The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-18 00:00:00

DEATH OF MR. BRARAM.

We have to announce the death of Mr. Braham,
which took place yesterday—a carne of which the world
has heard little for some years, but which will call up
many recollections, and will long live in the memory of
Englishmen as the greatest of English singers. It was
John Braham who, beyond any other man, excited in\
this country a knowledge and love of the highest musical
art ; but the unbounded popularity which be so long en-
joyed was derived not so much from the Italian opera,
as from the fact that he expressed, in his well•known
songs, with wonderful force and fire, the national feelings
of his time. The immense fortune which his genius and
energy had onco gained, was lost by unfortunate specu-
lations ; but his declining years have been passed in the
most cheerful comfort, secured to him by the care of his
daughter, Lady Waldegrave. Me died unexpectedly,
but not unprepared; full of years and of honours.

AUBMALIAN MAILS.—PLY3fOUTEG Feb. 16.—The
sailing ship Kent, Captain Coleman, left the Sound this
morning at 8 o'clock, and the screw steam-ship Royal
Charter, Captain Boyce, in the afternoon at 4 o'clock,
both for Port Philip ; wind easterly ; fine breeze.
COURT OP COMMON COUNCIL.—At a Court of Com-
mon Council hold on Friday, some conversation took
place upon the subject of corporation reform, the result
of which appeared to be that the Government bad given
an intimation that it had not yet been able to mature a
bill upon the subject. A very long discussion ensued
respecting the report "on the several petitions relative
to the bathe and washhouses in Goulston-square, White-

chapel, and recommending the purchase thereof, at the
earn at which they are offered, viz., 11,5001." Mr.
Towse referred to the opinion of Mr. Simon, the late
Officer of Health of the City of London, and to various
circumstances, with a view to show that the opportu-
nity of benefitting the poorer classes by the purchase in
question ought not to be neglected, and moved that the
report of the committee be agreed to. The motion was
seconded by Mr. Abraham, who said that the question
was not whether the establishment would pay, but
whether it would not be advisable to purchase at a low
price the means of improving the health and increasing
the comforts of the poor. Mr. Cox spoke in favour of
baths and waehhouses, but condemned the proposed
purchase as a job, and moved the previous question as an
amendment. Mr. Anderton, who seconded the amend-
ment, said that he also was an advocate for baths and
wasbhouses, and he then proceeded to state various ob-
jections to the establishment in Goulstone•square. Mr.
Bell said that his name appeared to the report, but he
put it there to forward the principle of baths and wash-
houses, and he was decidedly opposed to the motion.
Mr. H. L. Taylor opposed the report. Alderman Law-
rence supported it. Mr. Fry said the corporation
ought not to look to profit alone in speculating upon the
advantages of a purchase. He denounced that doctrine,
but he was not quite sure that the present was a specu-
lation into which the corporation ought to enter, and he
should therefore withhold his support. After a few
words from Mr. De Jersey, who opposed the original
motion and from Mr. Towse, whn replied, the previous
question was carried by a majority of 45. The num-
bers being—for the amendment, 62 ; fur the original
motion, 17.

The following notice of motion has been placed on the
paper of business for the Court of Common Council :
"That the physical and moral condition of man is much
influenced by cleanliness in his dwelling, person, and
apparel, that the want of public baths and wash houses
in this city is severely felt ty the labouring and poor
population, and that it be referred to the Coal, and
Corn, and Finance Committee, and Improvement Com-
mittee, to consider and report to this court, the best
means of supplying the want alluded to, and the esti.
mated cost thereof."

SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY.—The half-yearly re-
,rt of this company has just been printed, and will
le presented at the general meeting of the shareholders
on the 27th instant. By this document it will be
seen that the net revenue for the half-year ended
the 31st of December, 1855, after payment of the
interest on the debenture debt, of the dividends on the
preference stocks, and of all the working expenses, re-
pairs, &c., amounts to 8,2771. lls. 2d., and enables the
directors to recommend a dividend of 225. 6d. per share
for the half-year, being at the rate of 44 per cent. per
annum, and making, with the amount paid for the half-
year to the 30th of June fait, a dividend on the ordinary
stock of the company of 4 per cent. for the year 1855.
This division of profits will leave a surplus, including
the balance of 4411. Os. sd, to the credit of the previous
half-year, of 7381. 19s. Id. to be ca ried to the credit of
the revenue for the current half-year. The tabular state-
ment printed with these accounts exhibits the followingpro-
eressive increase in the amount of gross earnings : —lB5O,
20,6131. • 1851,26,3911.; 1852, 30,303/.; 1853, 39,705/4
1854, 43:501/. ; 1855, 52,442/., and the dividend on theor-
dlnary stock of the company has during the same period
steadily advanced from nil in 1850 to 4 per cent. for the
year 1855. The directors report that the reconstruction
of the entrance curve has been most satisfactorily com-
pleted, and has been found to be a great improvement
to the entrance into the open dock. they also report that
they have been able to afford at a small cost a consider-
able increase of accommodation in the close dock. By
lengthening the other two jetties on the west side of
that dock they are now able to berth satisfactorily
six of the largest screw steamers alongside of the
three jetties, an arrangement which has already on
several occasions been found useful, and which is
very important with reference to the great increase
of trade which may be expected on the termination
of the war in which we are now engaged. The com-
parative statement of the Years ending December 31,
from 1844 to 1855, is as follows --1844, 4,018/. 7s. 5d ;
1845, 8,9771. lls. 6d ' • 1846, 13,2031. Is. sd. ; 1847,
17,3331.145. 7d. ; 1848, 19,534/.85.7d. ; 1849, 20,543/.
16s. 6d. ; 1850, 20,613/.18..6d. ; 1851, 26,391/.15.11d.;
1852, 30,302/. 03. Bd. ; 1853, 39,705/. 15s. 10d ; 1854,
43,501/. 12s. Od. ; 1855, 52,4421. 3s. 10d. The aggre-
gate amount of tonnage which entered the Southampton
docks during the past year ia thrift given :—West
46,626 tons ; Brazil., 13,926 ; East Indies via Alexan-
dria, 23,156; Gibraltar and Peninsula, 15,822 ; Black
Sea and Crimea, 54,90 ; America, 14,993 ; Australia
(steam-ships), 4,087; Australia (emigrants), 26,774
Cape of Good Hope, 1,400 ; Baltic, 1,014 ; Ostend,
607 ; French, 42,230 ; Jersey, 38,203 ; Irish, 51,486 ;
colliers, 50,706 ; coasters, 12,671; to repair from sun-
dry ports, 15,911; total, 414,567 tons. Messrs. Davi-
son, Liggins, and Young are the retiring directors, but
Are eligible for re•elootioX