13 JANUARY 1872, Page 13

BARONETS' WIVES.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]

SIR,—In the excellent article on "The Vitality of Titles" in your paper of last week, it is stated that "Baronets' wives have no right to the title of ' Lady.' " This can scarcely be correct, as in the original Patents of James I. (one of which is given at length in Selden's "Titles of Honour") the title of "Lady" is expressly given to the wives of Baronets, and the same clause occurs in all subse- [Our correspondent is, we believe, right. "Dame" is the legal appellation of a Knight's wife. We made the mistake under the impression that the positive statement in Chambers's " Encyclo- pmdia" was quoted from Sir B. Burke.—ED. Spectator.]