Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-10-21

Portation from Europe OF musical and theatrical
talent which, added to that among us, presents
greater array Of opera materid than is to be met
with, perhaps, in any single capital in Europe. -
The celebrated Braham, who has maintained a sway
in England for hafa century, came in the President
| steamer, accompanied by his whole family.
Mr.. Braham, at one time, worth E500, 0O0-and
is probably now worth f20O, O00-the richest theatre
cal man in England. About twelve years ago, Mr..
Price, OF the Park Theatre, made proposition to
him to visit New York. offering him within $500 per
| night of what the theatre would hold-probabiy
equal TO 5000 per night. Mr.. Braham considered
the proposal, but after reflection, said" that salt
water-ihat Atlantic do fear" When the extraor-
binary success and eciat of Fanny Elssler reached
Europe, Braham walked up, as if from dream. The
steamers had annihlated the dangers ofthe Atlantic
and Mrs. Braham said" My dear Braham, YOU
must cross the Atlantic and Niagara Falls before
YOU die" GO believe must" said he. According 2.
ly, without word of notice in the public prints Mr.
Brlham took passage in the President steamer and
is now here, looking almost young, gallant il
he was only twenty-five years old, or Whereabouts.
He will appear at the Park Theatre after the en-.
gagement OF the Woods have terminated. One of
his splendid daughters married English Earl and
is now young widow, a ward Of chancery, in pos
session Of baronial CASTLE and immense fortune
A is also in the suite of Sir Lionel Smith, now
Governor of Mauritus.
The followingis a sketch OF Braham, from recent
publication in England
Mr. JOHN BRAHAM-This incompatible vocal
ist was the son of John Abrahams, an honest mem
Der OF the Jewish persuasion no resided in Leman-
street, Goodman's Fields; and, in the year Of cur
Lord, lTT2, ''litte Jackey" (the subject of our
moir) honored the said Leman-street with his first
note. At an early age death deprived him Off nearly
all his relations; but ''lite Jackey" found a home
under poor kinsman's roof The Jews Of England
proyeTbially kind to the distressed Of own
persuasion; they ever ready 10 assuage "the wi
dow's and the orphans tear"
Some members ofthe tribes Of Israel are still ly-
lag who can remember little Abrahams, OF seven or
eight years Of age, delighting all who heard him
with his pfecociou. vocal ability and '' tie Jackey'
was by no meass chary of his notes, for even then
the hope Of realising the smallest coin Of the realm
would inspire the cock-sparrow to sing like Jour
neymsn uie htngsle The fame Of the little peripa-
| tetic minstrel, by some fortunate chance, caught
! the ears ofLeoni, then highly popular our first
English vocalist, and he imylediitey offered 10 tax
him from the hands Of his relations they gladly ac
ccpted the offer and little John Abrahaps became
regular ariicled pupil TO that popular singer.
His master now restrained hi from visiting his
former humble but kind associates aud allotted out
his time for the cultivation Of the fine organ nature
| had bestowed upon him. Leon NEST especially in.
tcrdicted has singing ON any occasion on which he
! was not present There is an anecdote of Leoni
and his pupil which we have often heard, and now
trans cribe TO our readers. The master had sent his
pupil one day 10 have his hair cut and gave him
sixpence for the payment thereof While under
the operation Of the scissors little John began 20
hum tune (t so happened the barbe had both seen
and heard the Juvenile vocalist in his early peran,
bulstions in the essi the sweet notes struck upon
the musical BARRIERS ears; he looked, and immedi-
atcly recognised the little wandering minstrel of
| Gsodmans Fields. After the clipping wa. compile
ted the tristHr begged him 10 ''sng out;" but The
urchn lsraelte ed the enchanted barber and said
| NOu Hnn'f hair do 81 L.
should sing for nothingl"
"Only sing, my good boy," cried the scissors.
hourishing amateur dc musiqae, "and you may keep
the sixpence."
II was bargain. While in the middle Of the dity.
and his young heart gratifying two Of his stron
| gest passions (the love of money and the love OF
fame while thus excited and mis- little throat strain
ing to give the greatest effect TO diff cult pa
sage. who should pass the door but the great Leoni
! himself The voice-that well-known voice-yi.
brated on the niaesfco's ear "Csn IL bel the little
Monkey" exclaimed the eRraged patron as he en-
tered the shop, and caught hi. ecrS in all his glory
he seized the harmonious culprt and hurled him
the street, ID the barber, and made his exit in
rage. OBJ Jeptba, Judge Of Israel, was IL not crue
20 check the boy taste for music and little six.
pence.
! The celebrated John Palmer, the original yos,Db
NwIasc, IN the year i6S7 opened a new theatre in
Wsllclesc square, and among the company was John
Braham then fifteen years of age; and here he made
his hrst appearance any stage in part Of CHpid
in piece called the Birthday" and was very .uc
cessful. About this time he Lost his voice and his
PrecePtor, and gained has livelihood as a professor
| oftbe piano forte.
In the year 1874 be tried his restored voice in the
i Bath concerts. RsHIzni, the conductor, and the
frst musical professor in Engand, became Braham's
patron and instructor. and 60 that excellent and in.
dseious master he owe. much ofthe reputation and
consequent fortune which he now enjoys. About
t~oy years otter he made his debut at Drury Lane.
and then comanene ed HE acquaintance with the char
mag vocalist Signora STORAGE. lie made n CONT
Mental tour in her company, aud at Florence, Leg
1 nd Nanl. h. -
1 fnest tenor in Europe.
On his return to London in 1901. he came out in
an opesa which Jailed, and soon afterwards Dibdin
furnished him with the Cabinet /" in which gr,bam
composed all the music destined TO he .uns nv him,
self His Beautiful Maid, and "No More by Ser.
| row Chased. established the run Of the opers AT
THIS period he ama'sed considerable property by
composing parts Of many operas, the whole Of come
few, and insumersble single songs. His adaptation
of"Aillee Aroen." a. the popular tune Of aRebiu
Adair" alone sold 200 600 copies
After this he took unto himself wife the daugh-
ter OF highly respectable gentle man at Manchss.
TER, and they are now surrounded by a handsome
family Of sons and daugh healthy as their father
anc handsome ss their mother The savings OF
ms professional career are estimated at E2e0,O0O
abont 81 Oe0 900 our currency. He nov sings for
his love OF the arnot money He is now the proprie
tor ofthe Colosseum and the st. James's Theatre,
Already wnss snss ven sssi ' To",s
far on the shady side Of sixty, GsiStythres years.
he still retains his surprising voice, which, regnia-
ted by his conswmmate skill, battles all attempts at
competition on the English stage.
AccfprNr MIR. Warren Masters, Of Prince
Georges county Maryland, was killed by fall fron
his horse, riding down Pennsylvania Avenue,
Washington, on Friday last.
SEVERE RrcoIL-The Wings Of Lansingburgh
undertook 10 fire salute for Of their victories
one evening last week. but of the gunpers being
filed with patriotism, or bard cider. loaded the gun
80 heavily, that on the second discharge, the recol
broke IL from the rpnnions, and threw il some dis
lance from the carriage. Fortunately no one was
directly in the rear, and hence no one was injured.