The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-12 00:00:00

INTELLIGENCE FROM THE EAST

We received the following letter on Saturday last via Mar-
seilles, from a gentleman on board the Great Liverpool steam-
ship, who is well acquainted with nautical matters, and who,
from his having visited Egypt on several recent occasions,
takes an interest in the affairs of the East. Some few of the
facts relating to China and India have already transpired ;
but the interesting information relative to Syria, and the
British shipping recently employed on that coast had not be-
fore reached us, and we therefore give our esteemed corres-
pondent's communication as it stands :
" Malta, Dec. 28th, 1840.
"TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL StANDARD.

" Sir,—According to promise, I send you a few particulars
of what is going on in this part of the world.
" The Great Liverpool arrived at Alexandria on the even-
ing of the 16th instant, thereby making the shortest passage
ever made between England and Egypt by steam direct. We
were always of opinion that the Great Liverpool, after her
alteration, would prove herself the crack boat of the ocean
steamers. She sailed from Alexandria on the afternoon of
the 24th, and reached Malta on the evening of the 27th,
making a distance of 850 miles in less than 3k days. The
Great Liverpool brings important news from China and In-
dia; Dost Mahomed has given himself up to the India au-
thorities. Thus ends the war in that part of the world. The
China question is nearly settled. Elliot has had an inter-
view with the Emperor, who has propised to pay two mil-
lions sterling for the opium destroye and another million
to defray war expences. Thirteen passengeoll from India came
by the Great Liverpool, also Sir Charles Smith, and Sir Wm.
Eden, from their service on the coast of Syria. We regret to say
the marines serving on shore are sickly. Syria is in a very
distracted state. No possibility exists of getting even a letter
conveyed Ifetween the seaports and ,Damascus; so that to
this day Ibrahim Pacha knows nothing of the conventions
entered into by Napier and Stopford, although his Highness
Mehemed Ali has made every endeavour to send his son the
information. The Egyptian force is now concentrated at
Damascus-70,000 troops, besides 30,000 women and chil-
dren. Unless these poor wretches are conveyed from the
seacoast to Alexandria, we fear not one in three will survive
the march. The British frigate Carysfoot lies in the west-
ern harbour of Alexandria. The Hydra sailed two days be-
fore the Liverpool, to join the admiral at Marmorin. No
other' British ship is off the coast. The Zebra was lost about
a fortnight since, off Acre : crew saved. The Pique frigate,
dismasted and jury-rigged, sailed for Malta. The Bellero-
phon was also nearly lost. I hope this will be the finish of
the piratical expedition to Syria, which was got up to enable
one man to vent his spleen against another, who, instead of
being driven out of Syria, ought to have been allowed to take
possession of Turkey. Mehemet Ali has nearly regenerated
Egypt. A few years ago a stranger could not travel through
that country in safety ; and now, even in these troubled
times, every security is given. The Asia and Hastings are
here (Malta) repairing."

ADULTERATION OF SUGAR.—We understand that the high
price of sugar is likely to lead to considerable adulteration of
that commodity ; and we have in onr possession a sample of
a substance manufactured expressly for the purpose, and of-
fered for sale to several grocers in this town. It consists,
we believe, principally, of potato-starch, mixed apparently
with some heavier material, probably not quite so innocent.
—Manchester Guardian.

We have thus seen the doctrine of your church respect-
ing confession and absolution. You, in this instance, (as I
have been sorry to find, in different degrees, is almost inva-
riably your practice.) have contrived to evade the whole of
the real question at issue between the two churches, AND
HAVE AFFECTED TO PERCEIVE NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THEM. * Consult your own heart, sir, and let
that tell you whether you have not here deeply, I had almost
said shamefully, prevaricated. You know.that AURICULAR
CONFESSION IS, WITH YOU, an essential part of a sacrament,
which, as you value YOUR SOUL'S SALVATION, YOU MUST
perform. You also know, 'that, with Us, the same confes-
sion is NOT AT ALL required as a NECESSARY service, not
as a part of repentance, not even of discipline:—[Will the
editor of the Mercury say that here too there is " a distinc-
tion without a difference' fl—that it is merely a matter re-
commended to those sinners whose troubled conscience ad-
mits not of being quieted by self-examination however close
and searching, nor any other instruction however diligent;
that he only who requireth further comfort or counsel,'
after all that he can do for himself, is invited to repair ' to
some discreet and learned minister of God's word, and open
his, rief ; that, by the ministry of God's holy word, he may
receive the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly coun-
sel and advice, to the quieting of his conscience and avoiding
of all scruples and doubtfulness.' (See Ist Exhortation after
Warning for the celebration of the Holy Communion, Com-
munion Service, Book of Common Prayer.)

I shall proceed to state briefly what else our 'church

teacnes, or requires, in respect both to coNynssioN, espe-
cially secret confession, and Also to AnsommoN.
" The confession ordinarily required is only general and
public confession to Almighty God, made simultaneously by
the whole congregation, every individual being expected ta-
citly to include th acknowledgment of his particular trans-
gressions under the general form. This confession occurs
at the beginning of Morning and Evening Prayer, and in a
different form in the office of Communion, and is always
'lowed by absolution. In the two f--- 'le nature

ormer cases t.
)f the absolving power committed by God to his minister

ExPßEsstir stated; it is to DECiARE and' (not only de-
clare, but) ' PRONOUNCE' (that is, authoritatively declare
in God's name) to his people, being penitent, the absolu-
tion and remission of their sins'; and, having made that

cises his power by declaring that God then pardoneth and
absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe
his holy gospel.'

communion Service, the church does not a,

ire of the absolving power, (it would have been
unnecessary,) but directs the priest to exercise it in a some-

lent to the other : it

....
promises in favour of those who have just made their hum-
ble confession to him.—such is the ordinary confession and
absolution of our church. But in the office last mentioned,
the church further invites those who need nhosth,

baavogay ,IJUL.CL
and advice [in the termsa-lread..'y—cited] to have recourse to
particular confession, and to seek the benefit of particular
absolution. And here again the nature of that particular

aosimiLLui. ....ypnetty intimated to be of the same kind as
the two former instances of general absolution; it is to be
exercised (not by the JUDICIAL sentence of the priest, after
a PROCESS carried on beforp hi. pornT,.r..

itcanurini, as roux enurca
insists, but) BY THE MINISTRY OF GOD'S HOLY WORD,'
Or an AUTHORITATIVE DECLARATION Of God's general pro-
mises applied in favour of that particular penitent, if HE BE
INDEED PENITENT.

" There remains one other instance, that in ' the Visita-
tionof the Sick,' which has been correctly though not fully
cited by Dr. Milner. The rubric requires, that at a certain
part of this office the sick nerson shall he maned by the

confession of

if he feel

his conscience troubled with any weighty matter. I have
said that this is ordered at a certain part of the office, and
it is important that this be borne in mind. For so little is
our church inclined to encourage its ministers in prying into
the secrets of their penitents, that it enjoins every other step
to be previously taken, before the llst measure of particular
confession be proposed. ' The minister shall' (first) ' exa-
mine whether he' (the sick person) repent him truly of his
sins, and be in charity with all the world ; exhorting him to
forgive, from the bottom of his heart, all persons that have
offended him ; and if he hath offended any other, to ask
their forgiveness ; and where: he had done any injury or
wrong to any man, that he make amends to the utmost of
his power..,

it is after he has done and said all this,—after he
bas satisfied himself, on such general inquiry, whether the
sick person have indeed a true sense of the awful condition
in which he stands, of the nature and necessity of sincere
and universal charity—and whether he have, by God's bless-
ing, attained those graces, as well as learned the necessity of
attaining them,—that the minister's duty respecting parti-
cular confession is laid down. If, from the sick man s an-
swers to his inquiries, he find him in a state of penitence
and peace, his business is completed; he is not authorised—
he is by implication forhidden--to move him to any further
disclosure :—and in this case (as it will be necessary to bear
in mind) NO ABSOLUTION IS PRONOUNCED, evidently be-
cause particular absolution is to be given in our church only
to those whose minds cannot 'be quieted without such espe-
cial application to them of God's general promises. But if,
after all general discourse and advice on the nature of re-
pentance and the means of making his peace with God have
been exhausted, the sick man still exhibits signs of distrust
and dismay,—be is to be asked whether he feel his con-
science troubled with any weighty matter' ; and if he say
that it is, then, and only then, he is to be moved to a spe-
cial confession of his sins' ; evidently, in the words of the
former exhortation, that he may receive ghostly counsel and
advice, to the quieting of,pis conscience, and avoiding of all
scruple and doubtfulness.
To be continued in my next.
I am. sir, Yours faithfully,
St. Helens, Jan. 6, 1841. PACIANUS.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES AT VALE ROYAL.—On Wed-
nesday last the fine baronial mansion of Lord Delamere was
the scene of Christmas festivities, on a scale worthy of the
ancient hospitality of the noble house of Cholmondeley. An
old Christmas pageant was got up on the Occasion, which
was performed in the grand drawing room. The following is
a cast of the characters sustained by the distinguished
amateurs who took a part in the proceedings of the evening :
—Prologue spoken in the character of Sir Hugh Chol-
mondeley, by the Hon. Henry Cholmondeley; ICing
of Misrule, Hon. Hugh Cholmondeley ; Abbot of Un-
reason, George Wilbraham, Esq. ; Old Times (as Sir Roger
de Coverley), Captain Cotton ; March of Intellect (a Yan-
kee), Hon. Thos. Cholmondeley; Lord Chancellor, Arthur
Brooke, Esq. ; Lord Steward, Captain Cotton ; Lord High
Constable, William Glegg, Esq• ; Herald, Hon. Thomas
Cholmondeley ; Knight of the Verdant Spectacles, Hon.
Henry Cholmondeley ; Knight. of the Tea-chest (a Tea.
totaller), Hon. Robert Curzon; Knight of the Tankard,
George Egerton, Esq. ; Knight of the Bath, Hon. Charles
Cholmondeley ; Queen of Misrule, Hon. Harriet Chol.
•,-
mondeley ; Queen of Beauty, Sir Watkin Williams Wynne
Maid of Honour, Miss Bentinek. The character of
the " Yankee " was exceedingly well sustained by the
Hon. Thomas Cholmondeley. The "King of Misrule"
and " Old Times " also elicited great applause. Sir
W. W. Wynne, as the " Queen of Beauty, kept the
company in a continued roar of laughter. The following
were among the company present Lady C. Stanhope, Hon.
R. Curzon, Sir R. and Miss Brook, Sir W. W. Wynne, Capt.
Cotton, Mr. Tomlin, Mr. G. Egerton, Mr., Mrs., and Miss
Glegg, Mr. and Mrs. Warburton, Mr. Conway, Mr. Tatton,
Mr. A. Brook, Mr. T. Egerton, Sir Philip and Lady Eger-
ton, &c., Lady Brook, of the Grange, Lord and Lady Bra-
bazon, Mr. and Mrs. Bateman, Mrs. and Miss Leigh Mr.
and Miss Corbets.—Mr. P. Stubbs' Royal Harmonic Band
was in attendance. The members of this excellent band were
highly complimented on their performances. A ball was
given on Thursday night, and the festivities terminated with
a masquerade ball on Friday night.

Pray to God for their preservation, and exert all thy powers
in favour of thy country. Shouldst thou ever neglect this
sacred duty, should thy heart not beat with joy at the dear
names of thy country and thy prince, every Brother would
turn thee away as a disturber of public tranquillity and order,
and an outcast that does not deserve to partake of the pre-
rogative of a society that has particular claims upon the es-
teem and confidence of the sovereign power : because, ani-
mated with patriotism and zeal to form the best citizens, she
makes it an invariable law for her pupils to fulfil all civil du-
ties in the most distinguished manner, and from the purest
motives.

An Orangeman ought to be the most valiant warrior ; the
most just judge ; the kindest master, the most zealous ser-
vant, the tenderest father, the most faithful husband, and the
most obedient son ; for his duties as a citizen in general have
been strengthened and rendered sacred by his voluntary ob-
ligation ; and he, if ever he should neglect them, not only
would show a want of fortitude, but also be guilty of hypocrisy
and perjury.

IV.—DUTIES TOWARD MANKIND IN GENERAL.
But should the compass of thy country, which opens to
thee such a fruitful and charming field, still be too confined
for thy benevolent activity : should thy .en.ihlp hpfirr

expand beyond the limitsoiemPii:e;7;i4V:eXi;Cev'arl.'n'tiu-
tions with the tender feelings of humanity; shouldst thou,
reflecting on the universal pedigree, long to love tenderly all
those that are with thee of the same shape, in the same need
of benevolence, and have, like thee, the same desire to make
themselves useful, and an immortal soul, come, then, into our
temples, and lay down thy offerings on the sacred altar of
humanity. Reflect with reverence on the majestic structure
in which the ties of humanity and morality, too much relaxed,

souls, that were capable (by Divine assistance) of elevating
themselves above the dust. Thou wilt find it in every
country, where enlightened reason has forced its way, existing
under the sacred banner of humanity, and under the guide of
simple and uniform laws.

Be sensible of the objects of our revered Order; all thy
faculties, thy whole life, be consecrated to benevolence and
the happiness of mankind.

Cultivate incessantly thy moral perfection, and effect the
closest union with the Deity. Thus only thou canst ennoble,
purify, and fortify, the motives of this laudable institution.