The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-19 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP TUE T/IfES.

Sir,—l am induced to propose this question, as I be-
lieve it is generally admitted that the time has not yet
arrived, nor is it even at hand, in which a lasting peace
is possible, and, consequently, England and France may
' yet strengthen their position and advance the objects of
war by fresh alliances. In suggesting an alliance with
Norway and Sweden I trust I may justly be allowed to
claim for those countries an exception from the reproach
of a " dishonourable neutrality," with which your Prime
Minister recently charged the greater European Powers
who have thought it consistent with their position to
stand aloof from the contest, for the former States stake
their very existence by co-operation, which I presume
neither Prussia nor Austria would be inclined to admit
as the explanation of its inaction.
Your Prime Minister, in the speech to which I have
above alluded, did not indeed mention Norway and Swe-
den, but, if I am not greatly mistaken, this forbearance
may be attributed to the still less flattering supposition
that their accession or non-accession to the policy of the
Western Powers is comparatively of little value. And
here, then, you have the second reason for the appear-
ance of these lines,—namely, that although there exists
some floating idea, that Norway and Sweden, by their
position in the very lion's mouth, might be applied to
a better purpose than mere neutrality, yet the opinions
generally entertained by the English public as to the
service which they could render are very indistinct.
The only advantage English politicians seem hitherto
to have promised themselves from a Norwegian-Swedish
alliance, is that an army from Sweden might be thrown
into Finland, and that such fa diversion would, in a
direct manner, assist the blockading fleets in the Baltic,
and indirectly second the operations of the allies on the
shores of the Black Sea, by preventing the Czar from
sending the flower of his northern army to the Crimea.
It cannot be doubted that a Scandinavian army in Fin-
land would have had an important influence on the
course of events ; and it may not be too presumptuous
to suppose that by its judicious employment Sweaborg,
as well as Sebastopol, might now have been wrested
from Russia, while the Swedish arms might have found
an opportunity of washing off the shame of the igno-
minious surrender of that stronghold in 1809.
I am convinced, however, that it would be in the
power of Norway and Sweden to play a far more im-
portant part in the present war drama than has been
generally assigned to them. It will, probably, at the
first glance, appear to most persons a strange and even
absurd statement, yet I trust to prove it not the less
true, that the most effective means of cooperation of
these two kingdoms lies not in their power to raise an
army of from 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers, but in their ca-
pabilities as maritime nations, and I the less hesitate to
propound this opinion as, by private communications, I
find that such has not altogether escaped the attention
of persons in this country.
When we ask why is it that Russia, with the excep-
tion of the destruction of Bomarsund and the conflagra-
tion of the magazines at Sweaborg, is still in the Baltic
as strong in a military sense (for I speak not of the effect
of the blockade on her trade) as when the war began ?-
why are all her formidable strongholds in that part still
in her possession ?—why is it that Cronstadt has not
been so much as struck by a single shell t—why is it
that the glorious but incomplete operations of the allies
at Sweaborg could not be followed up ?—and, finally,
why have tho allied fleets, so justly the objects of
so much pride and confidence, done so little in
the waters of the North ? The reiterated answer
is that the allies are in want of small and suitable
vessels—a fleet of gun-boats, fit for rapid ma-
nceuvring among the intricate banks, rocks, islets,
and narrow firths of the Baltic Sea ; and that such ves-
sels England and France have not possessed, and could
not build and bring up in time for effective operations.
But just such a fleet Norway and Sweden could have
furnished, and in number probably superior to the need.
The two kingdoms have together about 400 gun-boats
and mortar-vessels of different sizes ;* and if that num-
ber be somewhat reduced—a part of the Swedish gun-
boats., I understand, not being afloat—ib is, at all events,
certain that the two countries could have furnished a
fleet of at least 300 gun boats and other small vessels,
purposely built and adapted for the Russian stores in
the B.dtie, and that might, without difficulty, have been
brought to their appointed places. Nor is it generally
known in England that Norway and Sweden have in-
scribed on their rolls 68.000 men as liable to the service
in the fleet. Of these Norway alone has about 50,000
(all men born and bred in the seaport towns, and accus-
tomed to the sea), and I assert only what I believe is
generally recognised among seafaring men when I state
that these men are among the best sailors in the world.
Now, sir, I ask if the matchless fleets of Eng-
land and France in the Baltic had been supported
by such sea forces as these, or a part of them, and on
the land side by a Scandinavian army of 40,000
men, how would it in all probability have fared with the
Russians in those waters t and might not the most im-
portant operations in their effect on the war have ere
this been successfully accomplished ?.

With these facts before us I think it will at once be
conceded that an alliance with Sweden and Norway
would be chiefly desirable for the sake of their fleets,
and, if so, it is to be remarked that they are the only
States in Europe which are able to supply that assistance
to the allied cause.

I will not attempt to lay down the conditions on
which such an alliance is to be purchased ; but in the
Sardinian alliance we have seen that terms are to be
made to meet the exigencies of each of the contracting
Power?.

In my next letter I should wish, with your perrnis-
Elan, to represent a piece of Russian policy towards Nor-
way, which would seem in itself to afford a sufficient mo-
tive for the two kingdoms to j,in the c,mtest, even with-
out asking guarantees or subsidies. Until then,
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
A NORWEGIAN (R).

* 79 Norwegian gun-boats are supplied with two tiOlb.
mortars each; 55 part with one 241 b., part with two 211 h.
guns each.

WIND ND WEATHER REPORT.

THURSDAY, October 18.
Stations, Course of Wind. State of Weather.
Greenwich N.W Overcast.
Lothbury.
Manchester........, S.S.W Cloudy.
Sheffield S.E Cloudy.
Stoke-on-Trent.... S.W Frosty.
Carlisle W. Frosty—Windy.
Lancaster IV Rain.
Alaryport.. E.
Whitehaven
Leeds S.W Cloudy.
Dublin S.W Cloudy.
Liverpool
Holyhead
Brighton N.W ......... Fine.
Bristol W .......... .. Fine.
•Plymouth
......... Fine.
Exeter.--
Haverfordwest
sS:eivlV".. ........ Fine,
h SwanseaGloucest Gloucester
Fine.
Cardiff N.E.
S.S.W . Fine.
Derby...............
Nottingham ...... S'W
Leicester ............ W
Leamington
11....1VW .................. Fine—Cold.
S. ....... .
Lowestoft
Shrewsbury
CYsamrtricludtglie
......... Cold
Cowes,Sll3)lipooooa rsuosrtttois Ipswich
. :he. in... Harwich
•:: : ..
Portsmouth........
t......
ho: .. ..
I 1...: ....: ....... ....
: : 1 NNNNN .... Iww: ,
.V : : : : : : : : : .1
UFFlril:e :t
t l e d .
Cloudy.
Gainsborough .....
...
...
..
WNN.-:•• .......
Fine.
Cloudy.
Fine.
Fine.
Great Grinisby... N.E. Fine.
Amsterdam . E
York
null.
Dundee
Darlington S.W Fine.
Berwick S.W Fine.
Glasgow W... Rain.
Sunderland W Cloudy.
Newcastle
Perth
Scarborough
Edinburgh W. Very fine.
Whitby
Aberdeen . N. Fine--Cold.
Tonbridge
Strood 5.W.......... Overcast.

•4.1_
two anchors
The large hired transport Simla, from Constantinople,
was, on the Varna
27th ult., in Bay, 1vi,...,
d waitin 0
seasondon riding out a strong gale, accompanied by a heavy
a lee shore, an
of g pportunity to disembark
her freight, consisting 420 b
—orses, 300 men, 30 wag-
-50 tons of gunpowder, and other materials, belong.
gone,
ing to the army of the Turkish Contingent. The damage
received by her collision with the Cleopatra bad been
repaired, and the Simla will probably be
jeetdayll the winter in the Black Sea.
occupied
The new screw steam gun-boat Chub, built in the dry
was put out of the fitting basin yes-
tdeorodkay, at Sheerness,
andwill
leave to-day for Woolwich, in tow of
the steam tug•vessel Fearless. The engine, machinery,
boilers, &a., for the Chub are already at Woolwich. Si2,l_
is to be fitted and attaehed immediately to cue of to
ahipe is the Blick pea fleet.