15 JANUARY 1972, Page 19

Scotch mist

Sir: I was saddened to read of your experiences in Scotland although not entirely surprised. Had you been fortunate enough to be a Scot you would have known that the adjective " Scotch " is used by foreigners to describe whisky and by the manufacturers of some peculiar butter in Doncaster. There are also some other ill-informed uses which I prefer to forget. The creation of " Scotch dialectic" by you of all people on January 1 of all days is an intellectual disaster which augurs ill for your readers in 1972. Nevertheless I hope you had a Happy Hogmanay and weren't choked by your "Scotch rarebit." Ian Harvey 48a Lonsdale Road, London W11