Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-25
AFFAIRS IN SWEDEN.

From the SrensEa 7daing" Sacsdish Official paper Fe6 Il
Q "At meeting Of the Secret Committee Of the Die
at the Palace Friday evening his Majesty is under
stood to have authorized the committee to communicat
; privately to members of the Diet
u. That the replies to the Neutrality Declaration
the United Kingdoms which have yet arrived from tn
Powers not Immediately taking part in the dispute,
especially those from Prussia and Austria are in
respect of a friendly character.
"2. That the manner in which England and Franc
have received and replied to the Declaration is also highly
satisfactory.
"3. That while Russia recognised the neutrality dc
clared by Denmark which is precisely the same as
the Imperial Government nevertheless make dficultie
against recognising neutrality and that therefore
the diplomatic negotiations, Of nature permitting
their present publication continued with the Russian
Government for the purpose of maintaining his Majesty
decree.
"a. That it is his Majesty's intention to demand sup
plies from the Diet to carry out measures connected
with the declaration concerted with the Danish Govern
| ment" ......
The "Aftonblad," usually the organ of the oppo
sition, has the following in connexion with the
foregoing ..".
eff our Eastern ghbor really wishes to drive Sweden
to take active part in the which threatens to break
out among the great Powers there is not the slightest
doubt the the Swedish nation have take
is there any doubt of the readiness of the people make
every sacrifice accordingly"
Stockholm papers of the following afternoon
february 15) announce, further, that the Govern
ment had on that day demanded an extra grant for
military preparations, which, together with appro-
priatons already voted and others about to be acted
upon in the Diet will amount to ten millions banco,
(S4000,000) This sum is nearly equal to four
fths of the ordinary budget voted in money by the
Swedish Diet, and is evidence of the activity and
resolution of the Government The budget pro-
posed to the Diet this year is in money S. I85600
In this sum- however, is not comprised the value of
such taxes as are payable IN Ajad, and which, if
committed, would increase the budget somewhat
more than onehalf Our readers may not all be aware
of the patrarcha system still prevailing in parts of
the north of Europe A Swede may pay his taxes
in money, corn, butter, days labor, hay, pork,
salmon, or IRON ..- .. ....~.
In our country the sums for defence, which in
Sweden are considered sufficient in a crisis like the
present, will appear exceedingly small but when
We reflect that the cheapncss and economy of mill
'aPPiiSs 1lo III ou1 plppOttloi w
the pay oftroops and that the daily pay of Swedish
foot soldier of the line is no moro than one and
thrce-quarter cents, the Swedish preparations will
look more formidable.
From the newspapers there would seem to be no
doubt of the Diet promptly meeting the wishes of
the King; and the Norwegian Legislature, also then
in session, invited in like manner to contribute
IN their proper proportion. 1t is estimated that
hundred thousand Swedes and Norwegianss can be
got into the field in six weeks. The dockyards are
spoken Of also scenes of busy preparation. Early
III the spring it is said six of the ten line-ofbatte
ships, as many frigates and corvettes and large
number of gun-boats and briggs will be ready for
sea. In the island Of Cortland, the most important
spot in the Baltic beligerents, there are ten thou
sand men under arms, and the latest papers speak
Of two additional regiments being under orders for
the same place. Some excitement appeared to exist
in Stockholm in consequence of the Russian force in
Finland having been augmented to fifty thousand
men, while twelve thousand are collected in the
island of GLAND, Russian outpost, but twenty-si8
miles from the Swedish shore, and not more than
sixty from Stockholm itself We should Judge
however, from the tone of the Swedish papers, that
an admirable unanimity prevails; and that, in de-
fence of their neutrality as of their Independence
both Government and people will do their duty,
L