11 JANUARY 1890, Page 14

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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MR. W. HARCOURT AT DERBY.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—You point to a " curious mistake " made by Sir W. Harcourt at Derby, in referring to coppersmiths instead of silversmiths. Permit me to state that the mistake was not made by Sir William, but by the reporters who supplied the London Press. The word " silversmiths " was used by the speaker, and so reported by the provincial papers, some of which have since commented upon the fact that neither the reporting nor the Scriptural knowledge of the London men was

to that of their humbler country brethren.—I am, Sir, &c.,