LONGEVITY. 



The library of the Institute of Science contains many rare 

 and old books. Among these are a few odd copies of " Poor 

 Richard's Almanack." In one of these for the year 1751 

 there is a note concerning long lived persons which may be of 

 interest. The note refers to an event which happened 40 

 years before the publication of the "Almanack," and for 

 many reasons it is probable the figures are incorrect. It is 

 interesting, however, to know what the people of those times 

 believed they could do in the matter of long life : — 



On the 6th of this month (December), 171 1, died in Eng- 

 land, Mrs. Jane Schrimshaw, aged 127 3'ears. But England 

 boasts some much longer livers. James Sands, of Horburn, 

 in the County of Stafford, near Birmingham, lived 140 3'ears, 

 and his wife 120, in a perfect state of health till the day of 

 their deaths. He outlived five leases of 21 3'ears each, all 

 made after his marriage. Thomas Parr, married his first wife 

 at 80 years of age, by whom he had two children ; his second 

 wife after he was 120 years old, by whom he had one child, 

 and lived till he was something above 150. Henry Jenkins, 

 of the Parish of Bolton, in Yorkshire, died the 8th of this 

 same month, 1670, aged 169 years. In these American parts 

 we have no such very old men ; not that the climate is 

 utihealthy, but because the present inhabitants were not born 

 soon enough. 



