Mr. Henrie Bell. —A substantial mercantile house in old times was one kept by two well known brothers, W. M. and Henrie Bell. The former acquired some public consequence from a connection with the Corporation, and he was one of Melbourne's early Mayors. They were both staunch and influential Presbyterians of the Free Church branch. Henrie Bell died on the 25th November, and his remains were taken to John Knox Church, whence, on the 27th, a large funeral procession set forth, and he was placed to rest in the not distant cemetery.
Mr. F. Wight. —A singularly fatal accident occurred on 6th April, 1850, to Mr. F. Wight, brother of a member of a widely-known firm of Watson and Wight. One night previously deceased on awaking felt a soreness on his face. Mr. Wight was staying some miles from town. Medical aid was summoned, and Dr. Ford started without delay to render any assistance in his power; but on his arrival the sufferer had expired. The death was believed to have originated from the bite of a scorpion or centipede, terminating in what is medically known as phlegmonous erysipelas. The deceased was of amiable and Christian disposition and much regretted.
Mr. J. J. Peers, a notable colonist, and one of the earliest propagators of Wesleyanism, died at the age of 45 in Sydney on 21st August, 1850. The corpse was brought to Melbourne for interment.
Mr. J. W. Cowell, the proprietor of the Royal Hotel, in Collins Street, an establishment of much note for years, was found dead in his bed in October, from disease of the heart. For some time he had a fixed premonition that his death would be sudden.
Edward Curr, "The Father of Separation," breathed his last on Saturday, 16th November, 1850, the third day of the public rejoicings held in honour of the advent of the great boon for which he had so long and ardently laboured. It was sad to think that he should go out of the world at a time when the whole colony was celebrating the victory which Curr had done so much to gain. Though it was indisputably known before that the Independence of Port Phillip had been ratified by the Imperial Parliament, intelligence of the actual giving of the Royal assent to the Constitution Act was only received in Melbourne on the day and almost at the hour of Curr's death. He had been ill for five months, and was 52 years of age. The mortal remains were removed in the afternoon from St. Helier's (now Abbotsford), the residence of the deceased, to the Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis, where they remained during the night. At 11 a.m. of the 17th, a Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Rev. G. A. Ward, assisted by the Revs. V. Bourgeois and J. Madden. In the afternoon the funeral took place, and the Rev. Mr. Ward pronounced a well-deserved eulogy at the grave. Frequent references have been made in other chapters to the distinguished public career of Mr. Edward Curr.
The Rev. James Forbes. —This single-minded and highly estimable divine died at the Manse of John Knox Church on 12th August, 1851. He was first minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria, and had only entered upon his 38th year. He was buried on the 15th, and his funeral was one of the largest up to that time in Melbourne, and was attended by the Lieutenant-Governor (Latrobe), all the chief officers of Government, nearly every clergyman in town of other denominations, and an immense concourse of all classes of the population. On the following Sabbath Bishop Perry made the event the theme of a sermon of much feeling and eloquence. The Rev. James Forbes was born in 1813, the son of a farmer at Kilbrae, Parish of Lochiel Cushnie, 24 miles from Aberdeen, and in course of time he became an M.A. of King College (Aberdeen). After joining the Presbyterian Ministry he proceeded to New South Wales in 1837 with the Rev. Dr. Lang and others. In 1843 there was a secession of Port Phillip Presbyterianism, and on the 25th October, 1846, Forbes, as an enthusiastic Free Churchman, threw in his lot with the Seceders. One of the most affecting incidents ever written of occurred at his death-bed on the 4th August, after his medical attendants declared they entertained but faint, if any hope, of his recovery. He had an infant son only three weeks old, and it was the father's desire that he should baptize the baby in the presence of the several members
