The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-01 00:00:00

DENMARK AND THE SOUND DUES•

The following is the text of the State paper pre-
sented by the Danish Government to the Cabinets
of other Powers interested in the question of the
Sound Dues :
-

" The dues the Crown of Denmark levies on the ships
and cargoes passing the straits of the Sound and the
Great and Little Belts have long been the object of vio-
lent attacks, which have produced an agitation the more
obstinate because they have frequently had a political
purpose and tendencies, and have always been founded
on erroneous and disputed ideas of the right in virtue of
which the toll is levied, as well as of the manner in which
the Government of Denmark exercises it. The real state
of the case being known only to those who were not in-
terested in placing it in its true light, general attention
has very naturally been chiefly directed to the obliga-
tions the toll imposes on the commercial interest, while
no one took into account the numerous establishments of
all kinds by which Denmark has always endeavoured to
facilitate the navigation of the Baltic, and prevent the
detention of vessels at the toll-station in the Sound.
Even foreign governments, though always respecting the
right remaining with Denmark after so many sacrifices
made in the interest of general peace, were often, and
for reasons the strength of which we cannot, perhaps,
now overlook, unable to avert from Denmark the effects
of an agitation they could not but recognise as unjust
and ill-founded.

"The efforts of Denmark to appease this agitation re- I
suited at the commencement of the reign of Christian
VIII., the august predecessor of the reigning Sovereign,
in a negotiation between Denmark, England, and Swe-
den, by which the ancient tariff of the Sound was revised;
by this measnre the agitation was stopped for a time.
"However, the Danish government by no means con•
cealed from itself that it would not be long before the
movement would be renewed ; and, anticipating this
eventuality, King Christian VIII. had already conceived
the idea of following up the revision decided on in the
interests of commerce by other modifications of the tariff,
at periods more or less distant from each other, on the
principle that the dues to be levied should always be in
proportion to the value of the cargoes and merchandise
liable to the toll. It is not the fault of the Danish Go-
vernment that the intention of Kiwi Christian VIII, Las
not already been carried into effect,' Acting on the hu-
pulse given by this enlightened monarch the Government
a long time since took the preliminary measures required
fnr another revision of the tariff, but at the moment the
idea of the late king would have been realised Denmark
found itself, much against its own wish, and in conse-
quence of events impossible to foresee, involved in a war
which necessarily absorbed all the attention of the Govern-
ment, and did not allow it to make the sacrifices insepa-
rable from any reduction whatever of the tariff then ac-
tually in operation. After the conclusion of peace the
ccuntry still suffered from the inevitable consequenafs
of the internal commotions the war could not but have
fostered ; and to the difficulties which thus surrounded
it was soon added the present war between Russia,
France, and England.
" If it depended on the Danish Government it err-
tainly would net choose, for the cocsideration of the
question of the Sound dues, a time like the present, when
the two Powers most interested in the matter are op-
posed to each other in hostile camps. But the situa-
tion it has to meet leaves no alternative.
__ _

sequently offers peculiar facilities for the supply of the
materials and the information which would be desirable
in the course of the negotiation.
"The Danish Government does not conceal from it-
self that the step which it has thought itself called upon
to take is not such as will be likely at first sight to
secure everywhere a favourable reception ; but, while it
regrets this, it indulges in the hope that its proposals
will only be judged after having been thoroughly weighed,
due regard being had to the position in which Denmark
is at present placed. It anticipates that equal justice
will be done to all, and relies on the favourable disposi-
tions of which the respective Powers have on other occa-
sions given so many proofs. On its side, it will put its
hand to the work with the best intentions, animated by
the sincere desire to prove by the result that it has only
in view an arrangement which will be equally accept-
able to all. _

"It only now remains to add a few general observa-
tions upon the manner of realising the plan of capi-
talisation.
" This is not the first time that such a plan has been
discussed. Although never formally proposed by the
Danish Government to the Powers in general, it has
yet been made the subject of discussion with several
Cabinets, so that it may be concluded that in principle
it contains nothing which is new to the Powers in-
terested, or which stands in need of detailed explanation.
Neither does it seem necessary, at the present moment,
to go into an examination of the different bases of capi-
talisation which will have to be considered. The Danish
Government, although naturally willing to contribute its
I quota to the capitalisation, will not anticipate the ideas
which may be put forward in the course of a nego-
tiation in which the delegates of so many different
States will participate. As its sole desire is that a con-
clusion equally acceptable to all should be arrived at, it
does not, provided this end be att4ined, give the pre-
ference to any particular manner of proceeding.
"It would not, however, be superfluous to give a
sketch of the basis of capitalisation which the Danish
Government would look upon as most in accordance
with the nature of the revenue to be capitalised, and the
adoption of which would, in its opinion, render the
quota to be contributed by the respective Powers the
I most fairly proportioned to the pro rota toll levied upon
their commerce.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The following letter is dated Malta, 03tober 25
Her Majesty's ships of the line Rodney, Captain
Mooreom, R.N., and Albion, the Hon. Captain Drum-
mond, R.N., arrived yesterday morning—the former
from Beycos Bay, and the latter from the Bosphorus, and
await orders from the Admiralty, together with the
London ship of the line, Captain Kuper, and the steam-
corvettes Niger and Wasp.
_ .

"The Tunisian schooner of war Hattah arrived at the
same time from Constantinople.
"The French postal steamer Carmel arrived from
Constantinople and Smyrna on the night of the 23d,
bringing, among other passengers for Marseilles, Captain
Talbot and 163 French military invalids. She left for
her destination on the 24th, having embarked at Malta
Lieutenant-General Sir H. Bentinck, Major Greville,
aide-de-camp ; Captain Viscount Balgonie, aide-de-camp;
Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton, Major Armitage, Major
Baring, and Lieutenant Riley.
"The Vedra steam-transport, with fuel, huts, &c., in
charge of two Sappers and Miners, arrived on the 23,1
from London, on which day the Lord Raglan steam
transport, with railway plant, left for Balaklava. The
Saxon steam-transport followed on t 1 e 24th, with huts
and warm clothing for the troops.
" The Baalbec steam-transport arrived on the 24th
from Woolwich and Gibraltar with Government stores,
bringing Major Mnunsell, Lieut. Hamilton, Surgeons
Dewar, M'Coll, and Hamilton, the Rev. Mr. Williams,
and Messrs. Barnes, B!akeley, Cairns, Ddath, Jones,
Lyne, M'Kittrick, and Spears.
" The Bremen steam-transport Germania left for
Carfu on the 24th, conveying Lieutenant Wilson, R.A.
" The ship Medina, Captain Jefferii (which brought
out Government stores from England), left on the 24th
in ballast for Calcutta.

" The Arabian and Osiris, from Alexandria, and the
Melita, from Liverpool, have been telegraphed.
" Her Majesty's steam-ship Himalaya left Genoa on
the 14th of October for the Crimea, vice Messina, with
Pied montese troops.
" The English steamer Kangaroo had arrived to take
on board other troops and stores for the Sardinian con-
tingent in the Crimea.

" Lieutenant-General Sir John Pennefather, lately ap-
pointed to the command of the forces in Malta, has since
his arrival been engaged in reviewing and inspecting the
various corps under his command. On Saturday week
the 51st Regiment of Light Infantry and the Rot Kent
Militia were drawn up on the Floriana parade-ground,
and were put through a number of evolutions, which
they performed with considerable precision, considering
they have been necessarily so little drilled during the
recent summer months. On the afternoon of Saturday
the Lieutenant-General again reviewed, on the Floriana
parade-ground, the 51st Regiment and the East Kent
Militia, in company with the Royal Malta Fencibles.
The three regiments made a very fine appearance, pass-
ing through their various manoeuvres in a manner which
reflected great credit on both officers and men."
Her Majesty's steam troopship Simoom, Capt. Sulivan,
from Spithead, entered Piymouth Sound yesterday morn-
ing by the eastern channel, and, after being occupied
about an hour in receiving supernumeraries from the Im-
plalable left by the western channel with troops I,r the
Crimea.

The following promotions wero made yesterday at the
Admiralty, and apply t) officers serving in the fleet in
the Black Sea :