The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-12-01 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

INVITATION TO UNITED PRAYER, ,
FOE THE
OUTPOUR:NG OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
On the let of January,lB47,_being the first day e the

New Year

DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD,
Since I bad the privilege of addressing you, the Lord in
his gracious providence has changed my sphere of duty to
this part of his vineyard.
Whilst I review with feelings of grateful remembrance
his manifold mercies during my pastoral charge in
Liverpool, the sweet seasons of Christian communion
with my beloved friends and brethren, and especially with
that dear flock for whom I earnestly pray that grace,
mercy, and peace, may be multiplied uuto them ; whilst
these past tokens of divine goodness are fresh in my me-
mory, I may, when speaking of my present charge, say
with the Psalmist, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant
places." Oh, that " the good Shepherd" may lead many
of his own sheep into these green pastures, overruling
this providential change to the advancement of His cause,
and the good of His people.
It is a sense of His unmerited goodness which leads to
this desire, and especially inclines me to repeat THE
INVITATION WHICH, FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS. I have
been permitted to give " to all who love the Jesus Christ
in sincerity," TO UNITE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE
NEW YEAR, FRIDAY, JANUARY ISt, 1847, IN A GENE-
RAL CONCERT FOR PRAYER FOR TRE OUTPOURING OF

THE HOLY SPIRIT

As I come nearer to the metropolis, I see more and
more clearly the need there is of thi, great gift of God.
For in what very peculiar circumstances does the coming
year open upon us.
First. We are suffering under " the judgment of
Almighty God, against whom by our strifes and divisions,
our misuse of his gifts, and forgetfulness of his manifold
mercies, we have grievously sinned. At his bidding the
earth bath witbholden the wonted provision of food, and
turned abundance into scarcity." Whilst the Almighty
is thus contending with us, the aid of the Holy Spirit is
peculiarly required to produce repentance for our manifold
transgressions, and to avert still further judgments, by
His leading us " to break off our sins by righteousness,
and our iniquities by showing mercy to the poor." For
the Scriptures of Truth make known that the divine
judgments will not of themselves turn the heart to God.
They rather increase the enmity. The Lord alone can
" take away the stony heart, and give a heart of flesh,"
and produce that " godly sorrow which leads to repent-
ance not to be repented of." It is true that solemn
prayer has been offered throughout the land that God
would remove this judgment, and all who fear His
name must be thankful for this recognition of His provi-
dence ; but where, it may be asked, is the real turning to
God as a nation suffering under his chastening rod ?
Where the stop to the open breach of the Sabbath? to
the pride, covetousness, sensuality, and overflowings of
ungodliness, which make us afraid ? It is the Lord alone
who can make this !effectual change. When He " pours
out the Spirit of grace and supplication," we shall mourn
for our sins and turn from our wickedness. Oh then,
Christian Brethren, unite as with one heart and soul in
prayer, that God of his tender mercy may pour out of the
abundance of his Holy Spirit.
Connected with this judgment of God is the state of
our beloved Sister Island. There the hand of the Lord is
heavily felt. For there, alas ! whilst there is a scarcity of
food, amounting, in some parts, almost to famine, still
severer judgments threaten that unhappy land. I need
not mention them. It is enough to say that God alone
can deliver from them. Oh I then, let our Sister Country
have your earnest prayers—that God would send the
Comforter to his suffering people—sanctify their present
trials, and so strengthen their faith and fortify their pa-
tience, that they may " glorify the Lord in the fires,"
and be as instruments in his bands to turn the hearts of
sinners to " Him that smiteth him," and bring them
from the errors of Romanism to the knowledge of the
truth as it is in Jesus.

A second peculiarity in the opening year, is THE MUL-
TIPLIED EFFORTS OF THE CHURCH OF ROME To EX-
TEND HER COMMUNION. The effect of these efforts

has been to damp the zeal of Protestants in maintaining
the faith of their forefathers, and almost to persuade them
that Popery must prevail.
The only fear we ought to have is fear for those who
become proselytes to the Churchof Rome, and for thosewbo
abide in her communion. For them, reflecting upon the
terrible judgments to which they are exposed, we cannot
have too great compassion, or be too earnest in our en-
deavours to bring before them the solemn warning of Al-
mighty God : " Come out of her, my people, that ye he
not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues." For her destiny is unalterably fixed. " The
Most High, who does as He pleases in the armies of hea-
ven," and who " beareth rule in the kingdom of men,"
has decreed her fall—has declared that He will send " a
mighty angel, having great glory, and lightening the earth
with his glory ;" who shall proclaim with a loud voice,
" BABYLON THE GREAT IS FALLEN, TS FALLEN, and is
become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every
foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."
We, therefore, have no cause for apprehension. Since
the efforts of the Church of Rome are but as the convul-
sive throes of a dying man, if these efforts should for a
season prevail, they alter not the mind of the Most High,
for " His counsel shall stand, and He will do all bis plea-
sure :"—nor need they alarm his people. For " these
shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall over-
come them; for he is LORD OF LORDS, AND KING OF

KINGS : and they that are with Him are called, and
chosen, and faithful!" " They overcame by the blood of
the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they
loved not their lives unto the death." " Hem is the pa-
tiance of the saints : here are they that keep the com-
mandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
To raise his people to this standard, and to enable
those who profess the Protestant faith to act up to their
profession, the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit is
essentially requisite. Beloved Brethren, then, as you
partake of the spirit of our Protestant forefathers, pray
tor this unspeakable gift. Pray, that lie who said to
Joshua, " Be thou strong and courageous," may give to
his people that strong faith in his word, and holy bold-
ness in his cause, which may lead them to say with Lu-
ther, " Though the sun be darkened with legions of
devils as by thick clouds, we will not fear, for God is for
us, and victory is ours." And especially that the Lord
would send forth many, many faithful labourers,
" boldly to preach the Word."
A third pai Ocular calling for notice is, OUR STRIFES
AND DIVISIONS.

These are so well known as to make it unnecessary to
particularize them. But how grievous must they be in
the sight of that God whose name is " LOVE I" and who
has commended his love to us by sending his Son first
"to die for sinners," and then to gather together in
one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and
which aro on earth, even in Him." How grievous to our
blessed Saviour, whose last prayer was, that " all who be-
lieve in Him may be one, even as the Father and the Son
are one." How grievous also to the Holy Spirit, who
directs that " all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil-speaking, should be put away, with all
malice ;" and that we should " be kind one to another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ's sake hath forgiven us." When we bear i❑ mind
the strife and debate, the hard at ords and angry spirit,
which have lately prevailed, and which have almost sepa-
rated bosom friends, and rent asunder the church of
Christ, we cannot but apprehend that these unhappy di-
visions have been one fertile source of all our sorrows.

SECOND EDITION.

Standard-office, Ten o'clock.

AltraVAL o:4"filiE BRITANNIA.

By the royal mail steam-ship Britannia, which left
Boston on the IGth ult.. and Halifax on the 18th, we
have advices from New York to the 15th ult. inclusive.
She reached this port this morning about seven o'clock,
baying made her passage from Halifax in twelve days.

The Great Western steam-ship had not arrived at New
York on the 15th, but was anxiously looked for.
The packet-ship Liverpool from this port arrived at
New York on the 14th ult.

The rates for sterling exchange had for several days
been steadily declining, notwithstanding a fair demand.
Quotations ruled about per cent below those current at
the departure of the previous steamer. Domestic ex-
changes continued dull, and the quotations were merely
nominal.

During the two or three weeks prior to the Britannia's
sailing, upwards of seventy square rigged vessels cleared
from New York, destined for Europe, loaded with flour
and grain, (and one carrying out three hundred barrels of
onions,) scarcely one of which had left the bay on the
15th ult. owing to the bad weather. _

Accounts from Monterey of the 16th October, state that
fever and ague were spreading rapidly through the United
States army. About 2000 mules had been hired at
Monterey for the use of the army, and 1500 had arrived
from Camargo. An American mail from Camargo for
the army, was taken by the Mexicans and forwarded to
Santa Anna. A later mail from the same place had also
been captured by the same force. An end had been
put to the neutrality of Yucatan. and in consequence of
an order from the secretary of the Treasury the United
States Marshal at New Orleans had seized a Yucata-
nese schooner, called the Ventura, which had arrived
from Campeachy. She had 7000 dollars in specie,
but these had been landed prior to the seizure. An-
other letter, received from Monterey, states that there
never was seen a more starved and famished set of men
than the American soldiers, and hunger, it was said, was

making greater slaughter than all the efforts of the enemy,
The Mexicans were not at all disheartened at the result of
the battle of Monterey, hut resolved to fight to the last.
On the 25th September General Kearney left Santa Fe
for California, taking with him about 400 men mounted
on mules. The route of this small command was consi-
dered by many of the oldest and most experienced moun-
taineers as one of great hardship and suffering. Every-
thing was tranquil at Santa Fe on the 27th September,
though a very current rumour existed that the Armijo
family would endeavour to excite the population to
open resistance as soon as General Kearney and the
regular troops of the United States had left that part of
the country. Gen. Kearney, by printed proclamation,
had organised a government and appointed officers to
execute the laws of New Mexico. Col. Doniphan's re-
giment had obtained permission of Gen. Kearney to
march to Chihuahua, and effect there a junction with
Gen. Wool. Provisions were very scarce, the army being
obliged to subsist from July to the last of September
without sugar or coffee, and on half rations of flour.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE, by TELEGRAPH

ANOTHER ATTACK ON ALVARADO BY THE
AMERICAN SQUADRON.
CONTEMPLATED ATTACK ON TOBASCO.

An extra of the New Orleans Picayune, of the 7th ult.
contains letters from the squadron, dated off Anton Lizar-
do, Oct. 13th, 16th, and 25th.
On the 13th all was bustle and preparation for an at-
tack on Alvarado. For a month previous the sailors had
been drilling for the attack, and were eager for the fray.
The Mexicans had a battery of ten guns at the mouth of
the river.—On the 14th sailing orders were counter-
manded, the wind blowing too fresh for operations. On
the 15th they sailed, but anchored again the same day,
within ten miles of the mouth of the river. There was a
heavy swell on the bar.
On the morning of the 16th, steamer Vixen, and cutter
McLane, towed by steamer Mississippi, anchored at long-
shot distance, and commenced their fire. The Commo
dore leading, in the Vixen, with the rest of the force fol-
lowing, passed by the fort—each vessel firing her broad-
side as she ranged ahead, with little or no effect, owing to
the great distance. A long eighteen of the cutter Forward
sent a shot directly into the fort. The shot was repeated
with great effect. In the meantime the Mississippi had
closed up, and was exploding her Paixhans effectively
about the heads of the Mexicans, doing considerable
damage to the fort.
During the morning several of cur boats sounded with-
in half a mile of the fort, and were fired upon, but re-
ceived no damage.

At 1 p.m. the line was formed, the steamer Vixen tow-
ing the gun-boats Reefer and Bonita ; the McLane,
schooner Forward and gun-boat Petrel, two launches,
three cutters, and a barge containing a force destined for
boarding the vessels of war, brought up the rear. The
Vixen and her tow passed the bar, and took a position
within point blank range; but the McLane stuck so fast
that the Commodore was unable to bring up all his force,
or stand the enemy's twelve gun battery, and was obliged
to retreat. The force in the boats was exposed to heavy
fire, but none were hurt.
The McLane is pronounced an abominable abortion.
When she got afloat again, Captai❑ Howard offered to
make another attempt to pass the bar, but the Commo-
dore declined it.

On the night of the IGth, the cutter Forward, gun-
boats Bonita, Reefer, and Nonata, under Commodore
Perry, left Anton L zardo, for an attack on Tobacco.
Two prizes had been taken, one the American bark
Cooza, and the other a Yucatan schooner.

FOOD.—We hope the news by this steamer will enable
the !mop)? Eastern nations to see, that we shall have as
much food to spare during the coming winter and spring,
as we may have ships to carry away. Our new crop of
Indian corn has none of it been shipped as yet, and it is A
vast crop. It will be coming forward along through the
middle end southern States, and pouring down the Missis-
sippi, all winter. The northern canals will be closed for
several months, but during those months the supplies will
come from more southern outlets. Our exports, there-
fore, will only be limited by the means of exportation.—
New York Journal of Commerce, 14th ult.
LIST OF PASSENGERS PER BRITANNIA.--From
Boston :—Messrs. Fischet and lady, R. A. Silman, G.
Thompson, Tinson, Capt. Usher, G. Black, ship builder,
Quebec, J. Robinson, E. Varnish, J. Moore, (Manilla).
Chrs. Phillips and lady, Robt. Jackson. J. Lederer, G.
Beswick, A. Bell, G. Burgess, Kamike, G. flapper
Henry Wykoff, E. Maillana, F. Stewart, 52nd, Light
Infantry, F. Thompson, Little.—From Halifax :—Robt.
Morrow, Duff, 89th Regiment, Wilmott, Romer, 14th
Regiment.