The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-23 00:00:00

CA NA DIAN INDEPEADENCE.

The promoters of the scheme of Canadian independence
have been making a grand display at Waterloo, the
county town of Shefford, which is situated near
Montreal. The principal speakers were Mr. Hunting-
ton, the member for Shefford, and Mr. Young, a
local gentleman, who is believed by his friends to
be a great commercial authority. These orators did not
succechl in obtaining a very largo audience, though the
pound on which they principally based their arguments
was a very practical one, the advantages which
would accrue to Canada from the free admission
of her produce into the United States. It is by no
means certain, however, that the States would make such a
concession in the event of Canada asserting her indepen-
dence, and Mr. Horace Greeley's suggestion of a Zollvorein
system does not solve the difficulty at all. The champions
of independence were not left unanswered, for a Mr. Chamber-
lain, who was present, made a speech disposing of their argu-
ments conclusively. It is not thought by correspondents in
the colony that the Independent party will attain E 0 much
success now as they did twenty years ago, when the colo-
nists, who are Protectionists, viewed the adoption of free
trade by the mother country with great alarm, though they
are now anxious to see their powerful neighbour following
ti:e example of England.

John Kitts, 107 years of age, has presented to the
Baltimore City Council a claim for services rendered the
city in the wars of the Revolution and of 1812.

A LEGEND OF DRESDEN.—A high wind, it is said,
blows every morning on the bridge at Dresden, and the
people account for it by a curious legend. Since the time
of Charlemagne there had been a wooden bridge across the
Elbe, but every winter it was carried away by the floods.
The town authorities sought the aid of a famous sorcerer,
who in his turn consulted the devil. The latter consented
to build a strong bridge on condition that he should take
the souls of all who committed mortal sin in crossing
over it. Soon Dresden possessed an magnificent bridge,
and at early dawn the devil appeared and began to
blow in such a manner that the hats and caps of the pas-
sengers were carried into the water. Some laughed, but
others took to swearing like so many pagans, and Satan
took note of them for hereafter. By mid-day, having
made a good collection, he left off blowing and went home
to dinner. From that time till now the devil stands in
the pass every morning, and blows in the same way, so that
the Bridge of Dresden is always under the influence of a
high wind from dawn till noon.
A GOOD FISH STORY.--FREAKS OF AN UNRULY
WHALE.—As the schooner L. M. Chase, of Chatham, NI as
off Minor's Ledge, a loud, unnatural noise was heard by
the fishermen on board, a sound much resembling the
bellowing of a bull, which somewhat startled the men,with
the darkness of night around them ; but in a few moments
this fright was greatly increased on seeing their vessel, of
eighty tons burden, suddenly lifted up in the water
some six feet and as suddenly let fall again, the
counter of the vessel throwing up large quantities of
water in every direction. The consternation of the crew
at this display of power may be conjectured; they at once
concluded they were in the convulsions of an earthquake.
The bellowing noise first heard was continued a short time
when it subsided. The vessel, however, was found to have
sustained no damage, and, after further consideration it
was ascertained that the strange commotion was caused by
a finback whale, which at certain times are known to act
in the manner above described. Some of these whalcv
have recently been seen in the bay.

The half-yearly general meeting of the Demerara
Railway Company was held on Friday. The chairman, iu
moving the adoption of the report, said that, although their
receipts had not increased, their expenses had boon dimi-
nished, and that without affecting the efficiency of the
&lr. Hopkinson seconded the adoption of the report, which
was adopted, and a dividend at the rate of per cent. for
the half-year was also agreed to.
A sad story is reported from \Vest Bromwich. The
other night a girl named Iftry Ann Bentley took her
sweetheart, John Hughes, his supper ; he was employed as
a fireman at the works of the Groat Bridge Iron and Steel
Company. As the two were talking together the hair
under the care of the young man exploded, spreading havoc
on all sides. The girl was killed on the spot, and her lover
was so frightfnlly crushed by the material that he
Bea at the volut of death,