The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-03 00:00:00

IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS IN

CANADA—A NATIONAL CONVENTION.
(From the New York Herald, April 16.)
In our Montreal correspondence, published elsewhere
in this sheet, will be found a very interesting report of
the preliminary proceedings which have been held in
Montreal, for the organization of a national convention
of the two Canadas, to take into consideration the pre-
sent condition of those colonies, and the propriety and
necessity of changing their existing form of government,
either into an independent federal union of all British
America, or ultimate annexation to the United States.
This important movement may be considered the first
peaceful and constitutional step towards a partial, and,
ultimately, an entire revolution of that cluster of colo-
nies, in their existing relations towards Great Britain.
This step acquires the deeper importance from the very
calm, temperate, and legal shape it begins to assume.
We cannot forget, or overlAs, in this connexion, that
the first signs of the Americ"an qvolution of 1776, which
established this great republic on this continent and
sewed the: seeds of change in Europe, were of the same
nature as those now becoming manifest in Canada. It
was from a convention of the old colonies, held long
before 1776, that the foundation was laid of all the sub-
sequent fortunate changes and happy revolutions. The
Game process has begun in Canada. The rebellion of
Lyon Mackenzie, in 1837, was only an ugly, ill-tempered
inconsistent, impotent row of loafers and vagabonds.
The present movements acid temper in Canada appear to
be under the control of mind and intellect.
On this subject, several of the Canadian partisan jour-
nals have taken us to task—accusing us of all sorts of
ignorance, in anticipating any such movements or popu-
lar discussions in Canada, looking to ultimate separation
from England. Ever since the farce on the frontier, of
1837, we have been rather incredulous on such a point ;
but recently the signs and indications in Canada, in
every way—in Parliament, in the press, and at public
meetings, have been so numerous, that we begin to con-
sider the whole matter open for discussion and delibera-
tion. Much has to be done to bring about such a change;
and the Canadians themselves have to do it. O❑ this
side of the frontier we are mere spectators—not even
sympathisers. If they don't effect the great revolution
by reason, argument, and the consent of Great Britain,
ail hi due time, they will wait long till they get aid from
the United States. But destiny is destiny. A colonial
convention in 1660, or thereabouts, led to the American
revolution of 1776. When Canada shall have gone
through the like process, perhaps we may be ready to
receive her, at the north—and Cuba, in the south. Who
knows ?

CALIFORNIA.
(From the Pennsylvania Inquirer.)
The .2Vational Intelligences is indebted to General Jos-
Kip for a long and able letter from Captain Folsom,
dated San Francisco, January 23, 1849. We extract a
few of the more important passages:—
" The only tribunals which have attempted any juris-
diction in cases of murder, &c., some months past, are
those formed for the occasion as i t arises, and offenders
generally escape, or, if they are taken, it is amidst the
frenzy of popular excitement, where the guilty and
innocent may be victims together. Several executions
have taken place is pursuance of this kind of law, and
it is supposed that several others will be anounced by the
next mail from the south. In the meantime outrages are
occurring in all quarters of the country, and the public
astonishment has scarcely subsided after one murder has
transpired before another is committed more horrible
than the firs*. Housebreaking, thefts, and robberies are
of almost hourly occurrence. This state of things must
continue until we have the firm and steady rein of go-
vernment extended over the territory by Congress. I
have no expectations that a provisional government
(should it go into operation, and this cannot be the case
In less than a year from this time) would be found ade-
quate to the public wants.
" A great stagnation in business has occurred since
winter set in, and prices of goods have fallen in conse-
quence. Vessels arriving at this time find an inconsi-
derable market, and it will continue bad until there is a
tendency towards the mines, in March, when new sup-
plies must go in that direction. Within the last ten days
six or eight vessels have arrived from Mexico and the
west coast of South America, and we hear of more than
forty which are likely to follow them from Chili and
Peru with about 3,000 emigrants. Every vessel which
leaves takes away a rich freight of gold, and there are
still very large amounts of it in the country. lam sa-
tisfied that more than 3,000,000 dolls. worth of gold has
been taken from the mines up to this time, and that
2,000,000 dolls. have been taken away from the country,
mostly to foreign countries, for a market. I have no
doubt that 1,500,000 dolls, worth will have been shipped
from this port alone.
" These facts ought to convince the most incredu-
lous that the Government needs a mint at this place to
coin the gold produced by the mines, thereby protect-
ing its own interests and those of American citizens re-
siding in this territory. We hear officially from Chili
that a very large amount of spurious coin is about to be
shipped from Peru and Bolivia, to be put into circula-
tion on the coast in exchange for gold, and through the
Custom-houses."
" Where families are coming with the intention of
remaining in the country, I believe the voyage round
Cape Horn is preferable in all respects to a journey
across the mountains. It is cheaper, safer, and more
comfortable, and quite as expeditious, generally speak-
ing, as that over the mountains; and fur emigrants
leaving the Eastern and Middle States, far preferable to
any route, except that across the Isthmus at Panama by
the new line of steamers."
The trade of the country is rapidly increasing, in con-
sequence of the mines and the great influx of population.
For several months past the average amount of duties
collected at this port, exclusive of the expenses of the
Custom-house, has been rising 30,000 dollars, and it is
thought that it will exceed 60,000 dollars the present
month. It will be safe, I think, to put the revenue of
California, for the current year, at 1,000,000
dolls., and four-fifths of this will be collected at this
port. The amount paid is becoming a subject of com-
ment, and the fact that a population paying such a tax
has no Government and no representation, is exciting
very general dissatisfaction. Should Congress again
adjourn without any action in relation to this territory,
it will create still more violent comment, and might
lead to some measures on the part of the people of the
country which would bring lasting disgrace upon our flag.
All the trade of the coast is fast concentrating in this
bay. Nearly all the goods consumed in the lower part of
this territory are sent from this port, and as soon as
coasters can be got for the business, foreign vessels will
not visit those ports at all. The introduction of steamers
on the coast will give additional importance to this har-
bour, and it is most likely that much of the business of
Oregon will be done here also.

ARREST, TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF THE
SAN MIGUEL MURDERERS.
By the military courier from Monterey, who arrived
here on the 22d inst., we have received the following
particulars of the condign punishment of the perpetrators
of the barbarous murders at San Miguel:—
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, JAN. 18.—The mail rider
south, named Pearson, returned last evening from Dana's.
He waited there three days for the mail frem Los An-
geles, but it did not come, so he returned with no written
mail, but considerable gossip, amounting to this:—
Lieutenant Ord, with his party, together,with some ran-
cheros, who were siding him in his pursuit of the famous
San Miguel murderers, came upon the fugitives this side
of Santa Barbara, where the road lays upo❑ the sea
beach. They resisted their arrest, and in the affray one
of the murderers was killed, three captured, and one
took to ECO, swimming beyond the range of fire-arms.
Ile was repeatedly fired at, end at last, upon a signal
being made to him, he turned to swim for shore, but was
drowned before reaching it. His body was w,,lshed in
by the surf, and was found wounded in two places. The
three men captured were conducted to Santa Barbara,
tried and shot. Thus the five are disposed or. Ono of
the men was named L 3 nch, formerly a corporal in com-
pany G, of the volunteers; the other, his companion, and
three sailors, were deserters from the Warren. The two
former are supposed to have committed a murder on the
Stanislaus las,. November. A Californian of the pur-
suing party was killed.

---
DOVER, MAY 2.—Wind Ist, Maria, Tlen-
con, St. Thomas, for llamburgb, having been warned off
the Elbe by the Danish cruisers.
SOUTHAMPTON, Mt 2.—Sld. Clyde, steamer, West

TIIE LATE EXTRAORDINARY
ESCAPE TIM M. NEWG A E.
On Saturday, at the meetieK Counnittee
Aldermen in the inner room of the new Council
Chamber, for the transaction of the business con-
nected with the several prison gaols and the police,
Mr. Corr, the governor of Nettgate, laid before
the committee a lengthened report in connexion with
the recent escape of the convict Strudwick, who made
his escape from Newgate on Monday last, some par-
ticulars of which we gave in our paper a few der
ago. Strudwick, who is in his 25th year, is known
to the gaol authorities and the police as the first',
burglar of the day. What were obstacles to others,
to him presented not the slightest difficulties. His
daring and skill were commensurate to his success,
for he was often in the habit of tossing, and
playing at skittles, and losing, in the course of an
afternoon, from fifty pounds to one hundred pounds,
the whole of which was obtained by robbery. When
apprehended, IA hich was for burglary at Pimlico, a
person of the name of Jackson was taken with hica4
and, when arraigned, the latter pleaded " guilty,
declaring that Strudwick was innocent. This decla•
ration, which had an ulterior object in view, was dis-
regarded, and Strudwick was tried, found guilty,
and sentenced to be transported for ten years. Nothing
further transpired relative to him until Monday after-
noon, when he was directed, with another convict,
to whitewash one of the wards, and, in the opinion of
the authorities, there is no doubt the latter assisted
Strudwick to reach the skylight, and thus gain the
roof. According to the regulations of Newgate,
the convicts wear their own clothes, and on the
afternoon in question a pair of canvass trousers and $
smock-frock, having the word " Newgate" on there,
were given to him to wear while he was engaged in
whitewashing. These he disencumbered himself of
on the roof of one of the houses ; and at the time b$
reached the roof of the house of Mr. William Mac-
donald, the landlord of No. 7, he had only his waist..
coat on, and his shirt sleeves tucked up. It may
here be observed that the back part of Mr. Mac-
donald's house is a story lower than the front, and
the former being leads, a door opens to the landing,
and which was kept open. On the afternoon in
question, Mr. Macdonald (who was standing in the
bar waiting for a Mr. Sewell, his surgeon, who came
and dressed his right shoulder, which he had dislocated
about three weeks since in a steeple chase), hearing
small terrier bark, went to the stairs, and met the con-
vict on the stairs, bleeding from two wounds, one in
the thick part of the arm, the other above the wrist,
the shirt sleeve still up. On leaving the house it
appeared he ran down Warwick-lane into Amen'
corner, and through Stationer's-hall-court, where all
trace of the convict was lost, within five minutes
after he had passed through Mr. Macdonald's house.
Mr. Sewell came, when he was told, that if he had
arrived earlier, he would have had a new patient,
on which Mr. Sewell said, " Surely there has not
been an escape from Newgate." Mr. Macdonald replica
that was impossible. In half an hour afterwards two
of the turnkeys, who had gone through one of the
adjoining houses, came down stairs, they having
traced the track of the escaped convict, when the
whole matter was explained. Since then the course
of the convict has been traced, and it appears that
he threaded the narrow parapet at the back of the
prison, but as a chasm of several feet
presented itself between that portion of the
gaol and the houses he partly altered his
course and came round to the front, at the corner of
Newgate-street, where, between the house in which
the two head turnkeys live and the prison, an inclined
wall, the upper part hanging over, and still further
protected by a chevaux de frieze, presents itself; by
an extraordinary muscular exertion, the convict
caught hold of some of the spikes, and actually
balanced himself on them, and swung over, and it was
here he received the injuries. He then placed one of
his feet in the gutter, and fell about twelve feet. Had
he missed his footing he would have been precipitated
either into the yard of the gaol or into the street.
Although in danger of certain death, he made the
attempt, and succeeded. Not the slightest informa-
tion has been obtained as to his hiding-place. The
court, after being informed of all the facts of an es-
cape unparalleled in the history of the gaol, acquitted
the turnkeys of all blame.

BANK OF FRAN CE.
The following is a return of the situation of the Bank
of France up to April 26: