"He went to Tonson," illustration to "The Noble Paton"

Abbey moved to England in 1878 to research and illustrate poems devoted to historical themes for Harper's. This is one of a series that responds to "The Noble Patron," gently satirical verse by Austin Dobson that imagine the London experiences of Dick Dovecote, a Wiltshire youth and aspiring writer. As his funds dwindle, Dick takes a manuscript to the famous publisher Jacob Tonson the Elder (1655–1736) only to hear that unwelcome changes will have to be made before it can be accepted. The related verse explains:

By this his purse was running low,
And he must either print or go.
He went to Tonson. Tonson said–
Well! Tonson hummed and shook his head;
Deplor'd the times; abus'd the Town;
But thought–at length–it might go down;
With aid, of course, of Elzevir [an antiquated type style],
And Prologue to a Prince, or Peer.
Dick winced at this, for adulation
Was scarce that candid youth's vocation:
Nor did he deem his rustic lays
Required a Coronet for Bays.

The image was reproduced as a wood engraving in Harper's "New Montly Magazine," vol. 79 (October 1889), p. 663.