William Blake, Richard Phillips and the Monthly Magazine

Abstract

ABONG THE SATIRICAL VERSES THAT WILLIAM BLAKE WROTE IN HIS NOTEBOOK in early 1800s are four lines that read: P--loved me, not as he lovd his Friends For he lovd them for gain to serve his Ends He loved me and for no Gain at all But to rejoice & triumph in fall (1) P--has been identified as publisher Richard Phillips, (2) who played a brief important role in Blake's life, as a partner in publishing of a book with Blake's illustrations and as publisher of Monthly Magazine. Exploring Blake's relations with Phillips in these two capacities will give a better idea of Blake's life and interests in years immediately following his move back to London in 1803 after three years' absence. Upon returning from what he called my three years Slumber on banks of Ocean, (3) Blake began to reestablish himself in professional world of engraving in London. His first project involved ballads that had initially been issued as quartos in Sussex, featuring William Hayley's poems about animals and Blake's engravings after his own designs. This enterprise had been Hayley's idea from beginning, his purpose being to get some money for Blake. In 1802 four ballads were issued in quarto, texts printed by William Seagrave in Chichester and plates by William and Catherine Blake in their Felpham cottage, and marketed by Hayley among his friends. However, hoped-for benefit to Blake did not materialize. Hayley reported on 30 April 1803 that Blake had paid 30 [pounds sterling] for paper and had not received even half that sum from sales. (4) In a later letter to Hayley (28 December 1804), Blake mentions the Twelve Guineas which you Lent Me when made up 30 Pounds to pay our Worthy Seagrave in part of his Account (E 760), and says that he would deduct that amount from his price for engraving Shipwreck by George Romney for Hayley's Life. So at end of 1804 Blake was still paying costs of 1802 Ballads. A year later he had still not been able to repay Seagrave, for on 11 December 1805 he asked Hayley to give his thanks to the Generous Seagrave. In whose Debt have been too long, adding optimistically but percieve that shall be able to settle with him soon what is between us (E 761). Despite fact that 1802 Ballads had been a financial failure, (5) Blake hoped that an octavo edition with re-engraved plates would succeed. With Blake's benefit once more in mind, in 1805 Hayley proposed (at Blake's suggestion) an octavo volume of Ballads to Phillips. Phillips's ready acceptance of this proposal was no doubt influenced by his wish to succeed James Dodsley (d. 1797) as Hayley's principal publisher. Besides, terms left him with little to lose. On 22 January 1805 Blake informed Hayley [t]hat one thousand copies should be first edition, and, if we choose, we might add to number of plates in a second edition. And he will go equal shares with me in expense and profits, and that Seagrave is to be (E 763). Typically optimistic at beginning of a project, Blake wrote in same letter: Truly proud am to be in possession of this beautiful little estate; for that it will be productive have no doubt. Blake gave Hayley further details of arrangement on March 22. There were to be five highly finished plates by Blake by May 28, the Price 20 Guineas Each half to be paid by P- (E 763). So Blake would earn 50 guineas toward his share of publishing costs. Trouble with Phillips had begun by 4 June 1805, when Blake wrote to Hayley: I have fortunately, ought to say providentially, discovered that have engraved one of plates for that ballad of Horse which is omitted in new edition; time enough to save extreme loss and disappointment which should have suffered had work been completed without that ballad's insertion (E 765). Providence entered into it because Phillips had sent Blake a proof of last sheet of Ballads for forwarding to printer Joseph Seagrave in Chichester, and so Blake learned that volume was to end with Hayley's fifteenth ballad, The Baya: Or Indian Bird, and not with sixteenth, The Horse, for which Blake had engraved a plate. …