LONGEVITY AND CANON KINGSLEY. LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "
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Sta,—I have read with interest in your last issue General Robertson's letter about the patriarchal age of Miss Gray. I am, however, surprised to learn that Sir G. Cornewall Lewis knew of this case, and regarded it as established. As I have stated elsewhere (Fortnightly Review, April, 1869), Sir George told me, only two or three weeks before he died, that a few instances of Scotch centenarians seemed to be made out, but that he regarded 105 (or thereabouts) as the ne plus ultra of human life. Sir George, speaking to me from memory, may have forgotten the exact figures. It is, therefore, more to the point to remark that in 1872, in Fraser's Magazine, an article was written by Professor Owen on longevity, which seemed to accept the conclusions of Mr. Thorns to the effect that, up to that date, no one was proved to have exceeded the age of (I think) 103 and a few months. Would it not be worth General Robertson's while to call Mr. Thorns's attention to the very remarkable case of Miss Gray ?
Perhaps I may be permitted to add that the October number of The Journal of Educaron publishes for the first time an interesting letter of the late Canon Kingsley, expressing views concerning longevity diametrically opposed to those of Sir G. Cornewall Lewis.—I am, Sir, &c., LIONEL A. TOLLEMACHE.
Hotel Victoria, Glion-sur-3fontreux, October 18t.
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