The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

finding themselves in a minority of Ito 98. Th e course
of events is driving the King either to a amp d'etat
or to concessions to the opposition. The resoi,ution
of this alternative will depend mainly on the covrse
the approaching naval campaign in the Baltic takes.
Sweden and Norway, that have hitherto endeavoured.
to maintain a neutral position, will find themselves com-
pelled very shortly, within almost a few days, to take
part with one side or the other. Russia is already driving
at them by diplomatic means to induce them to close
still more ports against the Western fleets than are
already proclaimed as closed in the treaty of neutrality
with Denmark, and generally to refuse the ships of
the combined fleets the permission to provision and
water in any of her harbours. This latter demand has
also been made of Denmark and requested of Prussia..
In a word, whatever the existing treaty may be between
Sweden and Denmark, with whom Russia reckons on
having a tolerably easy task, Sweden and Norivay are
called upon virtually to give up their neutrality. The-
destinies of these three Scandinavian Powers depend on
the issue of the present nautical race between the Western
Powers and Russia, who shall get first into the Baltic.
Whilst all the reports from England and France betokens
energy and rapid preparation, the Russians are not beizind
on their part. The last advices mention that great
efforts are being made to cut a passage through the
ice in the Gulf of Finland to enable the Cronstadt fleet
to get• out at once without waiting for the spring
thaw, and thus effect a junction• with the R eval
divi: ion off Sweaborg. Should they effect this before,
Sir Charles Napier enters those waters, the island of
Gothland will be taken possession of, and form an
admirable point d'appui and naval station for the
Russians. A Russian courier (Lieutenant Muller)
arrived from St. Petersburg at Stockholm on the
20th February, tearing, as is believed, the positive
refusal of the Russian Cabinet to acknowledge the
neutrality of Sweden and Norway. The despatches,
whatever they contained, were delivered the follow-
ing day to the King by the Russian Minister, Herr von
Da.schkoff ; in consequence five Swedish regiments have
been forthwith despatched, under command of Major-
General Dalstrom, to strengthen the garrison of Goth-
land, consisting of 10,000 landwehr. These will, it is
hoped, hold out till the combined fleets arrive, and them
they will gladly throw up their treaty with Denmark,
and strike a blow for the recovery of their independence
and the Aland Isles. However ill-disposed the Swedes
may be exposed to a Russian attack on Stockholm,
against which the English may possibly come too late
to assist them, the Norwegians are still more averse to
having their whole coast exposed to be ravaged by the
English fleets, against which no Russian can at any time
help them."

FRANCE.

The Moniteur of this day publishes a decree
nominating Marshal Vaillant Minister of War, in.
the place of Marshal St. Arnaud, appointed Com-
mander-in-Chief of the army in the East.
The Moniteur announces that the New Loan
will be open for public subscription from the 14th
March to the 25th March. Subscribers will have
the choice between Four-and-a-Half per Gent.
Rente, and Three per Cent Rente. The Four-
and-a-Half per Cent. Rente will be given at
92f. 50c., with enjoyment from 20th March, 1854;
the Three per Cent. Rente at 65f. 25c., from the
22d Dec., 1853. One-tenth to be paid down on:
subscribing, and the remainder in fixed periods.
Discount of 4 per cent. allowed for payment in
anticipation.
The preparations for the Eastern expedition are
being continued with activity. Marshal St.
Arnaud is expected at Avignon on the 14th, and
on the 21st at Toulon. By that day 36,000 men
will be assembled ready for embarkation, and it is
expected that further arrivals from Algeria will
raise the total number to 50,000 men.
On Thursday the Senate unanimously passed the' •
bill authorising the Government to borrow
250,000,000 f. towards the expenses of the war.
Their Majesties visited on Thursday the new
hospital for poor children, lately established in the
old Hospice Ste. Marguerite, in the Faubourg St.
Antoine. Nearly the whole population of the
Faubourg seemed to come out of doors on the oc-
casion, and their Majesties were received most
warmly.
The Emperor has named M. de la Cour his,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-.
tiary at the Court of Naples ; and Baron de Tal-
leyrand-Perigord and the Marquis de Ferriere--
le-Veysr in the same capacity at the Courts of
the, reigning Prince of Baden and of the Grand
Duke of Saxe-Weimar. This last named diplo-
matist has also been promoted to the rank of officer
of the Legion of Honour.
The Moniteur contains a numerous list of pro-
motions in the French navy. • Ten officers have
been raised to the rank of captain of a line-of-bat-
tle-ship, and 40 to that of captain of a, frigate.
M. Darnis, editor of the Moniteur Industriet,
has received a warning from the Minister of the
Interior for the publication of an article insulting
and calumnious to a public functionary.
The funeral of Count Thibaudeau took place yes-
terday at the church of the Madeleine. The Emperor
was represented at the ceremony by Viscount
d'Ornano, one of his Chamberlains.
The Bourse experienced yesterday a slight im-
provement, in consequence of a report that the loan
was concluded. The terms, however, were not
known. The Three per Cents. closed at 66f. 40c.
for the end of the month. The Four-and-a- Half
per Cents. closed at 93f. ; Orleans Railway Shares,
1,090 f. ; Rouen, 865 f. ; Havre, 447 f. 50c. ; Great
Northern, 735 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 720 f. ; ditto,
New Shares, 562 f. 50c. ; Paris and Lyons, 815 f. ;
Lyons to the Mediterranean, 673 f. 75c. ; Western
of France, 577 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 535 f. ;
Great Central, 435 f. ; Shares of the Bank of Credit
Mobilier, 577 f. 50c.