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

TILE. SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 11, 1854.

have been actuated by some sinister views. They
apparently forget that the passenger to Reading
is conveyed by a very circuitous route, and that
the only chance of obtaining traffic is by extraor-
dinary cheapness, which may induce persons
whose places of business are in the neigh-
bourhood of the London-bridge terminus to prefer
the longer journey by rail, if they can thereby
save the conveyance per omnibus from Padding-
ton to the City, and also, that the Reading traffic
is subjected to the competition of another power-
ful Company, while that to Ashford is a pure
monopoly, without opposition by rail, by river, or
by turnpike. If the directors were to increase
the rates to Reading or Margate (where steam-
boats are daily plying), how loud and fluent would
be the indignant vituperation hurled against their
devoted heads for that which would indeed be
grievous mismanagement.

The shareholders may, from the frivolity and
fallacy of that charge, form some conception of the
objects of the accusers. When we find plausible but
wholly untenable charges urgently pressed, we may
safely assume that there is no real serious cause of
complaint that can be resorted to. As to the
depreciation of price and dividends, there might
be some weight attached to it, if the South-
Eastern Company were the only one that had
met with such misfortune ; but when we con-
sider that companies which were paying eight or
even ten per cent. when the South-Eastern was
only paying 5 1-3 per cent., are now paying little
if anything more than that which has been so
bitterly attacked ; and when we also find that few,
if any, have made greater progress towards perfect
recovery, aye, and eventual prosperity, than that
now under notice, the absurdity of the accusation is
at once discovered. Indeed, the mere comparison of
1854 with 1844 or 1845 is alone sufficient to exhibit
the detractor in no very favourable point of view,
and to enable the animus by which he is actuated to
be fully appreciated. The same may be said of the
comparison of the traffic charges in 1848 and 1853.
During the former period these charges had
reached their minimum. They were unquestion-
ably very low, but so likewise were the earnings ;
and if the latter have increased in even a still
larger ratio than the former, the unfairness, and,
what is still worse, the " malignity" of the charge,
is exhibited in its true colours. Why did not the
party who ventured on these frivolous and un-
warranted accusations, compare the dividends and
quotations as well as the cost of traffic in 1853
and 1848 ? • Simply because his object was not to
elicit or advocate the truth—,to obtain judgment
in accordance with the substantial merits of the
case, but merely to gain a party triumph, to
excite prejudice against those who could not other-
wise be inculpated.
But " revenons a nous moutons," we come to
the direct alleged cause,the contemplated line
not " from a swamp to a gravel pit," but from
Lewisham to Bromley. Lord TORRINGTON has
pointed out the imperative necessity of that link in
the grand chain, or, as he appropriately terms it,
" the wedge in the Mid Kent," which enables the
company to enter into further operations " when
time and circumstances permit," and which make
future opposition " next to impossible !" We all
recognise the accuracy of the adage that tells us
that " if we desire to preserve peace we should be
prepared for war." We smile at the fatuity that
advocates a general disarmament ; and yet the
very men who do so seriously listen to the twad-
dling that tells them that it is an act of true
economy to avoid the construction of a line six
miles long, though by making it they secure the
tranquil enjoyment of their territory, and render
aggression " next to impossible." And be it re-
membered that this is at a time when two other
companies are promoting bills before Parliament,
the object whereof is the construction of a line or
lines to and beyond Bromley ! Surely, then, the
rejection of the Lewisham branch would, as Lord
TORRINGTON declares, " be an act little short of
suicide !" And as this is the only tangible "cause
of dispute," the teterrima causa beltii, the share-
holders may easily decide on the first group of
questions submitted by the Noble Viscount for
their consideration.

DEATH OF MR. ALDERMAN THOMPSON.

! We regret to have to announce the death of Mr. Alder-
man Thompson, M.P., which took place at half-past nine
o'clock yesterday morning. The deceased gentleman
bad enjoyed a seat in Parliament from the year IS2O
until his death, having successively sat for Callington,
London, Sunderland, and Westmoreland. In politics
he was a conservative and a protectionist, voting against
free trade even in November, 1852, when the Derbyites
had abandoned protection. In the City his connexions
were numerous and extensive. Besides being an exten-
sive ironmaster and shipowner, he was a director of the
Bank of England, and for some time chairman of Lloyd's.
In 1828 he served the office of Lord Mayor of London,
and afterwards became president of Christ's Hospital,
colonel of the London Militia, and vice-president of the
Honourable Artillery Company. Mr. Thompson was
also chairman of the St. Katharine Docks, and a direc-
tor of the Globe Insurance Company, the Marine Insu-
sauce Company, the Blackwall Railway, and other im-
portant undertakings. He was also chairman of the
Society of Merchants Trading to the Continent, and
senior alderman of London.

The mortal remains of the late gallant general,
Charles William, Marquis of Londonderry, K.G., will
be removed from Holdernesse-house on Monday next,
for interment in the family mausoleum. The present
Marquis, Earl Vane, late Lord Seaham, and other
memberA of the family will attend the obsequies.
The Earl of Morley is recovering from his late severe
indisposition.
His Excellency Don Xavier Isturitz, Spanish Minister
at our Court has Mansfield-street, for Paris, en route to
Madrid, en congc.
Lady Laura Meyrick had a soirc dansante on Thurs-
day evening, in Curzon-street, which was numerously
and fashionably attended.
We are sorry to announce the death of Lady Blay-
ney, who expired on the 4th inst., at Kingstown, near
Dublin. Her ladyship was wife of the late Lord
Blayney, and the daughter of the first Earl of Caledon.
THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE AT EXETER.—His Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived at Exeter on
Thursday evening, by the express train, for the pur-
pose of inspecting the Bth Hussars, now under orders to
embark for the East.
CABINET COUNCIL.—A Cabinet Council was held at
the Foreign-office, Downing-street, yesterday afternoon.
The Ministers present were—the Earl of Aberdeen, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Gran-
ville' the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, the
the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir
Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir
William Molesworth. The Council sat two hours.

DIORAMAS FOR THE MILLION, KING WILLIAM-STREET,
TRAFALGAR-SQUARE.— Last night there was a very
pleasing exhibition of various scenes from Canada and
Canadian life, which were ably explained by the pro-
prietor. The additional novelty was a lecture on Canada
by a black gentleman, named Ward (born in slavery).
The object of the lecturer was to show that Canada was
the home for the working man in preference to any other
colony in existence. Mr. Ward commenced with the
history and progress of Canada from its first discovery,
and very ably described its peculiarities of soil, climate,
its laws, and government. The lecture was replete with
vast stores of information on many practical points, and
Mr. Ward is indeed a very able and eloquent advocate
in the cause which he pleads with so much earnestness.
On Tuesday evening the proprietor of these pictures
proposes to give an entertainment, the proceeds of which
will be devoted to the benefit of the wives and children
of the soldiers who have left and are leaving for the East
of Europe.
FIRE IN OXFORD-STREET.—A most mysterious fire
broke out just before midnight on the premises of Mr.
Thomas Brown, artist's corourman, No. 260, Oxford.
street, whose daughter, Miss Brown, is so seriously
burnt that little hopes are entertained that she can live
the day out. The fire was discovered by Miss Brown
and her mother, who saw dense bodies of smoke issuing
from the cellar, and they instantly raised an alarm. The
engines from King street, \Veils-street, and Chandos-
street quickly arrived, and got to work under the direc-
tion of G. Staples, district foreman of the C section, who
found two separate fires--one in a vault, the other on
the basement, and they were 40 feet from each other.
r. Brown was out on business at the time.

THE QUEEY v. BERESFORD.—A. petition has been
orinted, which Mr. Heyworth presented to the House
of Commons on Tuesday, from a meeting of Liberals at
Perby, complaining of the ease of the " Queen v. Beres-
ford and others" having been compromised. The peti-
tionerd represent that a statement is current in the bo-
rough that "an agreement was signed by an agent of the
defendants, admitting the whole of the allegations con-
tained in the indictment." The petition prays for in-
quiry into the matter, and states " that the compromise
has produced upon the minds of her Majesty's subjects
the unfavourable impression that the laws of the coun-
try, at least in such cases, are so administered as to allow
rich offenders to evade punishment while the poor are
exposed to their full penalty."
RussfaN PRODUCE.—The London market for Russian
produce continues active, and hemp is now 521. to 531.
per ton, being an advance of from 5/. to Gl. since this
day week.

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

ARRIVAL OF THE TROOPS AT MALTA.
MALTA, MARCH `j.

The reports circulated from Constantinople corre-
spondents to the English press, of an encounter between
the English and Russian ships, as also of a furious dis-
aster at Kalafat, do not seem founded on any good au-
thority, or at least none such has reached this island.
Our island, by the great increase of military force that
has already arrived, and is daily expected, has a,sumed
an appearance of unusual activity.
Detachments of artillery arrived on the 28th ult. by
the Cyclops, and on the same day the Sir .John Pollock
anchored in port, with a division of the G2d. The re-
mainder may be hourly expected, since by the ar-
rival of the Sultan this morning the arrival of the
Orient at Gibraltar, in four and a half days from
Cork, was reported. This morning the 2d division
of the 9th Regiment arrived in the Canterbury.
To make room for the troops, the most energetic
measures have been taken by the Commissarist. The
Fort Manoel has been vacated by the Buffs, and the
Lazaretto has been got ready. These will be occupied
by the Grenadier, Coldstream, and Fusilier Guards on
their arrival.

The Rifles and the 44th will be camped, and I believe
also some of the battalion regiments will be similarly
disposed of.

In a word, every disposable place in the island has
been converted into barracks or quarters for men and
officers.

Two of our frigates arrived yesterday, the Arethusa
and Leander. They will fill up as speedily as possible
with stores, and return to the fleet.

The Banshee despatch boat arrived here yesterday,
aftera very severe passage, and, being in want of some
trifling repairs, will not proceed till to-morrow afternoon
to the East ; she will then leave with despatches and
the English mail for the Admirals and the officers and
men of the fleets.

Captain Hallewell, aide•de-camp to the Governor, has
resigned his staff appointment, to join his corps (28th)
on its arrival ; Captain Goodenough, Royal Artillery,
is appointed to the staff vacancy.
Captain Whitmore, aide-de-camp to General Fer-
gusson, will proceed to the seat of war on the staff of
Lieut.-General Sir George Brown.
. .

Sir James Stirling, Commander-in-Chief on the China
Station, and Sir John Bowring, Governor of Hong
Kong, as also General Fane, en route to India, have
respectively arrived by the Vectis and Sultan, from
Marseilles and Southanipon, and proceeded this after-
noon to their posts by the Sultan to Alexandria.
The arrival of the troops has increased the price of
provisions to a hitherto unknown point. Contractors
are suffering severely, and of late the weather has been
so bad that no vessels with live stock have come in.
Yesterday the Vectis was sent to Tunis, to tow up some
of the small vessels laden with cattle, and she will also
take on board what she is able ; whilst the Research, a
small boat, is being got ready to proceed to Tunis with
a gentleman, whose mission will be to enter into con-
tracts for the supply of bullocks from Africa.

MARCH 4.
The following will be the disposition of the troops on
their arrival :

Guards, three battalions of 850 men each, or 2,500
men in all, at Forts Manoel and Tigne, and in the Laz-
zaretto.

28th regiment, 850 men, detached to Bighi, Salvadore,
Zubbar, and Verdalah.
Rifles, 900 men, under canvass, on the hornwork of
Porta Bomba.

23d and 50th regiments, 1,700, at the Dockyard.
98th regiment, 850, under canvass, on the Ravelin St.
Francisco and Notre Dame.

4th rind 77th regiments, 1,700, under canvass, at St.
Clement's.

44th Regiment, under canvas, behind Fort Manoel,

The 41st, 47th, and 49th will receive volunteers from
the 9th, 39th, 62d, and 63tb, to bring their strength to
850.

The strength of the garrison is as follows :
The 3d and 62d, with one company of 9th, Lower St.
Elmo ; one company 9th, Upper St. Elmo ; and the
remainder will be quartered in the Grain Stores, St.
Elmo, the Female School adjoining, and the Castel-
lenia,.
The 39t1., in the Cottonera. district.

10 A.M.

The steam-ship Orinoco, svith the Ist battalion of
Coldstream Guards, has just come into port. On
passing the fortresses they were loudly cheered by their
brethren in arms, who welcomed them with the
greatest enthusiasm.
They are to he quartered at Fort Manoel, but will
not be disembarked until late in the afternoon.

CHARGE OF CORRUPTION AGAINST
IRISH MEMBERq.-(THIS DAY.)

The committee met this day at 11 o'clock.
Dr. Giflard, the editor of the Standard, was the first
witness examined, and stated that the anonymous letter
referring to Mr. Roche was inserted by his direc-
tion ; but he did not know who the writer was.
Mr. Napier, M.P., was next examined, but his evi-
dence did not bear upon the case of Mr. Roche, and re-
lated principally to the system of Government patronage
in Ireland.
The room was then ordered to be cleared.

Mr. E. B. Roche then rose and said—Before you
clear the room, I wish to make an application to the
committee. The charge, or accusation, or insinuation,
whichever it may be, with which my name has been
connected, being now traced to an anonymous letter
published in a newspaper in London, without the
publisher having had any knowledge or means
of proving the truth of the accusation, I wish
to put it through you to the committee, and to
say that lam now prepared, if the committee think
fit to give to that insinuation, or accusation, a posi-
tive and particular contradiction, and to state, as I
state here, that it is a villanous and unfounded slan-
der. (Cries of hear. hear.)
The room was then cleared, and on strangers being
again admitted.
The Chairman said—Mr. Roche, I am directed by the
committee to inform you that in their judgment there is
no imputation on your character, in any way, in
consequence of anything that has occurred. The
statement you have just made can be put on record,
or if you wish to make any other statement the com-
mittee will hear it.

Mr. Roche expressed his thanks to the committee,
and particularly to their having met to-day, for his
personal convenience, and repeated the statement he
had just made, concluding by saying—" I declare most
positively and solemnly that the insinuation is un-
founded, and, moreover, I say it is a cowardly and base
calumny."
The committee then adjourned till 12 o'clock on Tues-
day next.

SHERIFFS' COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

(Before R. Gurney.)
AVIS V. JONES.

A DOUBTFUL CASE-LOOK AT YOUR CHANGE.

The plaintiff in this case is a servant in the City, and
defendant is a coal-dealer, and the plaint was to recover
10s., alleged to have been paid by the plaintiff by mis-
take.

The plaintiff stated that on the 16th Feb. she paid the
defendant for some coals,and took the money out of her box,
in which there had been a half-sovereign and some silver.
The next evening, on looking at her money, she missed
half a sovereign, but there was a surplus sixpence which
convinced her that she had given the defendant the half
sovereign in mistake for a sixpence.
The defendant asserted that it was impossible that he
could have received it without knowing it, and if he had
discovered the mistake he would at once have made it
known to the plaintiff.
His Honour took considerable trouble to reconcile
the two statements, the plaintiff, on the one hand, per-
sisting that the cash-box was continually locked,
and she was positive that tile lock, although not one of
Chubb's or Hobb's, had not been picked, and she was
also certain that the half sovereign could not have crept
out through the keyhole. The defendant, would swear
he did not have any gold that day, he knew it by his
accounts.

His Honour—What is the average of your takings
per day ?
Defendant—l make an average on a "floating
capital."
His Honour—Well, what is that floating capital,
and how to make your average ?
Defendant—My floating capital is what I pay and
what I receive. When I get so much, I put by so much ;
when I get elver, I put it in one pocket ; when I get
gold, I put it in another. When I get so many half-
crowns, or crowns, I give it my " missis ;" and when I
get gold I put it in a " safe."
His Honour (to plaintiff)—You ought to be very
careful in paying away your money, because if you
pay away half-a-sovereign for a sixpence, the party
you !pay it to may do the same by mistake. It
is quite certain that there was carelessness on your
part. The verdict must be for the defendant. I
do not impute any dishonesty on either side, and I am
sorry you should suffer, but you must be now careful in
future.
His Honour kindly directed a return of the hearing
fees.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.--(THIS DAY.)

MINDING UP OLD INSOLVENCY CASES.

IN RE JACKSON.

This was a dividend meeting under an insolvency case
so far back as 1843. The insolvent had been in the
coastguard service, and applied to this Court, then
having jurisdiction over insolvency cases, when he was
ordered to set aside a portion of his pay and half-pay as
a lieutenant in the navy.
Mr. Beard, from the office of Mr. W. IL Buchanan,
who was the solicitor to the petition, appeared and said
that this was the final instalment, and that 111 the credi-
tors were desirous that their dividends shuuld be handed
over to the insolvent.

iiis Honour said the creditors could make any
arrangement they chose in that respect.

IN RE 3IARTIN.
This was also a case of olden date, and neither cre-
ditors nor attorney appeared.
His Honour suggested that Mr. Beard should act in
the absence of the attorney, in order to complete the
proceedings ; the costs to be paid out of the estate.

Among a further number of vessels ordered for survey
previously to entering the transport service are the
Diadem, the Sultana, the Pride of the Ocean, and the
Alfred the Great.

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

THE WAR IN THE EAST.
A telegraphic despatch from Vienna, dated
yesterday, says :
" Semi-official accounts from Galatz, of the 27th,
announce that disturbances have taken place in
Servia.

" There are highly improbable reports current of
the Czar's abdication."

Another telegraphic despatch, dated Vienna,
March 9, says :
" Advices from Constantinople of the 27th Feb.
state that fortifications are being erected at Galli-
poli, on the isthmus, under the direction of English
officers.

" The news from the citadel of Arta is contradic-
tory. 5,000 Ottoman troops had left for Albania ;
10,000 troops were expected from Alexandria.
" The Sultan has fully acceded to the proposi-
tions respecting the emancipation of the Christians.
" The citadel near Odessa is being fortified."

The following is from the letter of the Paris cor
respondent of the Times, dated yesterday, 6 p.m.:—
" It is rumoured in the diplomatic circles here that
news has been received from St. Petersburg to the
effect that the Emperor Nicholas has signed the
order for the army to pass the Danube forthwith.
The particular point at which the passage is to take
place is not stated. lam not in a position to vouch
for 'the accuracy of the fact; but it seems to be be-
lieved in the quarter to which I refer. Should it be
correct, the Emperor by that measure intends, no
doubt, to strike a blow before the allied forces can
come to the assistance of the Turks. It is true
that the accounts we have had for some time past
from the Principalities represent the state of the
country as bad, and the roads almost inaracticable
owing to the rains. Nevertheless, some desperate
act has been long anticipated on the part of the
Russians, and the movements of the auxiliary forces
would probably hasten its execution, if it be at all
possible. If the intelligence which I have just noticed
respecting the resolve of the Emperor of Russia
be confirmed, it' will give an opportunity to the
Powers to test the truth of Austria.beyond the pos-
sibility of doubt. The question of the proposed
occupation of Servia and ,lierzegovine was, it is
stated, discussed at the Cabinet Council held yes-
terday at the Tuileries, and it was agreed that re-
ference must be made in the first instance to the
Porte, and her assent obtained to such occupation,
which is alleged to be a precautionary measure
in the event of insurrectionary movements there
or in Servia, before it can be permitted. Should
Austria proceed to such occupation previously to
such assent being obtained, or in opposition to the
will of the Porte, France would consider it as an
act of hostility, and act accordingly. It is even
promised that that state of things may retard the
departure of the troops for some days, as it might
become necessary, in consequence of the attitude of
Russia to concentrate an army on the Rhenish
frontier ; and, on account of Austria, on the Alps ;
It would, in fact, necessitate a modification of
the present distribution of the French army."
From St. Petersburgh, of March 3, we learn
that a circular letter has been issued by the Rus-
sian Government, to its diplomatic agents abroad,
in explanation of Russian policy.
A letter from Jassy, of the 27th ult. says :
" Fifteen thousand vehicles, drawn by bullocks,
have been placed at the disposal of the Russian
army, to convey beams and other materials, and
ammunition. It is believed that the Russians in-
tend to fortify Toksahni."
" Intelligence from Krajowa and Orsova of
March 2," says the cologne Gazette, " announces
that the arrangements of the Russians lead to the
belief that they have the intention of abandoning
their operations before Kalafat. Should that be
the case, we must suppose that either the Russians
look on it as impregnable, or that the position
taken up by the 25,000 men belonging to the Aus-
trian corps of observation has decided them to quit
Krajowa."
-A letter from Samos 14th ult. states that an ad-
dress had been presented on the part of the As-
sembly to M. Couemenos, Caimacan of the island,
expressing sentiments of gratitude towards the Im-
perial Government, and the inhabitants towards
the Porte, at the equitable manner in which they
are governed. Samos was in a state of the most
perfect tranquillity.
A letter from Vienna of the 6th says :—" In
accordance with the declaration which it is about
to publish, the Austrian Government will only
cause Servia to be occupied in case of insurrection.
The Servians, however, threaten to send 80,000
men against any force that' may enter their terri-
tory, whether Russian. or Austrian."

A letter from Berlin, of the 7th, says :---" Most
of the troops which leave Bt. Petersburg are being
sent to the coasts of the Baltic, which it is intended
to fortify. Riga, in particular, is to be surrounded
with new fortifications. The commerce between
Russia and Prussia is singularly embarrassed.
Letters are subjected to special control."
A letter from Hamburgh, 6th, says :—" There
is an Austrian subject here named Gross Hoffinger,
who has published some articles very favourable to
Turkey in a paper called the Morning Gazette.
M. de Struve, the Russian envoy to the Hanseatic
towns, having made a•cnmplaint to the Senate and
to the police on the subject, M. Hoffinger has been
expelled. Nine Russian deserters arrived here
yesterday under escort of some Prussian police
agents ; they are about to embark for America.
The Prussian Government has, it is said, taken on
itself the expense of their passage rather than de-
liver them into the hands of the Russian autho-
rities.

Our latest dates from Constantinople are to the
26th of February, brought by the Banshee, which
arrived -here on the 2d March from Beycos Bay,
where she left the combined fleets at anchor. The
Furious and Magellan returned from Varna on the
14th February, but brought no tidings of particular
importance. The former was again despatched to
Varna on the 20th, to land a special commissioner
from the Sultan to Omer Pacha, after which she
will proceed to .Odessa and Sebastopol, to deliver
despatches from the English and French admirals.
On the 21st, Sir Edmund Lyons, in the Agamem-
non, with the English and French steam squadrons,
returned from the Black Sea, bringing back the
unladen Ottoman steam and other transports,
which they had convoyed to several ports of the
Asiatic shores, having safely landed the troops,
stores, and ammunition for the Turkish army in
that quarter, without having seen any Russian
ship of.war during the cruise. The weather had
been somewhat boisterous, and the Terrible,
from towing the slow Sanspareil, had got some-
what strained ; one of the Turkish steamers lost
her rudder, and is said to stand indebted to
Captain Slade for her safety, through the
means adopted by him for steering her by
a temporary apparatus. The British fleet
has suffered a heavy loss in the shipwreck of the
Austrian barque Celeste, laden with provisions and
stores by the victualling department at Malta,
whence she took her departure on the Bth of Feb.,
in tow of the Ardent steamer, Lieut. Pritchard.
The particulars are not given, beyond her having
struck on a shoal, near Svereige Point in the Myte-
lene Channel, on the 13th, when the Ardent left
her, making all speed to the Dardanelles to procure
assistance, and met the Leander frigate, which
she conveyed to the scene of the disaster,
when a portion of the stores were saved, but in
a damaged state, especially the biscuit, which was
rendered thereby utterly useless. The Fury was
subsequently despatched from the Bosphorus, but
the transport had become a total wreck, though all
hands were saved. The Ardent reached Beycos on
the 21st, and on the 25th Lieutenant Pritchard, the
other officers and crew, were placed upon their trial
for this disaster. The case for the prosecution
closed at six p.m., when the court adjourned to
Monday, the 27th, for the defence. There was an
Archipelago pilot on board. Lieutenant Pritchard
was on deck personally superintending the naviga-
tion of the two vessels when the accident occurred.
He and the second master had good reason to con-
sider the vessels in a safe course, as there was no
place in the track indicated in the Admiralty
chart as having less than three fathoms of water,
whilst the Ardent drew 13 feet and the trans-
port 16 feet, and all hands on board were unani-
mous as to the distance they computed them-
selves to be from the shore. Still, under all the
circumstances of the case, a full acquittal is not
looked for, but hopes are entertained that the sen-
tence will not extend beyond a reprimand, and a
caution to be more careful in future. The Ardent
is by no means an efficient vessel, and some doubts
were entertained of her strength for towing pur-
poses. Lieut. Pritchard has, during. the present
Oriental question, seen hard service in conveying
throughout the winter despatches between Malta
and Constantinople, at times without any pilot on
board, and his position is much to be pitied.
The following is from the Tones correspondent,
dated Berlin, March :
"Denmark and Sweden have within the last few
months attained a prominent interest in European
politics, and the present moment more particularly
shows both nations on the brink of adecisive
The former has been for more than a year struggling
with internal difficulties imposed by the task of re-
constructing the fundamental constitution of the
realm, in conformity with the spirit and dictates of
European political necessity, but in opposition to
the feelings and wishes not only of the Duchies but
also of Denmark Proper. The Ministry, that has long-
been in an altnost unfailing minority and has been compel
led to parley, if not to come to terms with the Opposi-
tion (admitting them to private conferences), have at
last attained the climax of Parliamentary Weakness hy

finding themselves in a minority r t 98. The carnet."
of events is driving the King e.• h2r to a coup d'etat
or to concessions to the oppositle.i. The resolution
of this alternative will depend r 6"ei,/ on the course
the approaching naval campaign in the Baltic takes.
Sweden and Norway, that have therto endeavoured
to maintain a neutral position, wJ find themselves com-
pelled very shortly, within almf t a few ei.ys, to take
part with one side or the ot. . Russia is already driving
at them by diplomatic -me' to induce them to close
still more ports agail., ;- the Western 13 ets than ale
already proclaimed as c. Ain the treat) of neutrality
with Denmark, and Fenerally to refuse the ships of
the combined fleets the permission to provision and
water in any of her harb in 2. 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 Norway are
called upon virtually to give up their neutrality. The
destinies of these three Scandinavian Powers depend on
the issue of the present nautical rage 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 behind
on their part. The last advises 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 Reval
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
Daschkoff ; 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 then
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."