The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-25 00:00:00

THIRD EDITION

SUN OFFICE, SEVEN O'CLOCK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.---This Day.

CITY BETTING—Tins DAY.
GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP.
3to 1 agst Fantail (taken)
6to 1 agst Carbineer (taken freely)
12 to 1 agst Manfred (offered)
20 to I agst Piccador (offered)
THE DERBY.
9to 2 apt Lord Clifden (taken)
7to 1 agat Macaroni (taken)
10 to 1 agat Saccharometer (taken)
16 to 1 agst National Guard (taken)
18 to 1 agat Glenochty colt (taken)
20 to 1 agst Automaton (taken)
20 to 1 agst Ranger (taken)
28 to 1 agat King of the Vale (taken)
30 to 1 agst Carnival (taken)
40 to 1 agst Early Purl (taken)

THE POLISH QUESTION.

(From the Morning Herald.)
The attitude of bweden on the Polish ques-
tion naturally excites considerable interest. Ii
Russia is to be coerced by a European war
into the surrender of Poland, Sweden would be
an invaluable ally to the executioners. Efficiently
supported, she could strike Russia in some of her
weakest points, or could alone occupy the attention
of a large portion of the Russian army and navy,
and thus render the work of the French army,which
the Morning Post has arranged to land at Riga,
much easier. And there can be no doubt that the
will of the Swedish nation is good enough towards
such a role. A war with Russia, in which France
stood on their Ride and pledged herself to their
defence, while Poland was weakening and harassing
the empire, would gratify an old hatred of the
Swedes, and perhaps enable them to take satisfac-
tion for an old injury. The robbery of Finland is
not forgotten nor forgiven in Sweden, and a war
which promised to restore that province to Swedish
rule would be very popular throughout the domi-
nions of Charles XV. The Crimean war shook the
prestige of Russia; the great social changes through
which she is passing seem to have shake❑ the frame
work, and, for the time at least, destroyed the
power of the empire; and Sweden would therefore
rush with eagerness to a combat from which she
shrunk nine years ago. Even then, had the war
but lasted a few months longer, Sweden would pro-
bably have been a partner in it. The treaty by
which England and France guaranteed the King of
Sweden his territories was evidently designed to be
the forerunner of a defensive and offensive alliance.
We do not need the glowing accounts of the enthu-
siasm which has been shown at Stockholm for
Prince Czartoryski, or at Malmoe for the crew of
the Ward Jackson. to teach us that the Swedes
heartily sympathise with the Polish insurrection.
The Russian is their common enemy ; but no exhi-
bition of their sympathy will seriously menace
the relations between the two countries. The
Swedes and their King may burn with eagerness
for war with Russia, but they will take very good
care not to move a step in that direction until they
are thoroughly assured of the support of France.
The Swedish Government knows its own weakness,
and dreads being used as a catapaw. It cannot sup-
press demonstrations of sympathy with Poland, and
will not do so, because the Russian Government is
not in a position to make such demonstrations a

casus would. have to fight -the whole of
Europe at once if it were foolish enough to declare
sympathy with Poland an act of hostility, But the
Swedish Government will take care not to do any
act of which Russia could fairly complain. It has
fulfilled its international duties by putting an em-
bargo on the Ward Jackson ; and it will take care,
until it has full assurances of support, not to com-
mit itself to any measure which must have for its
consequence war or an abject apology.. The fact is,
that although the attitude of Sweden is worthy of
attention, it is only so because that attitude may
reveal the intentions of France. Warlike prepara-
tions in Sweden, and an offensive demeanour of its
Government towards Russia, would be grave signs,
because they would mirror warlike designs on the
part of one or both of the Western Powers. In a
matter like this the declaration of the Swedish peo-
ple or the chit-chat of the King have not the
slightest value. We know beforehand that they
would like to strike a blow at their old enemy,
Russia, but we know, too, that they will do nothing
of the kind until they are asked by some great power
to help in the enterprise. A German newspaper
which pretends to publish every day diplomatic
secrete, and announced some time ago that the
Emperor of the French had demanded the
erection of Poland into an independent kingdom
for the Duke de Leuchtenberg, declared the
other day that it had been for some weeks in pos-
session of a most important statement of the
King of Sweden, and proceeded to comment upon
its great significance and the proof positive it
furnished that war is coming. His Majesty said,
or rather is alleged to have said, "Let but two
French ships appear in the Baltic, I shall beat hand
with 100,000 men." Well, put aside the fact that
the King of Sweden would have very considerable
difficulty in getting his 100,000 men together, the
bravado, if really uttered, only told what everybody
knew before, that Sweden would go to war with
Russia at this moment if the Emperor of the French
asked her assistance and promised her his protec-
tion. Two French ships would be the precursors
of two hundred transports. The conduct which
Sweden is disposed to pursue is mirrored in the
report of the committee of the Rigsdag to which the
motions of the different Chambers, expressing sym-
pathy with the Poles, and proposing to call upon
the Government to take, in conjunction with the
other powers parties to the treaties of Vienna, the
necessary diplomatic steps towards the re-establish
ment of the kingdom of Poland, were referred. The
committee, whilst affirming that these notions only
express the general feelings of the Swedish people,
recommends that the Rigsdag should take no steps,
but leave the question in the hands of the Go-
vernment, " which will act according to the wishes
of the people, where these can be regarded with-
out endangering the true interests of the country."