Andrew Russell
Was a native of Glasgow, who, whilst young, losing his parents, was put by his guardians to learn the trade of a brassfounder. From a speech delivered by him on his election to the Mayoralty, it transpired that his education had been neglected, or rather omitted altogether, and he proclaimed himself "a tradesman—a tinsmith, a coppersmith and a brassfounder." Subsequently he proceeded to London, acquired a knowledge of the business of a furnishing ironmonger, and, returning to Glasgow, was successful in that avocation. He made a tour of Australia and Van Diemen's Land, wrote and published an account of his travels, and, after a time, made up his mind to emigrate to Port Phillip and settle there. Prior to his departure he was entertained at a public dinner in his native city, a compliment which, in his opinion, "enabled him to leave with clean hands." Arriving in Melbourne, he entered into mercantile pursuits, and was for many years in the wholesale wine and spirit business in Little Collins Street. He was not much of a "shining-light," but a commonplace, persevering piece of ordinary respectability, slightly affecting the upper crust of society, but in a manner that could scarcely be termed snobbish. He was a quiet, useful, well-to-do citizen, and if one failed to discover any special ability in him, an honesty of purpose and well-meaningness rendered him, in his way, a very desirable member of the community. As a rule, at the Council meetings he maintained a propriety of demeanour and evenness of temper, the example of which was often productive of good; but on occasions the Scotch imperturbability would vanish, when he would jump into the fighting arena and hit out like an Irishman. Fawkner used to call him "The Tinker," and generally came armed with a copy of "Russell's Travels" in his pocket. This unfortunate volume he would suddenly pull out, brandish it, tomahawk fashion, in Russell's face, as if he meant to brain him with it, and, timing the manual exercise with a loud laugh, would passionately and scornfully exclaim: "Oh, that mine enemy would write a book!"
Russell's Mayoralty was more successful than Palmer's, though the former possessed not a tithe of the Doctor's ability; but he had an even tenor in his way of doing business, which placed him as a favourite, not only at the Council Board and in the Police Court, but with the people in general. He left the colony many years ago, and died at Home.
William M. Bell.
In olden times there was a mercantile firm in Melbourne, trading under the style and title of Bells and Buchanan, or two Bells to one Buchanan. The Bells were Christian-named William Montgomerie, and Henri, and W . M . Montgomerie was the leading partner. This gentleman was the fifth Mayor of Melbourne, a blunt, brusque, frank-spoken, straightforward kind of man, but whose public conduct was often open to question, more, perhaps, from an obstinacy, largely tinctured with egotism, than any less worthy cause. No one doubted for a moment that Mr. Bell meant well in what he did, and believed he was doing right; yet, by suffering his self-sufficiency to lead him into extremes, he so set at nought that canon of impartiality, that should be the guiding-star of every person placed in a position of judicial or ministerial responsibility, that many yvho admired the private worth of the honest man and good citizen, declined to endorse the crotchets of the well-intentioned but erring Alderman or Mayor. Mr. Bell was a rigid Presbyterian, and one of the first and most influential of that sect to follow the Rev. James Forbes in the memorable Free Church Secession, which once happened in Melbourne. After Mr. Bell retired from the Council, he continued in business for a while, when commercial reverses beset him. He died about twenty years ago.
Augustus Frederick Adolphus Greeves
(Or, as Johnny Fawkner sneeringly nicknamed him, "A. B. C.") was an English Surgeon, who arrived early in Melbourne, and opened an hostelry, known as the Yarra Hotel, in Flinders Street; but he was not cut out for a "Boniface," and soon gave up superintending "nobblers" and pewter pots for more congenial
