The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-05 00:00:00

Benazet, the celebrated lessee of the gaming tables
at Baden-Baden, died on December 2. He was
very commonly called King Benazet, and in reality
for many years reigned as King of Baden-Baden.
His house, the Villa Benazet, placed on an
eminence commanding the town, was famous for
its good dinners and pleasant soirees dansantes.
A very slight introduction indeed sufficed to com-
mand M. Benazet's hospitality, and many a quiet
English family who after dinner played whist
at penny points with his wife and daughter
never dreamt that they were passing a delightful
evening at the expense of that never-failing crop of
gamblers who pay tribute to the greatest " hell"
in Europe. The civility of M. Benazet was only
equalled by that of the late Mr. Simpson, of Vaux-
hall. He called upon every stranger to whom be
thought his visit would be acceptable, and with
wonderful administrative talent laid himself out
to offer attentions peculiarly appropriate to every
individual case. The police of Baden-Baden was
in point of fact in his hands. He had a large staff
of clerks who took note of the arrival of every
visitor, and in case of need telegraphed for infor-
mation about their poaition and antecedents. Many a
lord, baronet, and heavy swell, coming to Baden
with a left-handed wife, dressed in the last Paris
mode, has been astonished to find that the "lady"
would not be allowed to subscribe to the concerts
and balls. The roulette and rouge-et-noir rooms
were open to all the world who behaved decently ;
but in the not more splendid salons under the same
roof, wherein (mixed, of course, with many of
small note) the elite of European society might
frequently be seen, it was rare, indeed, to
find an equivocal person who had escaped
M. Benazet's vigilance. Many stories are told of
his liberality to cleaned-out gamblers whom he was
always ready to furnish with sufficient money to
go home. But if, after obtaining a supply in
extremis, they went to try another venture at the
table, instead of going to the railway station, he
invariably arrested them as swindlers. M. Benazet
was of the Jewish persuasion. His trade is tabooed
by modern morality, and will not last as an open
profession for another generation. But he was a
Jew in whom there was " much kindness," and
whether the tables were successful or not he every
year took a pride in spending money to make
Baden the most delightful holiday place in the
world.
At the Bourse the Rente maintained its firmness,
and rose 124 fr. for cash and 194 fr. for account,
closing at 69fr. 50c. and 69fr. 35e. Most other
securities were weaker. Italian fell 10c., and
Mobilier and Credit Foncier sfr. each. Comptoir
d'Eacompte rose 7fr. 50c.

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

BOMBAY, Ocr. 31.

By the mail just arrived letters were received
by government both from the captives at Debra Tabor and
at Magdale. By these accounts, which were dated Sept. 9,
we learn that the captives are all well, but that they bad
experienced neither increase to, nor alleviation of, the
miseries of their captivity. Some were in chains and
some were not—and they were the greater part of them
employed in making stone shell. Mr. Fled wu at that
time at Debra Tabor with the King, who was completely
hemmed in, in his capital, and contemplated making an
excursion against the rebels directly the rains were over.
They further stated that the King had set fire to an island
and burnt the whole of the inhabitants upon it. Though
they do not give the name we fancy it must be one of
the islands in Lake Dembra, at no great distance from
Debra Tabor. Mr. Fled, who writes from Debra Tabor,
makes no mention of the King's intentions with regard to
the expedition against him, so we conjecture that the news
of the preparations for the intrusion had not up to that date
reached his ears. He states however that the King had
received the Queen's last letter, and was coolly waiting
until he should see Mr. Barman before he answered it.
Mr. Rassam was then at Magda& It will be seen from
these letters that, with the exception of the satisfactory
news that the captives were all well, we gain little informa-
tion to guide us with regard to the future intentions of the
King but it does not seem as if he intended giving in, for
had be done so, he would have taken care to pay mote
speedy attention to the Queen's letter.
The accounts from the pioneer force represent the beat
ow the shores of Annesley Bay as something fearful. It to
not advisable, however, that they should move into the
high ground until they have troops to accompany thew. I
may here mention that all the public followers have been
ordered to be vaccinated before reaching the place of die
embarkation, with a view to obviate as far as possible the
the chance of introducing small-pox into the countri--
Madras dtAnurum, Nov. 8.

Mrs. Lincoln's efforts to obtain pecuniary aid in
New York have entirely failed. No one will buy he
clothing, and the subscription list in aid of her, after
reaching 1,050 dollars, came to a standstill. The
unfortunate exhibition of her real character," write, the
correspondent of the Tina, " that has been made durist
the put few weeks will prevent Mrs. Lincoln ever regill'
ing her position in society."
The pedestrian Weston, who is walking from
Portland to Chicago, had at the last aceounts reached
the village of Conneaut, Ohio, 730 miles from Portland.
and more than two-thirds of the entire distance. After
leaving Buffalo he made his third attempt to walk 100 miler
in 10 hours, but had to abandon it at Conneaut, ba'i'l
walked 88 miles in 20 hours 12 minutes, his feet being tee
we to proms&