APPENDIX. 61 



lief of the diftreffed, and to the advancement of medical edu- ^aS.d^ 

 cation. And while he fhewed himfelf a fincere friend to the 

 poor, he was alfo remarkable for the countenance and encou- 

 ragement which he gave to modeft merit, particularly among 

 the ftudents of medicine. Indeed, poffefling a high degree of 

 public fpirit, he took an active Ihare in promoting every un- 

 dertaking which he thought would be beneficial, either to his 

 country in general, or to the city of Edinburgh in particular. 

 To him, its inhabitants are much indebted for many excellent 

 high roads in the neighbourhood ', and hardly one internal im- 

 provement was fuggefted or executed, during his refidence at 

 Preftonfield, which he was not inftrumental in promoting, with 

 an activity which did him the higher!: honour. 



When the feeds of the true rhubarb were fir ft introduced 

 into Britain by the late Dr Mounsey of Peterfburg, he not 

 only bellowed great attention on the culture of the plant, but 

 alfo on the drying of the root, and preparing it for the market. 

 The fuccefs in thefe particulars was fo great, that the Society in 

 London for the encouragement of arts and commerce, prefented 

 him, in the year 1774, with a gold medal, which is infcribed 

 to Sir Alexander Dick, Bart, for the beft fpecimen of Bri- 

 tifh rhubarb. 



Sir Alexander was twice married, and has left children by 

 both marriages. In April 1736, he married his coufin Mifs 

 Janet Dick, the daughter of Alexander Dick, Efq; mer- 

 chant in Edinburgh, and reprefentative of the family of Sir 

 William Dick of Braid. By her he had five children, but of 

 thefe two daughters only furvived him. In March 1762, he 

 married Mifs Mary Butler, the daughter of David Butler, 

 Efq; of Pembrokefhire. By this lady, who furvived him, he 

 had feven children, of whom three fons and three daughters 

 are ftill alive. 



It would be a difficult matter to fum up his character in a few 

 words. But it may with juftice be faid, that while he was 



fteady 



