14 JANUARY 1888, Page 15

REMARKABLE LONGEVITY.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")

SIR,—The longevity of the only seven persons buried in our churchyard in 1887 was so remarkable, that I venture to send you their ages :-86, 71, 82,80. 79, 86, 64, or an average of 78,1. —I am, Sir, &c., Eingwould Rectory, Dover, January 11th. M. A. NismiT.

We have a long letter from Mr. I. S. Leadam upon "Freedom of Bequest," for which, unfortunately, we have not room. It is, in the main, only a repetition of his article in the Contemporary upon which we commented last week ; but he wishes to record that he is not indifferent to the widow's claim to inherit before the children do, and that he is fully sensible of the necessity of safeguarding parental authority. It is of little use to discuss details until some trusted politician has brought the whole subject before Parliament.