The accompanying text in the volume begins as follows: "This Print is illustrative of the supposed first meeting of Deacon Brodie and his accomplice George Smith.[...] In describing this affair we will quote in part the language of the declaration, which is graphically illustrative of the career of Brodie, who had actually been a participator in almost all the forementioned depredations:- 'That Brodie told the declarant that the shop at the head of Bridge Street, belonging to Messers. Bruce, would be a very proper shop for breaking into, as it contained valuable goods; and he knew the lock would be easily opened, as it was a plain lock, his men having lately altered that shop door, at the lowering street: that the plan of breaking into the shop was accordingly concerted between them; and they agreed to meet on the evening of the 24th of December 1786, being a Saturday, at the house of James Clark, vintner, where they generally met with company to gamble...' "
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