The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-11 00:00:00

lESTRUCTION OF WE AND PROPERTY UPON

THE RIO DRANOS

The Nett, Orleans Picayune of the 28th ult. has
the following advises relating to the destructive effects of
the late storm upon the Rio Grande :
" The hurricane was the most terrible in the memory of
man on this frontier. A perpetual bombardment for a
year could hardly have done as much damage as hap-
pened from this one night's storm. Twenty-six persons
were killed at Matamoros, and ten were killed and one
wounded at Brownsville. At Brazos, so far as is known,
twelve persons perished. The schooners Ella and Kedsali
were blown high ashore. Only two houses were left
standing at Clarksville, and none at Bagdad. The loss of
life in the latter place is not known. Ninety of the in-
habitants escaped by going on board of a vessel
which rode out the storm. The rest have perished.
From the long list of damages at Brownsville we ex-
tract the following:—Mesers. King and Kennedy's ware-
house, roof blown off, and building very badly damaged;
County Court Hones and jail completely destroyed, and
the prisoners are all at large ; the entire square mar-
rounded by Bowen, Fort Brown, Fourteenth, Levee, and
Elisabeth streets is destroyed, including The R,anrhero
office and Masonic Hall. The Courier office has roof off ;
the Custom House, wall down ; the Presbyterian Church
. _

was destroyed ; POet-office building, roof blown off ; the
hotel and elegant billiard saloon of Mr. Miller is almost
ruined; the iron building of Messrs. Wilkins, Hey., and
Co. is totally destroyed. Between Tenth and First•streets
seven brick and four frame houses were either totally
destroyed or so badly injured as to be uninhabitable. In

Matamoros 1,500 Louisa and hut, were blown down. The
greatest distress and want prevail at all points, and
appeals have been made for aid. Ont of seven steamers
only two can be repaired,"

TRUST AND AGENCY COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA
( LIMITED).-( THIS DAY.)

The half-yearly general meeting of the share-
holders of this company was held at their offices, St.
Swithin's-lane, this day• Mr. BONER in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN mid the shareholders were aware that
the accounts were presented yearly, in May, and this
meeting was merely for the purpose of declaring an ad
interim dividend. With regard to the fourth issue of
shares at the last meeting it was stated in May that in
the state of matters they were not pressing then.
There were 12,500 shares at 10s. per oent. premium.
and they had gone off so well that they had
now only a little more than 200 in. hand. With
to the collection of interest they were now
co lee about 20,0001. • year, and their wears only
amounted to 271. He moved that • dividend be declared
at the rate of ten per cent. per unarm.
Mr. KINNAIRD, ALP., seconded.
fn reply to questions by Mr. W altar Karon,
The CHAIRMAN said the directors had written off the
lose sustained by the advance which was made through
the instrumentality of Mr. John Gladstone, that matter
having gone into Chancery. But they had recently had
a decision in their favour, and the amount to be received
under it would go to the good. No official of the company
was indebted to the company, and the rule of the company
not to advance to their officials bad not been transgressed.
The motion was agreed to, and • vote of thanks to the
chairman closed the proceedings.

The Earl of Derby was last week again suffering
from an attack of gout, and was in consequence prevented
attending the cabinet oouncil on Thursday. His lordship
was said to be much better on Saturday, though he was
unable to be present at the Lord Mayor's banquet.
Lady Emily Peel and family arrived in White-
hall-gardens on Saturday from the Villa Lammermoor,
Geneva. The Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel arrived in town
the same day from Drayton Manor, to meet her ladyship.
The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer
has issued invitations for a full-dress dinner to the leading
Ministerial member, of the House of Cornmons,on Monday
next. The dinner will take place at the Clarendon Hotel,
in consequence of the right hon. gentleman's mansion at
Grosvenor•gate being under repair.

The Right Hon. Sir William Hutt, M. P., and
Lady Hutt have arrived at their house in Grosvenor-
square from Paris.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will a give full
dress dinner on the 18th inst. ►t the Clarendon Hotel.

The trial of General Halpin commenced at Dublin
on Saturday, before the special commission. He denied
the jurisdiction of the court ; but, on being called on to
prove his American citizenship, he requested that a num-
ber of witnesses might be called ; and some amusement was
created on reading the list when it concluded with the
names of James Stephens and Colonel Kelly. The trial was
not concluded when the court rose.

We are glad to learn (says the Leeds Mercury)
that there is • prospect of the proposal made some time
ago for the more speedy liquidation of the claims upon the
unfortunate shareholders of the Leeds Banking Company
being acted upon. The suggestion made was, that the share.
holders should endeavour to raise • sufficient sum to pay
off the claims on the bank in full as speedily as possible, if
the creditors would consent to forego the amount due as
interest, and a committee was appointed to carry out the

_ . .
arrangement. A large number of creditors have already
oonsented to this proposal.

An incident occurred in Fleet-street during the
Lord Mayor's procession on Saturday, which gave rise to
much amusement. A portly ward beadle, with an enor-
mous bouquet, and carrying his small gold mace, had up to
that point, though with some loss of breath, managed to
keep pace on foot by the side of his master's carriage. There
he appeared to have become exhausted, and, availing him-
self of • momentary pause in the procession, entered a
smart hansom, in which he proceeded for some distance
right in front of the carriage of Sir Thomas Gabriel, the
effect being somewhat ludicrous. The beadle was wailed
with no end of " chaff" from people in the crowd, until be
disappeared altogether from the procession. Why or
wherefore be left no one appeared to know.

At Blancfiord (Dorset) fair on Fridayabout 3,000
sheep were penned. They fetched about 16e. a bead leen
than they did last year at this time. The prioe of lambs
ranged from 14s. to 225., and of ewes from 325. to 425.
The pike of barley was ss. per quarter lower than the
highest point it has reached this year.

" Argus," describing in the Post a day with the
Burton hunt last week, says :—" A finer field of horses
and horsemen I never wish to see, and bad we got well
away with a fox the riding of Mr. Newdegate, M.P., Sir
Frederick Johnstone, Captain Chaplin, Lord Henry, Mr.
Chaplin, and a few others I could mention, would have
been worth travelling miles to witness. With respect to
the ladies, amongst whom were the Countess of Yar-
borough, they rode and looked well. I could not do other-
wise than admire Mr. Chaplin and Lord Henry's horses,
owing to their having plenty of substance with great
quality. Mr. Newdegate was on a rare good mover, with
his forelegs bandaged ; but nothing can pass him when the
hounds settle to their work."

The convict Gould, who now gives the name of
O'Brien, has been identified as one of the party of four
men who were tried at the South Lancashire Amazes, in
December, for having illegal possession of a number of
government rifles. The convict then described himself as
Michael O'Brien, and said that he was a mechanic. He
was seen in company with three men, carrying several
heavy cases into a cellar in Liverpool. The police appre-
hended the men and seized the cases, and found that the
latter contained 49 short F.rifields, which were identified as
the property of a Volunteer edrps in London. The cases
also contained a large quantity of phosphorus.
The American Commission at Paris have been
very generous to some of the scientific establishments in
presenting them with the valuable collection of specimens

of the mineral and chemical productions of the two con•
tinents, for which their department was so remarkable.

According to French advises the vintage has

turned oat unfavourably. Eleven hogsheads of wine will
not make more brandy than seven hogsheads in 1865. The
French cognac merchants will not take orders at any
prices for the present.
Mr. Edward Walker, vice-consul at Tripoli, has
been appointed her Majesty's Consul at Cagliari, on the
death of Mr. Craig.

THE BRITISH IRON TRADE. —The government
have directed that inquiries be made into the truth of the
statement as to the departure of trade from England to the
Continent, having especial reference to the trade in
machinery and implements. This duty has been confided
to Mr. Samuelson, M.P.,the head of the extensive agricul-
tural implement works in Banbury. Mr. Samuelson is
well qualified for the work, having a thoroughly practical
acquaintance with machinery, and being also an accom-
plished linguist. His journey will occupy several months.
Liverpool A/biort.
HoerrrAL VOL DISRASIS or TEI HEART, 67,
MARGAIIII,STREIT. W.—The number at palmate relieved
daring the week ending Nov. 9 was 133.