19 DECEMBER 1885, Page 25

We are glad to see published (Hamilton, Adams, and Co.)

a " popular letter-press edition," in two volumes, of Kay's Edinburgh Portraits, with anecdotal biographies of the " worthies" portrayed. Kay was to Scotland—for his artistic attentions were not confined to Edinburgh—what Rowlandson was to England,—and something more. He was faithful almost to photographic minuteness, and yet he managed to introduce into his sketches an element of caricature. He

hit off nearly everybody of his time,—burglars, murderers, and street oddities, no less than judges, politicians, magistrates, and beauties ; Deacon Brodie, who led the remarkable " doable life " of respecta- bility and housebreaking, as well as Lord Jeffrey and Lord Braxfield. Tho biographies accompanying the portraits are excellent collections of " good " Scotch stories.