BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3
a genteel annuity upon him. This, however, from his debilitated habit of
body, was delayed from time to time, till death put it out of his power. But, to
the honour of his heir, he was so sensible of Mr. Ray’s good offices to his father,
as well as of his father’s intentions, that he voluntarily made a settlement of
$20 per annum for life upon him.
After the death of his patron, our author attempted to etch in aquafortis,
and having published some of his Prints executed in this way, he met with so
much unexpected success, that he at last determined to drop his old profession
altogether, which he did accordingly in 1785.
(‘ Our Author has drawn himself in this Print, sitting in a thoughtful posture,
in an antiquated chair (whereby he means to represent his love of antiquities),
with his favourite cat (the largest it is believed in Scotland) sitting upon the
back of it ; several pictures hanging behind him ; a bust of Homer with his
painting utensils on the table before him, a scroll of paper in his hand, and a
volume of his works upon his knee.”
Mr. Kay continued from the above period till about the year 1817 to exercise
his talents in engraving. For a period of nearly half a century, few persons
of any notoriety who figured in the Scottish capital have escaped his notice, and
he has occasionally indulged himself in caricaturing such local incidents as
might amuse the public.
In this wa.y he has formed a collection altogether unique ; and we concur
with Mr. Chambers’ in thinking that “it may with safety be affirmed that no city
in the empire can boast of so curious a chronicle.” It is right, in addition to this,
to mention that his etchings are universally admitted to possess one merit,
which of itself stamps them with value, namely that of being exact and faithful
likenesses of the parties intended to be represented.
The emoluments derived from his engravings and painting miniature likehesses
in water colours, together with the annuity from the Dirleton family,
regularly paid by Sir Henry Jardine, rendered him tolerably independent.
He had a small print-shop on the south side of the Parliament Square, in
which he sold his productions, and the windows of which, being always filled
with his more recent works, used to be a great attraction to the idlers of the
time. It was, with the rest of the old buildings in the square, destroyed by
the great fire in November 1824.
In his outward appearance he was a slender, straight old man, of middle size,
and usually dressed in a garb of antique cut, of simple habits, and quiet unassuming
manners. He died at his house, No. 227 High Street, Edinburgh,
21st February 1826, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His widow survived
him upwards of nine years; her death took place in November 1835. The
son alluded to by Mr. Kay in his biography predeceased his father.
“ Biographical Dictionary of Illustrious Scotsmen.”
