The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-09-07 00:00:00

MEXICO.

By the Great Western steam-ship, which arrived from
the West Indies on Sunday, we have accounts from Vera
Cruz to the 2d of August. The Courier of Legation who
had alone been allowed to pass the belligerent lines, had
arrived on the 31st of July. His accounts from the city of
Mexico *ere far from satisfactory. He describes General
Scott's force at Puebla to be 15,000 men, waiting for some
reinforcements previous to advancing on Mexico ; on their
arrival he would immediately march. There was a strong
party in Mexico for an arrangement with General Scott,
and about 20,000 Mexicans prepared to oppose his entering
the city ; but, from the disunion amongst the leading men,
it was expected that the Americans would meet with no
serious opposition. The mortality at Vera Cruz, both in
the hospitals and among the newly-arrived Americans,
continued. There was nn chance of introducing goods
into the interior, and trade in consequence was at an end.
The chances of peace were considered light ; the several
departments of the Republic had declared against negoti-
ation, and even when the American General is in the city,
he will be in a most embarrassed position.
The conversion of the Mexican debt is said to have been
ratified by the Mexican government, but nothing is likely
to be done in the way of dividends while the Americans
are in the country.
Mr. C. Perry, commanding home squadron, had issued
a public notice, dated from the flag ship the Mississippi,
July 28, that the war tax of 10 per cent., hitherto imposed
on all our exports from the ports in the Gulf of Mexico,
was to be discontinued.

SPAIN.
The latest intelligence from Spain is important. It
announces the complete failure of Narvaez to form an
administration admissible by Queen Isabella, and the pro-
bability that the Progresistas, including General Espartero
and M. Mendizabal, would be called to the councils of
her Majesty. These occurrences are, as a matter of
course, ascribed in the French accounts to the intriguer
of the British Minister in Madrid. The displeasure of
the French Government at the unexpected repulse of
their envoy is described as excessive. The position of
affairs on the 30th was as follows :—The authority to com-
pose a ministry had been withdrawn from the Duke of
Valencia, but it had not (officially at least) been given to
any other person, although General Alaix and the Due
de Fries were mentioned in certain circles as likely to re-
ceiv3 that important commission. But that which is cer-
tain (and perhaps all that is certain) is, that Senor Pa-
cheo had definitely determined to resign. Much observa-
tion had been made on the visit paid by the Duke of \ a-
lencia to the King at the Pardo. That visit was purely a
visit of etiquette, and it is certain that no question relat-
ing to the Queen or her councils was referred to during
the Duke's interview with his Majesty.

'HE NEW PORTUGUESE A.IINISTRY.—The new cabinet
was formed on the 23d of August, and the formation of it
appears to belong, in particular, to Marshal Saldanha ;
consequently, the great majority of the members are mili-
tary. Brigadier Baron de Luz is nominated Minister of
Foreign Affairs ; he was Quartermaster-General to the
marshal in the civil war. Brigadier d'Almofalla is Minister
of War ; he was the head of the staff. Colonel Franzini,
a man exceedingly distinguished in theoretical science, is
Minister of France. M. Joao de Fontes Pereira, captain
in the navy, is Minister of Marine. M. Antonio
Mello e Carvalho, is Minister of the Interior. M. Antonio
Fernandez de Sylva Ferrac, Counsellor of the Supreme
Tribunal, is Minister of Justice and Public Worship.
The new ministers have already published their pro-
gramme. They in it adopt as basis, the conciliation of
parties, the observance of the charter, and the accom-
plishment of diplomatic engagements • they promise mo-
rality, honesty, independence, and virtue.
NEW ZEALAND.—It was mentioned a few days back
that the advices from New Zealand reported appearances
of settled peace in that quarter of the world, and this
statement is most completely corroborated by further ac-
counts which have now come to hand. Rangihaeata, the
insurgent chief, had, it is asserted, lost the majority of his
supporters, and it was anticipated that before the arrival
of the winter season he would either be compelled to sur-
render to the authorities or seek refuge in the interior,
and thus be removed beyond the possibility of occasioning
fresh mischief to the settlers. The natives at Otaki wens
making considerable progress in civilised life. Commenc-
ing their improvements, they had joined together in the
expenses necessary for the erection of a flour mill on the
banks of the stream contiguous to their " pals ;" and a
sum of £3OO was to be subscribed among them for this
purpose. As a proof of their determination to carry out
this project, a first collection of £550 had been forwarded
to Welhngton for investment. Europeans were, it seems,
to be employed in the the construction of the machinery
connected with the undertaking, but the manual labour
would be provided from their own tribe.

SIR ROBERT PEEL AT SEAIIA3I.—The ex-Premier,
who since Wednesday last has been the guest of the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Londonderry at Wynyard-park,
Durham, where a large party are assembled on the occa-
sion of the marriage of the Lady Alexandrine Vane with
the Earl of Portarlington, visited Seaham on Friday, in
company with the Marquis of Londonderry, and several
other distinguished personages, for the purpose of in-
specting the newly-formed harbour. The noble marquis
having shown his friends all that could interest them in
the harbour, the party returned to the summit of the cliff,
where a neat pavilion had been erected for the purpose.of
enabling the corporation of Sunderland the more conve-
niently to .present their address to Sir Robert Peel.
Through some mismanagement on the part of the officials
the pavilion was crowded before the marquis and his
party arrived, and it was with some difficulty that the
right hon. baronet could make his way to the table. This
inconvenience once overcome, and the borough officials
having arranged themselves in due form, an address was
presented to Sir Robert, who replied in due form. This
ceremony concluded, the party repaired to the Vane Arms,
where a dejeflner was laid out. The noble marquis and
his party shortly afterwards left Seaham on their return
to Wynyard, where a grand ball took place in the evening
in honour of the return of 'Viscount Seaham for the nor-
thern division of the county of Durham.
EXTRAORDINARY BUT MELANCHOLY.—ThO Morning
Herald, of Friday, contains a curious narrative, of which
we must give the chief features. It seems that the writer
(A.8.R..) who gives his name privately, meeting a gentle-
man in a diligence at Caen, the latter seeing that A.B.R.
and his friend were Englishmen, favoured them "with-
out any provocation" with the startling avowal, " I was
lately a clergyman of the Anglican Church. I am now
a Catholic, and hope soon to be admitted into the order
of the Jesuits." The flippancy of the announcement
argues little, to say the least of it, for the feeling of the
young apostate. He had made a change which, had he
ever been sincere in his first profession, could not have
been arrived at but with fearful mental struggle, deep
questionings of the conscience, and fervent prayer to
Heaven ; and yet he blurts his confession out to the first
chance passenger of a diligence, with an audacious
familiarity worthy the reckless frequenter of the pothouse.
The conversation proceeded. "Do I understand von
rightly that you had taken orders in the Church of En-
gland. ?" Yes. 1 was the Rev. George Browne for
eighteen mouths, but lam now a layman again. I left
the Church of England by the express &Hee of Dr.
Pusey, whose last words to me were—' Mr. Browne, ,you
had better go to Rome, and God go with you, he
hopeful young gentleman then informed his listener that
at the time of his ordination he held every point of
Romish doctrine, except that he admitted the validity of
English orders, as containing apostolic succession.
" Should 1 go on the mission there (England), wherever
I am placed, I mean at once to call upon all the people,
and tell them that I am the minister of the Catholic
Church, and all the others, rectors and all, but intruders."
When told that such measures might be considered by
his own party as injudicious, the youth replied, " What,
you think that they would produce persecution? Ano-
ther Lord George Gordon's riot ! That's the very thing
we want." A. B. R. subsequently thought that a new
translation of the Bible by Dr. Pusey, Mr. Sewell, and
Mr. Keble might be more accurate than the accepted ver..'
sion yet have the effect of disturbing and distracting the
settled thoughts of men, to which the young apostate
again replied, '` Ay, that's exactly wllat it will do, at d
what we want : it will unsettle your minds, and then
you'll cone to us for rest." Lastly, "he lived fur, and
thought of nothing else, than the conversion of the
English."