The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-26 00:00:00

DENMARK.

From a Jutland journal we learn that it is in-
tended immediately to put the fortifications of the
capital into a state of defence, such as they had in
1848, and that the necessary artillery has been
provided. Also that a concentration of troops is
taking place in Zealand. For some time past the
fortifications of Denmark have been put into a
gradual state of preparedness, particularly at
Christiansoe. In spite of the temporary advantage
which the Danish Ministry lately gained in the
matter of the appanage for Prince Christian, they
have suffered again some notable defeats in the
debate ou the Constitution. The committee's
amendments to the first 14 paragraphs have almost
all been passed with considerable majorities, par-
ticularly that one which fixes that the Reichstag
shall come together every year, instead of every
two years : majority, 80 for the amendment, to
14 against it.

FORTIFICATIONS AT GRIMSBY.--Among other ports
unier the eye of our Government, Grimsby has, from
its peculiar advantages for landing a foe, and its unforti-
fled state, commanded attention. Her Majesty's steam
ship Black Eagle entered the new dock on Monday for
the purpose of making a survey. At present Hull is the'
only fortified place on the east coast ; and, so far from
this being an advantageous spot, it may be safely asserted
that both Yorkshire and Lincolnshire might be invaded
at any given point long before Hull or its citadel could
make any resistance. The citadel at Hull is one of the
most ill-adapted places on the whole coast, and incurs
annually a waste of public money, without, in time of
danger, being likely to be productive of any service. On
the other hand, were a citadel or fortress established on
the Crown lands contiguous to the new dock at
Grimsby, and the like at a suitable point on the opposite
shore, dispensing altogether with the one at Hull, there
would be security to both Lincolnshire and Yorkshire,
which no invading foe could possibly successfully break
do I'm—Stamford Mercury.

INDIA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN
MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 24.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Euxine, Captain F. Meehan, arrived here at
4 p.m. to-day, bringing the heavy portion of the
East India, China, Australian, and Mediterranean
mails, in iarge of Lieutenant do Lisle, R.N., Ad-
miralty agent.
The latest dates of this steamer are—Alexandria,
December 8 ; Malta. 12 ; and Gibraltar, 18. She
brings 47 passengers ; and among the cargo is 11.
packages of gold-dust from Australia, understood
to be the first importation, in any quantity, of the
precious product of the Australian gold-fields by
this route. These remittances are likely to con-
tinue, and it is probable that considerable amounts
may be periodically received, as the Peninsular and
Oriental Company, besides lowering their tariff of
freights, have made arrangements for insurance of
a satisfactory nature, which it is believed will in-
duce the colonial shippers to patronise the line
The precise value of the gold brought by the
Euxine on the present occasion is not mentioned,
but it is reported to be from 20,0001. to 30,0001.
sterling.
The Australian mails, received by this convey-
ance from Sydney, Port Philip, Adelaide, and
King George's Sound, were due at Southampton,
according to the contract, on the 4th December,
they have arrived therefore 20 days past due.
The causes of the delay are the failure of thescrew
steamer Shanghai, from the Australian ports, to
connect with the homeward packet at Point de
Galle, Ceylon, and also the detention of the mails
at Alexandria for nearly six days, waiting for
the arrival of the Euxine, from Southampton,
which made a long voyage cut, in consequence of
experiencing bad weather. The Bombay and Ma-
dras, two fine screw steam-ships of 1,200 tons and
240 horse power, are to be forthwith employed upon
the Australian mail service in place of the Chusan
and Shanghai, which vessels, having only 100-horse
power, and being of small tonnage, are by no means
suitable for the work. It is hoped and anticipated
that the serious irregularities of the Australian
mails hitherto prevalent on this line will thereby
be avoided, and that the mails will in future be
brought up to Ceylon in ample time to be trans-
ferred to the proper homeward bound steamer ap-
pointed to convey them. _ .

Throughout the voyage the Euxine has encoun-
tered a continuance of heavy head gales, more es-
pecially between Gibraltar and Alexandria. On the
13th inst. she passed the Peninsular and Oriental
Company's ship Indus with the outward India mail
of the 4th inst., bound for Malta and Alexandria.

From Gibraltar we have accounts to the 18th
inst. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer Indus, five days from Southampton, arrived
on the 9th inst. The screw steamer Melita, 5 days
from Liverpool, arrived the same day, and cleared
for Malta and Constantinople. The Dryad, 17 days
from Portsmouth, and the French steamer Pro-
phete, from Mogador and Mazagan, arrived on the
9th. The screw steamer Tiber, 61r days from Liver-
pool, left Gibraltar on the 10th inst. for Genoa and
Leghorn. The Tuscan Government steamer San.
Vittoreo, 10 days from Glasgow and two from Lis-
bon, bound to Leghorn, arrived on the 11th. A
Spanish squadron, consisting of two frigates and
sloops of war passed the Straits of Gibraltar to the
eastward at 7 a.m., on the 11th inst. The screw
steamer Orontes, 12 days from Alexandria, and six
from Malta, touched at Gibraltar on her way to
Liverpool on the 13th ; she brought from Alexan-
dria 298 Moorish pilgrims, returning from a visit
to the shrine of the Prophet at Mecca via Alexan-
dria. They landed at Gibraltar en route to Tan-
gier, on the coast of Morocco. The French brig
Beranger, of. Havre, with sugar from Bahia not
being able to hold her ground during a heavy gale
from the S. W., which blew in Gibraltar bay on the
12th inst., parted cables, and drove across the Bri-
tish schooners Onward, of Bristol, and Arabella,
of London, doing damage to both those vessels,
and, finally, went on shore on the North Front,
where she remained. The Gibraltar Chronicle of
the 14th gives the subjoined particulars of damage
to shipping :
"Yesterday afternoon an alarm-gun from the upper
sfgnal station announced that a barque in the bay had
parted from her anchorage and drifted on shore off Fort
St. Philip, where she now lies. The wind had again
increased after mid-day; it blew with great force from
the S.S.W., and occasioned a very heavy sea. Besides the
above barque (formerly a hulk, but now fitted up for the
purpose of navigation), two faluchos were driven on the
beach at the North Front. The Sardinian barque Ce-
sare, Captain Gandolfo, which arrived from Lima on
the 11th inst., broke two chain cables, but fortunately
rode out the gale with the remaining anchor; no assist-
ance could be rendered her owing to the roughness of
the sea. The wind abated about 6 o'clock, and it con-
tinued to rain very hard without intermission until mid-
night. - _ _

"The British schooner Recovery, of Brixham, parted
her bower anchor on the afternoon of the 12th, and on
the 13th her spare anchor. Signals of distress were
made, but no assistance could be rendered until the 14th,
when a boat's crew from the shore assisted in recovering
both anchors and cables. The Georgio Maplath, from
Odessa for Cork, put in here this morning in a damaged
state ; and the Gustave, with loss of main and mizen
topmasts, And the whole of the rigging damaged while
in a gale off Cape St. Vincent. The unknown schooner
reported at anchor on the 15th under the Mediterranean
Battery was the Crescent, which was dismasted on the
sth inst. in a gale, about 100 miles north-east of Moga-
dor. Her Majesty's steamer Vesuvius went out and
towed her into the bay. The Samuel and Edward re-
ports hilvino- seen the British barque Adventure, of
Poole, from 'Cadiz, with bowsprit gone, mizen and main-
mast-head broken, and other damage suffered in a gale
off Cape St. Vincent, 14 miles west by north."
The United States frigate Saranac, Capt. J. C.
Long, 25 days from Norfolk (Virginia), and six
from Fayal, arrived at Gibraltar on the 16th inst.
She had on board the lion. Mr. Spence (the new
American Minister to Turkey), his family and
suite, en route to Constantinople. The Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steam-ship Tagus, Captain
Joy, reached Gibraltar on the 16th, having been
detained two days by bad weather at Lisbon. She
left again fcr Southampton the same night, touch-
ing at Cadiz, Lisbon, Oporto, and Vigo. The
screw steamer Grecian passed from west to east on
the 16th inst. _

Gibraltar exchanges were last quoted as fol-
low :—On London, at 90 days, 511 ; Paris, sf.
39c. : Marseilles, sf. 40c. ; Genoa, sf. 45c. At
eight days' sight on Madrid, Alicante, and Barce-
lona, ft dis. ; Cadiz, dis. ; Malaga, par : Seville,
dis. ; Valencia, dis. ; Spanish pillared dollars,
5 per cent. premium.

P ORTUG AL.

SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY, MIDNIGHT.

By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Tagus, Captain J. K. Joy, we have dates from
Gibraltar, to the 16th ; Cadiz, 17th; Lisbon, 19th ;
and Vigo, 20th inst. The Tagus, could effect no
communication with Oporto in consequence of the
weather.
This packet brings 21 passengers, and on freight
4 packages specie, value 1,1071. sterling, 1,114 half-
chests and 48 boxes oranges, 58 boxes eggs, 2 casks
of wine, 140 serons of birdseed, 34 elephents' tusks,
104 cases of dates, and 21 packages of sundres.
The screw steamer Gannett left Lisbon at the
same time as the Tagus. The latter steamer on
the 19th passed within the Bar of Lisbon two ves-
sels dismasted—one a full-rigged ship, which had
lost her topmasts, hull painted green, and showing
second distinguishing pendant, No. 8,620 ; the
other a large brig or bark, with only foremast
standing, showing first distinguishing pendant,
No. 3 267.

The St. Jean d'Acre and Odin having joined the
British squadron at Lisbon, the vessels under Rear-
Admiral Corry at anchor in the Tagus on the 19th
were—the Prince Regent, Duke of Wellington,
St. Jean d'Are, Imperieuse Arrogant, Tribune,
Amphion, Odin, Desperate, V.alorous, and Cruiser.
There were also three French steamers of war there
—viz., Le Newton, Ebrie, and Terrore, but the
two last were preparing for sea.

Incredible reports had been spread at Lisbon
that the fleet had gone out to suppress some ex-
pected outbreak. It had also been falsely stated
that cholera and small-pox existed on board some
of the vessels. The fleet was in excellent health,
with only 19 men in the hospital, and. Admiral
Corry intended taking it out for a cruise a few days
after the packet left.
The General Screw Steam Company's new steamer
Natal, 12 days out, fromm. London, for the Cape,
put into Lisbon on the 17th to repair damages.
Three months' bills were quoted upon the Lisbon
Exchange by this mail at 541 d. on London, bills
over, and takers scarce ; Paris, 532 Amsterdam,
421 ; Hamburg, 48} ; and Genoa, 530, with little.
doing. The Portuguese New Three per Cents.
were at 39i to 40, and the Bank of Portugal shares
iu demand, at 150 to 140 milreis discount per share,
in Lisbon bank notes, subject to 21. per cent. dis-
count ; Oporto Bank shares, 51 to 6i per cent.
premium, in metal.
By this steamer we have letters from our corres-
pondent in Lisbon to the 19th inst. The Portu-
guese Cortes assembled at S. Bento on that day to
record the King Regent's reiteration of his oath.
The King, Don Pedro V., was also present at the
Royal sitting, with his brother, Don Luiz, as Con-
stable of the Kingdom: The King Regent's speech
upon the occasion was as follows

" Worthy Peers of the Realm and Senators,—
"'Deputies of the Nation,—
"After the heavy blow which it pleased Divine Pro-
vidence to inflict upon my heart—leaving my dear chil-
dren orphans and the Portuguese nation submerged in

mourning for the loss of a virtuous Queen it so dearly
loved—my first moment pf relief is that in which I find
myself in the centre of the national representatives. In
their presence I have just reiterated the solemn oath
which the constitutional charter requires from the Re-
gent during the King's minority.
" This sacred oath will be by me religiously kept.
" My sincere and anxious care will ever be to pro-
mote, in all respects, the happiness of the subjects of
the King Don Pedro V., at whose side you now see me.
" During the short time which intervenes before he
attains his majority my every'effort will be exerted to
give him the lessons of a father and the advice of a
friend, that he may daily become more worthy to oc-
cupy the glorious throne of his august ancestors. I
will not cease to remind 'him of the eminent virtues of
his excellent mother, and of his immortal grandfather,
Senor Don Pedro IV. •
" Meanwhile, confiding in the favour of God and in
the efficient cooperation of the national representatives,
I hope to deliver the kingdom of his Majesty the King,
my august son, in the enjoyment of perfect peace, of its
precious liberties, and in the advancement of those in-
dustrial and administrative improvements so necessary
for the prosperity and contentment of all Portuguese
citizens."
This royal speech would not be replied to by the
Cortes, except in a few words from the Cardinal
President of the House of Peers. The Legislature
was to continue its sittings until the end of the
year, when the session will close, and the new one
for 1854 is to be opened on the 2d of January with
the usual speech from the Throne. It was reported
that M. Fonseca Magalhaens was about to retire
from the Portuguese Ministry, but there appeared
to be no likelihood of any change in the adminis-
tration. Count Thomar was in the capital, with
the intention of taking his place in the House of
Peers during the next session.