18 AUGUST 1973, Page 5

Thinking French

Sir: In The Spectator of August 4, 1973, Professor Simon Schama writes in his review of J. F. Bernard's biography of Talleyrand: "If, subsequently he had not quite succeeded in dcrasant l'infame he had .." Now I understand that Professor Schama is no stranger to French since he has read Jean Dreux's study of Voltaire, still untranslated into English. Consequently, he should have thought in French and not in English and written: " If, subsequently he had not quite succeeded in ecraser Finftime he had Jean Leclerc 25 Kingswood Road, London SWI9