12 JANUARY 1901, Page 14

[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.") Sin, — To the number of

" links with the past " mentioned in the interesting article in the Spectator of January 5th I am in a position to add two. My aunt, the late Lady Mary Saurin, daughter of Lord Harrowby, the friend and colleague of Pitt, only passed away in August.1900, having been born in 1801. She perfectly remembered the arrival at her father's house in Grosvenor Square of the post-chaise carrying Colonel H. Percy, with despatches and a French flag from the field of Waterloo. At the same house, still tenanted by a member of the family, the Cato Street Conspiracy, so providentially frustrated, was to have been carried into effect by the murder of the members of the Government at a dinner given by Lord Harrowby. The circumstances connected with this event, as well as many others early in the century, remained quite fresh in her memory almost to the last. The other "link with the past," whose lifetime extended over the whole of the last century, is my dear old friend Lady Carew (gi-andmother of the present Lord Carew), who was born on December 1st, 1798, at Haverfordwest, whither her mother was sent by her husband to take refuge from the Irish Rebellion. Lady Carew, I am happy to say, is still amongst us, infirm indeed in body, but in good health, and in possession of her mental faculties. Her earliest recollection was being held up by her nurse to see the illumina- tions for the Peace of Amiens in 1805.—Thinking that these cases of unusual longevity might have some interest for you, I am. Sir, &c., D. F. FORTESCITE. 9 Hertford Street, Mayfair, W.