The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-30 00:00:00

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.

The Danish Minister of the Marine Department
has published a report of the action between the
steamer Geyser and the Holstein gun-boats on the
Mb, off the western coast of Schleswig :—" The
steamer Geyser, Captain Wulff, which was stationed
at the mouth of the Hewer to cut off the retreat of
the insurgent gun-boats to the south, observed at ten
o'clock on the morning of the 17:11 the steamer Kiel,
with three gun-boats in tow, steering towards the
south. The Geyser went northwards to meet them,
and at about eleven o'clock opened its fire on the
enemy's vessels from a distance of 1,000 yards, which
was immediately returned. The Geyser wore round
and followed the enemy, who kept on their
course to the south, under a- sharp can-
nonade on both sides. After three-quarters
of an hour's fighting the largest gun on board
the Geyser was rendered unserviceable by a
shot, and another gun, an 18-pounder, was dis-
mounted. The Geyser, therefore, did not continue
the pursuit, but turned broadside to the enemy, and
kept up a fire on him as long as he was within range.
At this time the smoke of another steamer, supposed
to be the Vildanden, with Danish gun-boats in tow,
was perceived to the north, and Captain Wulff, re-
solved to cease the attack on an enemy in greater
force, and steered towards our gun-beats, to try if
possible to take them in tow, and come up with the
enemy again before evening. But the current and
the stream kept both the steamer and the gun-boats
beck, so that it became too late to follow the enemy,
who in the meantime had gained a considerable dis-
tance in advance ; our gun-boats, therefore, were
prevented any part in the action. The
Ginjured but that a few days
will
damages. Of the crew ten
li,ylsufficeeris
not fr
to u
repair
s o e
p takingair amuchl
men were wounded, of whom one afterwards died.
It is believed that the enemy's vessels must have suf.,
fered severely, as the cannonade was within a short
range."
The Independance of Brussels has the following
from Hainburgh, dated the 22c1:—" For some days
the negotiations bets een Denmark on the one hand,
and the Grand Duke d'Oldenburgh and the Great
Powers of Europe on the other, to definitively regu-
late the question of the succession to the throne of
Denmark, leave been going on actively. If, as
everything indicates, the present King should per-
sist in his design of resigning, and his old uncle,
Prince Ferdinand, having announced the same in-
tentions, it is scarcely doubtful that the crown
will devolve to the dynasty of the Grand Duke of
Oldenburg. The chances of Prince Emilius of Hesse,
son-in-law of the Emperor Nicholas, to ascend the
throne of Denmark appear at present definitively set
aside; but, in the eventuality of the present Grand
Duke of Oldenburg being called to occupy the
throne, it is probable that Prince Peter of Olden-
burg, now a general in the service of Russia, and one
cf the favourites of the Emperor, will come as Regent
to rule over that grand duchy. Hostilities in
Schleswig have for some days been confined to
partial combats at sea between some gun-boats of
Holstein and some light vessels of Denmark.
These encounters have had for result the occu-
pation of the island of Foehr by the troops of this
latter power. The Gefion frigate, occupied by a
Prussian detachment, and stationed in the port of
Eckernforde, suffered much in the combats of the
12th. She received several broadsides from the
Danish vessels, which were firing on the town to
drive out the Holsteiners. A shell having burst
near the powder-magazine, the vessel narrowly es-
caped being blown up. It appears evident that on
the attack the Danish vessels made great efforts to
burn this fine frigate rather than leave it in the pos-
session of the Germans. It is now known that Col.
Latour-du-Pin, whom the journals have several
times killed, commands the third division of the
Danish army, having his head-quarters at Friedrick-
stadt, near Ostenfeldt.