The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-09 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

According to a letter from Switserland, the Direc-
tory has replied to an overture from the King of
SARDINIA for an offensive and defensive alliance
between the two countries, by a formal declaration
of its desire to preserve an absolute neutrality in the
differences which at this moment agitate Europe.
This answer is said to have been given to the Sar-
dinian Envoy on the 2d inst.

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.
A reinforcement of 1,000 men has been dispatched
frcm Copenhagen to the army in the island of Fuhnen.
The advance of the troops of the Confederation into
the kingdom of Denmark has been officially com-
municated to the Provisional Government of Holstein
by the following dispatch from General WRANGEL.
It is dated Fredericia, May 3 :
"I have the honour to acquaint the Provisional
Government that yesterday, on the anniversary of the
battle of Gross Uorschen, the German troops under my
command crossed the frontier of Jutland at Kolding,

and on the evening of the same day took possession of
the fortress of Fredericia, the most important tole du post
of Denmark on the mainland. The enemy retreated t rom
the frontier of the Danish province and the strong p, si
tion at Kolding without offering any resistance, and Fre-
dericia itself opened its gates to a patrol of the advanced
guard of General Von Bonin. All the Danish troops
had passed over into Fiihnen, taking the greater pert of
their materiel with them; but seven cannon which had
been buried, and a considerable quantity of ammuni-
tion and provisions fell into our hands. The enemy
appear to have had some intention of holding
out against us in Seefort, as the moat had been newly
palli•dtcled. I have already given the necessary direc-
tions for the destruction of this fort. At three o'clock !his
afternoon the German banner was hoisted on the ti Ag-
staff of Seefort, and saluted with 101 discharges of
art l-
lery. As long as this banner waves there, no toil will
be raised from vessels passing the Little Belt. I cannot
sufficiently praise the courage and endurance with which
the troops under my command met the dangers and sup-
ported the fatiguing marches that have led to these
glorious results.
WRANGEL, Cotnniander•in-Chief."

By dispatches from General HALKETT it appears

that the headquarters of the Ilanoverian troops were
still at Nubel, but were to be removed on the 3d to
Ulderup.
The armed Danish ships are cruising between
Allen and the main land, firing occasionally at the
Germqn troops, but, it is said, without occasioning
any loss.

The Representatives of the Foreign Powers in
Copenhagen have been officially informed that the
blockade of Stettin, Stralsund, Ro3tock, and Wismar
commenced on the 2d of May ; that of Pillau and

Dantzie on the 3d; that of the mouths of the Elbe
i* delayed till the 10th, but the latter measure is pro-

visional only, and is left liable to further considera-
tion. It is satisfactory to hear that all neutral
vessels carrying mails, or in the service of the post-
offices, and having no cargo exposed to seizure as hos-
tile freight, are excepted from the blockade.
Letters received in Hamburgh from the prisoners

on board the Dronning Maria, in Copenhagen, describe
their treatment by the Danish authorities as having
been better than it was at first represented.
The Swedish journals express much sympathy for
the position of Denmark, and condemn the " lust
for conquest" exhibited by the Germans. A Swedish
General had arrived in Copenhagen on a mission to
the Danish Government; both in Sweden and Nor-
way increased activity in the naval departments has
been observed ; but whether Denmark has really
received any offer of support from these Powers is not
known.

Commerce and business are suffering in Ham-
burgh from the blockade of the outports. The pro-
bability that the Elbe will be closed on the 10th ha
already had the effect of causing the holders os
stocks of goods to limit their sales, as the interruption
of supplies will increase the demand for what is
already in hand.
In addition to the exception of mail packets from
the blockade, it is ascertained that goods belonging to
states hostile to Denmark, carried in neutral ships, if
they were loaded at the port of departure before the
decided outbreak of hostilities was known, will not be
confiscated.

ITALY.

ROME.

A letter from Civita Vecchia, of the Ist, says:—
" The people of Rome, aware of the uncertain policy
of Pius IX. in the Italian question, has been stimulating
him for some time past with addresses, to induce him to
declare war against Austria. He assembled the college
of cardinals, and in a consistory made a speech which
caused the greatest anxiety throughout Rome. lle said
that all he had done up to this day was the mere fulfil-
ment of the memorandum of 1830; that he could not, as
the head of the Church, declare war against his children
in Christ; that if the other princes of Italy had taken a
part in the struggle, they had been driven to do so by
their subjects ; that the Pontifical troops had received
no other mission than that of defending his
own states, and that if they had crossed the Po
they had transgressed his orders. Meanwhile
great preparations were in progress. The Ministry
resigned en masse, but Pius refused to accept their re-
signation. On the 30th ult. the whole general stuff. held
a sitting. The municipality went in procession to the
Pope, to demand explanations us to his policy, and re-
commend him to abdicate. The civic guard took pos-
session of all the gates of the city, and had orders to
let no one, whether priest, bishop, or even the Pope
himself, leave the town. The spirit of the ten thousand
civic guard is excellent. It is said this act of Pius IX.
was caused by numerous protests of German bishops,
who threatened him with a schism should he di dare
himself the enemy of Austria. On the 29th the excite-
ment was extreme. The Pope has been allowed time to
consider till the 30th. It appears that, should he refuse,
a Provisional Government would be establisht d. To-

reuzio Mamiani was spoken of as the future Minister of
Foreign /Mars. The Pope would retain the title of
Bishop of Rome. There ttre .carcely any troops of the
line in the capital."