DICK BEQUEST', the name given to a fund bequeathed by James Dick of Finsbury square, London, for the benefit of the parochial school-masters of Moray, Banff, and Aberdeen. Mr. Dick was b. at Forres, Morayshire, in Nov., 1743. Having entered mercantile life in the West Indies at the age of 19, he amassed a considerable fortune, which he subsequently increased in London. He died on the 24th May, 1828, leaving the chief part of his fortune for the purpose above mentioned. The sum bequeathed amounted in 1833 to £113,14743. •7d., since increased to :C122,000. These funds, being invested in heritable securities, yield (after deducting all expenses) for annual distribu tion a sum which amounts, on an average, to £4,000. Mr. Dick's object was " to encourage active school-masters, and gradually to elevate the literary character of the parochial school-masters and schools." Acting on this declaration of the testator's wish, the trustees in whom the administration became vested* ordained first, that with a view to raise the literary character of the school-masters, none should, after a certain date, participate in the bequest who had not passed, to the satisfaction of examiners appointed by them, an examination in the English language and literature, geography, arithmetic, geometry and trigonometry, algebra to quadratic equations inclusive, Latin, Greek, history, and chronology. To these branches have lately been added an examination iu the art of teaching and in physics. To those who highly distinguish themselves in these examinations, a sum of money is awarded by the trustees, and they are entitled to a small allowance during their term of office. Further, with a view to raise the lit erary character of the schools, and to encourage active school-masters, the trustees appointed a visitor, who should report annually to them on the condition of the schools, making a round of all those schools, whose teachers claim participation, once in three years—now, once in two years.
In allocating the fund at their disposal, the trustees take into consideration the num ber of scholars attending each school, the branches taught, the fees paid, and the salary fixed by the school-board. Each of these elements has attached to it a certain value, the object of this being to make it the interest of teachers and school-boards to promote the education of the parish. The sum to which a teacher may be entitled in consequence of the position he holds on the books of the trustees in the above respects, is allowed, increased, restricted, or refused, according to the report of the visitor on the condition of the school. The highest sum paid to any teacher in 1877, for example, was £59 Ss. 5d.; the smallest, the average about £30. A small proportion of teachers do not participate in consequence of their having failed to comply with the conditions of the trustees.
There can be no doubt that the operation of this bequest has been most advantageous. There is no district in Scotland in which the parochial schools are so uniformly taught by highly qualified men; the results of the teaching, it would not probably be easy to equal anywhere. The rights of the teachers of these schools, and of their successors, to participate in the bequest, are not prejudiced by the education act of 1872.