The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1854-01-10 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SWBDEN.—The Diet, through its secret committee is much occupied with the propositions submitted to it for an increase of the military force and the means required for the defence of the country. The King presides over a special committee, which deliberates on the question of neutrality. The Swedish army, in time of war, comprises 85,000 foot, 5,564 horse, 4,416 artillery—in all 94,000 men, to whom muit be added 8,000 militia from Gothland ; the force being ten times greater than what it is in time of peace. King Oscar has imparted to the secret committee of the Diet the treaty concluded with Denmark, for assuring the co-operation of the two countries in maintaining their common independence. Apatea.—The steam-ship Forerunner arrived at Plymouth on Sunday, with mails from the West Coast of Africa. She left Lagos, December 6; Sierra Leone, 20; and Madeira, Jan. 1. She brings 2,000 ounces of gold and two boxes of specie. Admiral Bruce had received a visit from the new King of Lagos, accompanied by several chiefs. Affitirs are still very unsettled there. Jasako was making a resolute resistance. • Liberia was in a flourishing condition. The second master of the Myrmidon had been ,murdered at one of the Biioinga Islands. The Antelope, 3tyrinidon, and Britomart were despatched to demand satisfaction. A large village, thirty miles east of Cape Palmas, had been destroyed by the Penelope, the captain and crew of the Heroine having been murdered there last July. The Mermaid sailed for Liverpool, from Fernando Po, two days before the mail steamer.  Mrmico.—Private letters state that the speedy assumption of monarchical power by Santa Anna is regarded as certain. At the same time, it appears that the step is likely to be welcomed by all classes, the general cry being "No more Congress." Within the past few weeks the issue of a decree for the re-establishment of the order founded by Yturbide during his short rule, and called " The distinguished order of Guadalupe," had been accepted as a distinct step towards the approaching change, anti all the subsequent movements of the government had been in keeping with the idea of a decided extinction of republicanism. Nevertheless, their progress towards the new order of affairs seemed scarcely quick enough for the people, by whom the extent to which the last legislative assembly rendered itself odious from its incapacity and corruption is cited on all sides as a sufficient argument against any continuance of popular institutions. Hence a succession'of pronunciamentos had taken place all over the country, with a view to put off the period fixed for the assembling of a new Congress, and to leave it to the President's pleasure to choose the time when his dictatorial authority shall cease. Some of these demonstrations, moreover, had embraced a demand that he should be declared dictator for life, with power to name his successor, others that he shall be styled Grand Elector, CaptainGeneral, &c., and that he shall be addressed as "Serene Highness." Meanwhile Santa Anna himself was vigilantly using means to strengthen his material power, and had raised the army to 30,000 men, sending, at the same time, a young general to Europe to purchase arms, cannon, and other warlike stores. The chief drawback to the effect created by this display of energy was found in the continuance of the old rumours regarding the gross manner in which the public funds are squandered through disreputable agents. It is also asserted that the multitude of young officers lately appointed are all is.7,norant of their profession and unfit for real service. In the face of these things, however, even the most sober citizens and merchants are evidently pleased at the existing prospect, from the impression that no government, however capricious, prodigal, or despotic, can be so bad as the anarchy from which the country has .emerged. It is likewise observed that almost all the former enemies of Santa Anna are now figuring as his active partizans, and that thus, with the commercial public, the political adventurers, the church, and the masses all on his side, his position is one in which it merely depends on his own will to define its name.