13 MAY 1905, Page 15

Sin,—(1) A good story is spoiled; so is the French

of "so disc" (Spectator, May 6th, p. 671). At a moment when the Academy was agitated whether "l'un on Ventre" took a singular or a plural, and what was the first person present of alter, a dying Academician said : " Je m'en vais on je m'en vas car run ou rautre se dit on se diseut." I am sure of the story (which, I believe, is told in Guizot's "Corneille "). (2) "The late M. Gaston Boissier" (p. 677). Is he dead ? Is he not still perpetual Secretary of the French Academy Esto petpetuus. I may be wrong, of course.—I am, Sir, &c., 3 Elm Court, Temple, E.C. HERMAN COHEN.