The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-09 00:00:00

ITALY.

TURIN, Aug. s.—lt was mentioned yesterday
that the Municipal Council of Ravenna had fol-
lowed the example of that of Bologna, in adopting
an address to the Pope, praying for relief from
foreign intervention. It seems now it has gone
further—it has " bettered the instruction;" for, in
a subsequent sitting, it voted another address to
his Holiness, begging for the electoral law for the
municipalities, which he himself decreed, but
which has never been acted up to, should be put
in force. A letter from the Legations, received
this morning, says :

"Legal acts of opposition in the Legations multiply,
and the resistance acquires every day more ground.
The Municipal Council of Ravenna has, besides petition-
ing the Pope against the occupation of the country by
foreign troops, made a formal demand that the
municipal law of MO should not remain a
dead letter. A reasonable memorial, in which
it is asked that the right of election shouldbe con-
ceded as the only moms of making known the
true wants and the just demands of the people, was pre-
sented to the Council, signed by eight of the most dis-
tinguished members ; and an absolute majority of the
Council then recorded their adherence to the principle
by adding their signatures to the said document. The
memorial was subsequently transmitted to the Munici-
pal Magistracy, in order that the Government authori-
ties might participate in it.
"It must be added that the same Municipality of
Ravenna had positively refused to execute the work
laid down for it by the Pontifical Commissioner, Mon-
signor Amici, in his recent economic provisions, against
which an energetic protest was signed by the proprietors
and met Oants of Ravenna.

"The Government authorities are very naturally
much concerned at the great significance of these mani-
festations."

• SCANDINAVIA.
(From the Times' Correspondent.)
STOCKHOLM,' JULY, 1856.
Since the events of 1848 a gradual but deep
change has been coming over the Scandinavian
kingdoms • a slow and sure movement tends to
their social, moral, and political union, and a
peaceable agitation to that effect, known by the
name of "Scandinavism," pervades all classes.
The people of the three kingdoms feel that they
are united by the bonds of a common origin, reli-
gion, and language ; for, however different tho
dialects spoken in the sister kingdoms, a Swede has
no difficulty in comprehending a Dane or a Nor-
wegian ; the literature of our country is read by
the other two ; their habits and their wants, their
amusements and their aspirations, are the same.
Divided by the hostile politics of their different
Governments, they have ever clang to each other
in spirit, and now more than ever they feel that it
is only by a more intimate union that they can
withstand the common foe.

The first active symptom of the deep-rooted sym-
pathies of the three branches of the Scandina-
vian family was the repeated visits of the students
from the respective Universities of Sweden, Den-
mark, and Norway, These began in laA )lavo

been often repeated, and always with a more lively
feeling of welcome from the visited to the visitors.
The crafty and far-seeing policy of Russia took
umbrage at these proceedings, while England, of ex
too careless of contingent dangers, and perhaps too
confident in the promises of the Czar, looked on
with unconcern, and France, agitated by internal
dissensions, could take no part in foreign events.
It was therefore at the instigation of the Rus-
sian Cabinet that the conferences of London (in
May, 1852) settled the succession of King Frede-
rick, last descendant of the ancient line of Olden-
burg, upon a princa of Holstein Glucksburg, thus
conferring eventual rights on the Imperial family
of Russia, as heirs to the House of Holstein. It
required the powerful intimidation of Russia, and
the utmost influence of the reactionary Ministry at
home, to induce the nation to adopt a measure so
repugnant to their feelings and interests, and this
bill only passed the representative body by a
trifling majority.
The heir apparent is at no pains to conceal his
Russian tendencies, and succeeded during the late
war in getting up a very hostile feeling towards
the allies among the higher classes of society. The
body of the nation, however, in spite of Russian
intrigues, German propagandism, and the neglect
of the Western Powers, still adheres to the sister
kingdoms, and looks to them for succour against
the dangers from the East and South. The treaty
of the 21st of November, which has for ever se-
vered the old tie between Sweden and Russia, has
signally contributed to this result.
Denmark is divided into two perfectly distinct
parties—the real Danes and the Germans ; they
are separated by their language, tastes, habits, and
even their interior organisation. One or other must
necessarily conquer, as any real reconciliation be-
tween such discordant elements is out of the ques-
tion. The fierce war from 1848 to 1852 has
widened the breach, and even since the peace per-
petual bickerings and serious quarrels are matters
of daily occurrence. Some vehement recriminations
on the part of the Duchies have recently added
fresh fuel to the flames of national animosity.
Holstein, which is entirely German, is governedby a rich and powerful aristocracy, whereas Den-
mark, since 1848, has embraced democratic prin-
ciples, and leans towards the doctrine of political
equality. The former seeks a refuge in the arms
of the. German Confederation, the latter looks upon
Scandinavism as its only chance of safety.
Nothing but a complete separation of such hete-
rogeneous elements can restore peace to the coun-
try, and on this point both Danes and Germans are
agreed. Everything tends to restore Holstein to
the mother country, and Jutland and the islands
to the sister kingdoms already united.
Schleswig, with its population of 370,000 souls,
half Danes, half Germans, seems to present the
only obstacle to such an arrangement ; but even
here some plan founded on the different localities
and their separate nationality may be elaborated;
and has been already seriously contemplated in
1848.
Scandinavism in our days is not imbued with
the spirit of conquest ; it does not aspire to its end
by convulsive throes and sanguinary revolutions ;
it is merely the tendency of along divided family
to be again united, and this union is a wise and
politic measure, dictated by the wants of ages, the
experience of past disasters, and the shadowing
forth of future dangers, but averted by one com-
mon effort. Deep .sympathies for the common
stock are implanted in every Scandinavian heart.
The two Kings are on the most friendly terms ; the
two Cabinets are on a footing of perfect confidence ;
not a vestige of distrust subsists between the two
nations. The end is working out slowly but
surely. It is useless to hurry; it would be cruel to
attempt to impede the final union of the Scandi-
navian nationalities.
All that is required to secure this guarantee for
the independence of Europe, and civilisation in
general, is that the Allied Powers should prevent
Russia na3ddYng the interior affairs of the north,
with a view to dividing and weakening its strength.
The rest will be brought about by th good sense
of the people ; and, without being able to deter-
mine the moment when this great event will take
place, it may be safely affirmed that the decrees of
Providence will be speedily carried out, and the
great united family of Swedes, Danes, and Nor-
wegians will be the safest bulwark for Western
Europe.
Denmark, by its geographical position, is of
immense military importance, not only for the
defence of the Scandivinian realms, but also for the
protection of the rest of Europe against the incur-
sions of the Russian fleet. The straits of the
Sound, situated between the Baltic and the Ger-
man Ocean, are as much obstacles to the Russian
development in the north as the Dardanelles in
t'ae south, and Denmark, like the Ottibman Empire,
stands sentry for the liberties of Europe. It is
remarkable to reflect that while the Muscovite em-
pire has stretched its territorial frontiers from the
Vistula to the boundary of China, its maritime
progress has ever been checked by the two secon-
dary Powers who rule these two small straits.
Hut, ..77cSixiu TAuklic rya., utiajlitnOus iu wrest-
ing from the hands of Russia the key of the South,
it is to be hoped she will be equally solicitous for
that of the North ; and here neither her treasures
nor the blood of her children are required. Let
the wisdom of diplomacy only second the wish of
the people,—fortify Denmark by Sweden and Nor-
way, Sweden and Norway by Denmark, let the
Scandinavian people be united in the bonds they
covet, and let this empire be sufficiently strong to
withstand any attempt at conquest from its oppo-
site neighbour.
As it is well to answer all objections, even those
suggested by timid politicians, let me add that,
however the Scandinavian union may be powerful
to resist aggression, it never could be sufficiently
strong to give umbrage in the west. This is evident
from the annexed list of population :

Inhabitants.
Denmark (exclusive of the Duchies) 1,500,000
Sweden 3,600,000
Norway 1,500,000
Forming a total of 6,600,000, or scarcely two-
thirds of that of the Two Sicilies, which boasts of
nearly 10,000,000 inhabitants.
The military force of the united kingdoms, with-
out augmenting their actual army, would bo about
150,000 or 160,000 soldiers ; and about 70,000
sailors. What is called the large fleet possesses
above 2,000 cannon ; but where England would
find the greatest assistance in the event of any war
is what we designate as the little fleet, which is
composed of 500 gunboats and yawls, so indispen-
sable in the navigation of this rocky coast and
shoal-clustered sea. It is designedly that I say
"England," for it is to the English alliance that
the Scandinavian union must look for support ;
and any breath with the real champions of civilisa-
tion would be fatal to their futurity as a nation.
This conviction of mine is so strong that I hardly
think it worth our while to refute the arguments
of those who through tear of displeasing a power-
ful country, or perhaps from more interested mo-
tives, pretend to dread the closing of the Baltic.
This notion is preposterous, and so far from the
thoughts of the Scandinavians that it is even con-
templated to abolish the Sound Dues, besides
which, it would be easy to stipulate that no fortifi-
cations should be erected either in Seeland or on
the coasts of Scania.

Now that the conclusion of peace has softened
down all hostile feeling it is easier to take a dis-
passionate view of the conduct of Sweden during
the war than when, in the heat of contest, active
co-operation was expected from her, without any
reference to her peculiar position. -
It is now proved by authentic documents that
the sympathies of King Oscar were from the first
enlisted on the side of the allies, and that he, like
the chivalrous King Victor Emmanuel, would have
raised his standard by their side, had the decisive
campaign been in. the Baltic, where alone the
Scandinavian forces would have Leen available ;
and yet in what situation does the peace of Paris
leave Sweden ?—what strength has diplomacy given
her in her new position with regard to Russia ?
I will not allude to the brilliant dream of con-
quering Finland, but merely remark on what has
been in the power of the allies—the islands of
Aland. True, the treaty guarantees that this
archipelago shall not be fortified, and that neither
military nor naval arsenals shall be establ;shed
there ; but we who are well acquainted with the
locality cannot but smile at such au illusory specu-
lation, and deeply regret that the neutralisation of
these islands was not insisted upon at the Con-
ferences.

The letter of the treaty may be evaded by esta-
blishing a depot of military stores on the mainland,
reserving Aland and its chain of islands as a sort
of natural bridge to the strait which divides it from
Sweden, and which is often frozen over for weeks
together. Aland itself, the principal island of this
group, which comprises about 60 others, is 30 Eng-
lish wiles long and 24 wide, and the wholo archi-
pelago is divided into eight parishes, with a popu-
lation of 20,000 souls. Recent accounts mention
movements of troops in these isles ; and, as there is
nothing stipulated against their having a strong
garrison, this might easily form the head of an
invading column from Sweaborg to Stockholm.
The treaty of the 21st of November has certainly
guaranteed Sweden against any open or covert act
of Russian aggression ; but suppose some new
European convulsion, when Western Europe has
home difficulties to contend with, what is there to
prevent the Russian fleet of the White Sea from

securing the best harbours in iCT4lva;,-;tudthat of
Cronstalt from taking possession of Gothland, in-
stead of merely asking for it, as in 1834 ?
This is no chimerical fear,. and that the English
Government may not be again 4tlrKifiea by soma

audacious invasion of an unguarded point in an
allied country it may be well here to recapitulate
the resources of our crafty neighbour-

Russia possesses in the White Sea 400 transports,
of about 15,000 tons burden, most of them inannesi
by sailors acquainted with every nook and cranny
of the rocky coast of Finmark, as we;11 as every
shoal in the Fiords. They are so constructed that
they can easily be adapted to convey not only
troops but artillery, and E.,uch a fleet could, carry
10,000 men with heavy guns and stores for a three
months' campaign. Such an expedition might dis-
embark anywhere between the C-alf of Waranger,
at the north-eastern gxtremity of Fnmark, and the
Gulf of Drontheim, on the south-western—that is
to say, along nearly 800 miles of coast, without
meeting a single military post.
Russia already shows symptoms of oinister de-
signs on the islands of Gothland and Bornholm,
as well as the deep bays of Finmark. Scientific
expeditions now, as in 1841, are set on fol3t by the
Russian Government, and military roads t;re being
constructed leading towards the coveted p oints of
Lapland. The Norwegian journal of Cromsoe
complains bitterly of the num her of arm ned boati
which have come this year to Vadso, in the bay of
Waranger, perhaps to lay the foundation of some
future Sebastopol within 200 miles of the British
coasts.

Sweden leaves no means untried t 'lO watch over
and foil the manoeuvres of Russia ; hut, in spite
of her daily increasing prosperity, of I 'ler improved
agriculture, and great sacrifices to n taintain the
army and navy on a suitable footii she cer-
tainly could not resist an invasion .1 rithout the
help of the allies, who, be it rememb, ,red, have
guaranteed for ever the integrity of her territory.
It is therefore as much the interest of the allied
Powers as it is for the advantage of SI veden to
encourage and lend a hand to the Scam linavian
aggrandisement.
As I have said before, the best means of attain-
ing this end, which I verily believe to be Is im-
perative for the security of the British supremacy
on the ocean as for the balance of power in the
north, is to bring about a Scandinavian Conic ,de-
ration of States able to withstand encroachm eat
and to disregard threats. The union of Swed( lap
Denmark, and Norway would still be very inferi 'or
to the ancient kingdom of Sweden, when it col n-
prised Pomerania and the riah provinces of FL O-
land, Esthonia, and Livonia, now the prey of
all-invading Russia ; but it might be sufficient t o
hold its own, without a perpetual recourse to th
guaranteeing Powers.