The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-22 00:00:00

CANADA.

The accounts received• from Canada by the packet
which has just arrived, are in every respect satisfactory.
The happy effects of what may be fairly termed tlu
Durham policy, adopted by Lord Sydenham, are already
showing themselves, not only in the improved politica!
condition and subsidence of party excitement in both
provinces, but in the still more important and gratify-
ing result of a revival of confidence and prosperity, and
of an active and energetic spirit of local improvement.
In a word, Canada is beginning, to borrow a phrase
from her American neighbours, once more to " go
ahead," and bids fair, if the present judicious system of
administration is continued for a few years, to leave
far behind, in the career of rapidly advancing pros-
perity, all recollections of past disasters and political ex-
citement.

The following facts, which have been communicated
to us by a Correspondent resident in Canada, and inti

-couainted with the situation and resources of
matey
p.-51vinces, will be sufficient to satisfy our
our Ameican
nt of the change which hes
readers (hat the statem,:.
taken place since the commenc,;,ment of the present sys-
tem of Government is not exaggerated
" There is every appearance," our Correspona,:.nt writes,
" of a great and salutary change in the general feeling in
both provinces, but more especially in Upper Canada,
where, at the present time, the greatest prosperity pre-
vaik The tolls of the Welland Canal have increased
during the last season from 12,0001. to 20,0001., with ovet y
prospect of a further advance; and, when once the union
shall have taken place, the credit of the province will be
so much improved as to enable it to complete its public
works. When this shall be done, and when Canada shall
have become the high road for conveying the produce of
the whole country west of Lake Ontario, there will he
little feat of political storms. The people will be too
busy and too pfostierous to lose their time in mere specu-
lative discussions."

- This is remarkable, as showing the spirit in which
the union is looked forward to by the British residents
on the spot, who, from their intelligence, have the best
means of judging of its probable result ; and from their
capital, energy, and enterprise, have the deepest stake
in the success of the experiment. It shows how far
practical men on the spot are from participating in the
gloomy forebodings in which the Tories so liberally in-
dulged.
It is singular enough, also, that the causes pointed
out by our Canadian Correspondent as having been
principally instrumental in bringing about this ex-
traordinary revival of prosperity, are precisely those
which the Tories selected as the especial objects of
their animadversion, and from which they predicted the
most disastrous consequences. With respect to Lord
John Russell's circular on official responsibility, it will
be remembered how the Tory leaders, in their attacks
upon the Canadian policy of Government, dwelt upon it
as an expedient by which a reluctant assent to an union
destructive of their liberties and best interests had been
extorted from the loyal population of the Upper Pro-
vince.

Our Correspondent explains very clearly how this cir-
cular, without infringing in the slightest degree upon
the letter or spirit of the constitution, has, by strength-
ening the hands of the Government, and introducing
unity of action among its supporters and official organs,
placed in the Governor's hands the means which would
otherwise have been wanting, of taking a decided lead,
impressing a new tone upon public opinion, and rally-
ing all parties around the common banner of practical
and progressive improvement. •
Even among the French Canadians of the Lower
Province, symptoms of a favourable change are not
wanting. The ordinance prohibiting the destruction of
the public roads by the use of " Cahots," or winter
sledges, which in former days would have been almost
sufficient to provoke an insurrection, has, contrary to
expectation, met with general approbation. Great de-
sire is manifested in different local districts for turnpike
roads, which, until last spring, were almost unknown ;
and, contrary to all previous experience, considerable
sympathy is beginning to manifest itself on the part of
the French settlers with the undertakers of public works.
The Municipal and Registration Bills which have
now passed through all but the last stage, are confidently
expected to contribute much to the rapid march of im-
provement in both provinces. In Lower Canada, espe-
cially, the Registration Bill will mark the commence-
ment of a new era, in which the free transfer of
land, which is above all things essential for the
prosperity of a new colony, will no longer be
shackled by the impediments thrown in its way
by obsolete feudal principles and the cumbrous
technicalities of a set of interested notaries,
The Municipal Bill is also looked forward to as one of
the greatest practical boons ever bestowed upon the
country, and as especially valuable at a time when the
spirit of local improvement is likely to become more
active than ever. The patronage and powers which
this Bill proposes to place in the hands of local bodies
interested in the prosperity of their respective dis-
tricts, were formerly abused in the most glaring man-
ner by the Assembly for political purposes. It was
no uncommon practice when a county returned a mem-
ber opposed to the majority of the House, to starve it
into submission by withholding all grants for roads,
bridges, schools, and other local purposes. This fertile
source of abuse and of party excitement will, there is
every reason to hope, be completely removed by the
measure which is now on the eve of passing ; and the
municipal councils will at the same time serve as excel-
lent schools for training the people to use legislative
powers.

With these prospects before it, there seems little to
fear for the future prosperity of Canada, unless, indeed,
some unlooked-for chance should restore to power in
the mother-country a party, so long distinguished for its
pestilent government of the Canadas.—Morning Cliro-
nick .