching, speaks for the concerns of the clergy, stating their opposition to "Reynard and Associates" (Fox, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, John Townshend, and another man, possibly William Windham)."

But I had assumed that Priestley was in fact "preaching to the converted" here. Surely both he and Fox were united in their efforts to repeal the Test and Corporation Acts?

Both men seem to be equally lampooned: "Reynard" of course being the archaic name for the dog fox, and thus a devious individual. While Priestley himself is encased in the barrell (claret barrell perhaps?) of FANATICISIM, atop not the Bible but a set of his own voluminous works. The other pew occupants are described as "Mother Windsor and Cyprian Corps" and are led a by a mature lady with heavy make-up and presumably a reference to those with a professional interest in Venus the Godess of Love (said to have come from Cyprus).

At the back, in the exclusive Royal box pew is the Prince of Wales (later King George IV), with his ilegally married mistress-cum-bride Maria Fitzherbert, who might also have a strong interest in the rules surrounding who was legally entitled to offiate at the marriage ceremony.

The engraved font used for Priestley's "NO", the same as that used in the cartoon title "A WORD OF COMFORT", does indeed provide more humour. There may be a further play on words in the devil's taunting, with "Eyes behind you" a pun on "Ayes behind you" - referring to supporting votes in Parliament, instead of the disappoining Nay votes against repeal by Pitt and Burke (and contrasting also with the emphatic "NO" of Priestley's own reply hanging in front of him. A futher visual pun, although one not made obvious here, is the appearance of Priestley as a priest in the pulpit.

So I would read the cartoon as showing Priestley and Fox, not as adversaries but as comrades. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable on the affairs of the Dissenters could clarify this? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 20:14, 24 March 2011 (UTC)

Yes, you're right, of course. Priestly, as a Dissenter, would have been on the same side, roughly speaking, as the Radical, Fox. "Reynard" is a pun on Fox's name; the term was used to caricature his father, Lord Holland, as well. "Preaching in tubs" (rather than pulpits) is an old cliche for Puritan practice. "Mother Windsor" was a famous contemporary procuress, and the three women of the "Cyprian Corps" are obviously her bawds. The symbol on the pew in back is not a fleur-de-lis, but the badge of the Prince of Wales. Note also what appears to be a broken crucifix crushed under Priestley's works. The message I take from the cartoon is that Fox and the Whigs are (implicitly) asking Priestley whether they'll be punished for their sexual license (while their ally Wales looks on approvingly); Priestley says "NO" but the devil contradicts him. Choess (talk) 22:41, 6 October 2011 (UTC)