18 MAY 1985, Page 23

Foresight

Sir: Your reviewer, Alexander Chancellor, hardly does justice to Baron Reuter (Books, 11 May). He writes, `In April 1863, Reuters brought news to London of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, two days ahead of anybody else.' I am sure Mr Chancellor meant to write 'two years ahead of anybody else', since Lincoln was not to die until 1865. Are there any other records of the Baron's uncanny powers of prognostication?

Hugh Brogan

Department of History, University of Essex, Colchester