The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-13 00:00:00

THE HEROES OP THE ROYAL BRITISH BAlBl.lr

A few weeks ago a portion of the electors of the Second
municipal ward of Glasgow held a melting in reference
to the position in which the city, and they themselves
especially, as former supporters of Mr. John M'Gregor,
were placed by certain disclosures affecting that gentle-
man in connection with the Royal British Bank. After
conference, a letter, couched in a very friendly spirit,
V4/244 r.alressed to him. of which thto ;o 9 rm.:non In a
hasty note written by you some time ago. you promised to
give an explanation of your share in these occurrences.
We think if you were fully aware of the opprobrium that
is daily heaped upon the electors of Glasgow; your sense
of justice would induce you no longer to delay giving such
explanation, or of adopting such other alternative as
would free the citizens of Glasgow from these reflections,
which are both painful and discreditable. You are aware
that the electors of the second ward have always given
you a generous and hearty support, and we do not think
it unfit or uncourteous in them to ask such explanations
or course as above irtdicated." Means were taken to
ascertain that this letter reached Mr. M'Gregor's hands;
but though fully five weeks have elapsed since it was
transmitted, be has not vouchsafed any reply. The feel-
ing of disgust with which Mr. M'Gregor is regarded as
one of the members for the city may be called universal.

Mr. Humphrey Brown is still a hero. After an absence
of some three months, he revisited his native town on
Saturday last, that is, he passed through it on his road to
Upton-upon-Severn. It was intended to have, honoured
him with a demonstration on that day, but from sense cause
or other it was put off till Monday morning. Accordingly
between ten and eleven o'clock on Monday morning men,
women, and children (principally the latter) were to be
seen wending their way towards the Mythe to meet. their
champion. Mr. Brown soon made -his appearance. in a
one horse fly, and on arriving on the long bridgo, just out-
side the town, the horse was removed from the shafts, and
about 70 yards of rope attached to the vehicle, and a host
of boys and girls commenced drawing it through the High-
street to the Cross Keys, being headed by a few musicians.
On the seat of the fly was a man carrying a small band
ner, on which was inscribed, " The Choice of the people,
and seated in the fly with Mr. Brown was Mr. J. F.
Prosser, one of his warm political partisans. The entrance
to the Cross Keys was decked off with evergreens, and
Mr. Brown alighted, and soon afterwards made his
appearanCe at one of the windows of the hotel, being
accompanied by Messrs. T. Chandler, Nind, Rice, Blizard,
Geis% Prosser, and Browett. Having addressed his
audience as fellow townsmen, ladies ana gentlemen, he
thanked them for the respect shown towards him ; if he
could not be their representative he would remain their
fellow townsman; he had done his duty to his town, and
was glad to find that his audience did not sympathise with
the press, in condemning a man and hanging him, and
afterwards trying him ; he was one of those old fashioned
men that did not care what any one said of him when he
knew he was right, and it was wrong for any man to judge
viciously of another when he failed in his prospects or
business. This short speech was, of course, received
enthusiastically, and after its delivery Mr. Brown with-
drew, and the mob quietly dispersed. The subscription
towards a testimonial (a candelabra), which is to be pre_
sented to the M.P., is closed, and we understand the pre-
sentation is to take place at a public dinner, at the Plough
Inn, on the 23rd instant, but who is to be the honoured
chairman has not transpired. Mr. Brown's political
friends assert that on the occasion of the dinner, he will
be able to give such an explanation of his connection with
the Royal British Bank as will satisfy the world that he
!s right in his assertion, that he is more "sinned against
han sinning." We shall be most delighted to s.e so satis-
factory an explanation.

ENORMOUS PROPERTY.—The will of the late Richard
Lee, Esq., of Weymouth-street, has been proved at
Doctors'-commons as under 4'600,000. The bulk of this
large property is settled by the testator upon the family
of the late David Raven, Esq. (who married a sister of
the testator). and their children after them.
AUSTRALIAN :BLACK SAND.—The accounts recently
published in this journal of his excellency's Murray ex-
pedition 'contained several allusions to the celebrated
black sand of the sister colony. This black sand being
chiefly. stream tin, with a small admixture of gold, is
exeeedmgly. valuable as an article of commerce. The
Victorian ,glivernrnerit,'hewever, have, laid an embargo
i upop ts'shlpmnit, and will not suffer it to be put on board
'the Murray boats. Illindreds of tons of the interdicted
article wer3 lying ready, for shipment on board the
Murray packets; but although the owners of the sand
wished to ship it, the Victorian Government placed a veto
upon its exportation, unless forwarded via Melbourne.
To convey it to Melbourne would occasion such heavy
expenses, that the diggers' profits would be swallowed up
in the charges of conveyance, and the; therefore prefer to
let the sand lie neglected and nrofitless v here it is stored.
Sir Richard M'Donnell very properly remonstrates
against this illiberal policy on the part of the Victorian
government, and we now refer; to the subject, in order to
express our hope that a communication will be opened up
with the Victorian government on the subject, if that has
not been already done. On the subject of black sand we
may state that it is said large quantities of it exist in this
colony. Samples have been exhibited at our office, and
thousands of tons are affirmed to be obtainable. If samples
were brought in from various quarters it would be
desirable to have competent analysis made of the article.
The black sand is sometimes worth as much as 470 or
£BO per ton, but it frequently proves to be charged with
iron instead of tin. It is, however, only necessary to have
recourse to proper tests, in order to ascertain the real
worth of the article alleged to exist among ourselves:
Failing a rich gold field, it would pay us very well if we
could discover a good diggings of black sand at £7O per
ton. —Adelaide Observer. .;;