12 MARCH 1954, Page 16

MR. BALFOUR'S POODLE SIR,--In his excellent review of Mr. Balfour's

Poodle Lain Hamilton raises a parenthetical doubt if Morley himself wrote the formula confirming the King's readiness to create new peers or was provided with it. Morley's version is in his Recollections, vol. 11, page 351. After referring to the Opposition's undue trust in the King's 'natural reluctance' to create new peers, he proceeds: " To dispel these illusions . . . was rightly judged impera- tive.. . Next morning accordingly 1 found words, despatched the formula for submission to the King, and received it back with his ' entire approval.'"

and experience needed anyone to provide hi with a set of words, and equally unlikely the a man of his temperament would have agree to use someone else's formula. It would be interesting to know if there is any evidence against Morley's account.—Yours faithfully,

Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, N.

GEORGE FRIER