The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-16 00:00:00

The evasive refusal of the Dut3ll Government to
join the Dano-Swedish declaration of neutrality is
interpreted by the Russian party as an advantage
gained by them over the policy of the Western
Powers ; at the same time they represent the de-
claration of neutrality on the part of the Scandi-
navian Powers as in so far favourable to England
and France as that it is not favourable enough for
Russia. Russia had hoped and endeavoured to
bring over these Baltic Powers entirely to her side,
and so be able to close the Sound against any ag-
gressive force that might be inclined to take liber-
ties with the Baltic fleet ; and not having suc-
ceeded in this, she is now busy in endeavouring
to procure the concession of certain measures
which would go a great way to make any stay in
the Baltic very difficult for our vessels. The
negotiations on the subject of quarantine have not
resulted as Russia would have wished. Denmark
has removed all restrictions of this sort, but the
last move made by the Cabinet of St. Petersburg
has been the endeavour so to arrange matters with
the Government in Stockholm as to cut off from
the combined fleets any opportunity of purchasing
provisions of any sort in Swedish harbours. This
was the purport of the despatches which were
brought to Stockholm by a Russian Feldjager on
the 25th of last month, and were laid before his
Swedish Majesty by the Russian envoy, Herr
Daschkoff, in an audience whi3li he had on the 27th.
It is said that the German States have expressed
their approbation and recognition of the Dano•
Swedish declaration of neutrality. The naval force
that the Scandinavian Powers are capable of bring-
ing to the protection and maintenance of their
neutrality is by no means inconsiderable. It may
be concisely summed up thus :

Denmark.
Ships of the line 5
Frigates
Corvettes and brigs 9
Schooners ... .
Cutters 2
Gunboats BO
Steamers 6
Screw ditto 1
Transports

S weden.
10
8
8
6

Norway.

256 ... 136
12 ... 5

For the manning of this fleet there are no less
than 30,000 seafaring men registered in Sweden,
and as many in Norway ; about one-tenth of these
only are in active service. The additional number
now called out is 1,150.

Now that the necessary funds have been so wil-
lingly voted by all four Estates of the united
Swedish and Norwegian Diet, the Ministry of Ma-
rine reckons confidently on being able to add five
large ships of the line to the above Swedish arma-
ment. There is no want of iron, timber, or hemp
in Sweden, and with the money voted, and a good
opportunity open to them, the Swedes are exhibiting
their national spirit with unwonted energy. The Go-
vernment is essentially obstructive to progress, with
a strong leaning to Russian arrangements and insti-
tutions. Railroads and telegraphs are contrivances

held in abhorrence by the squireocracy, but are
nevertheless making their way there, though slowly.
The Estate of the Nobles has lately as a body voted
railroads " improper things ;" this hurrying and
driving to and fro introducing revolution and dis-
turbing the repose of the land, so that the Minister
Von Harmannsdorf lately exclaimed, at the end of
a philippic directed against these space-annihilators,
that " as long as he lived he would not hear another
word about railroads."

The Danish Government, though in a totally
different position from the Swedish as reffards the
willingness of ttie Reichstag to vote the necessary
funds, seems determined not to be behind-hand.
The increase to the fleet resolved on consists,
according to most authorities, of three frigates
three corvettes, three brigs, and four steamers.,
The military arrangements extend to the strength-
ening the fortifications of the castles of Hammer-
haus and Svannirke, on the island of Bornholm, a
calling out of 15,000 men of the class on long fur-
lough, and a levy of 10,000 recruits. The Danish
troops in Altoua have within the last few days re-
ceived orders to be ready to break up ; and it is
believed that their destination will be Seeland. The
Danish fortress Friedrichsort, which commands the
bay and harbour of Kiel, is being provided with
six batteries, although only very lately the Govern-
ment had decided upon converting the whole mili-
tary colony connected with the fortress into a
bathing place.

COMMITTAL OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE HANNAH MARIA
EMIGRANT VESSEL.— Information has been received by
the underwriters of the emigrant ship Hannah Maria,
which vessel sailed from Plymouth for Adelaide and Mel-
bourne, and was lost near Cape Jaffa, when on lea voy-
age between the two last-mentioned ports, that ptain
Drew, late master of that ill-fated ship, had been appre-
hended in Melbourne, and fully committed for trial on
a charge of having, through carelessness, Jost the ship,
thereby endangering the lives of the crew and passen-
vra. The trial will take place at the criminal sessions?
elbouriae,