15 AUGUST 1998, Page 26

No relation Sir: I read the article by Frank Johnson

(Shared opinion, 25 July) suggesting a con- nection between Peter Mandelson, Jon Mendelsohn and Felix Mendelssohn.

As a member of the illustrious Mendelssohn family — I am a direct descen- dant of the great Moses Mendelssohn, who

LETTERS

was considered to be even greater in his field than Felix, and a great-great-great- great niece of Felix — I was more than a little concerned and agitated at the suggest- ed link/connection between the three fami- lies. Perhaps Mr Johnson would care to explain how he reached this idea. Taking the hypothesis of all three names having the 'same etymological and linguistic origin . . . ' the linking of families is unlimited.

Philippa Cashell (born Mendelssohn)

Jasmine Cottage, The Square, Harrowbarrow, Callington, Cornwall