18 SEPTEMBER 1971, Page 22

Sir: Your publication seems to me to be outstandingly honest,

intelligent, and independent (more so than some which more ostentatiously hawk their social consciences but give little evidence of caring for anything but themselves). You do not appear to pull your forelock before political party, proprietor, or readership.

An essential part of that independence (it seems to me) is the willingness to publish the opinions of somebody like Tony Palmer. I may not always agree with him, any more than I agree with the rest of the paper, but it is greatly to your credit that he appears.

I hope you will stand up to those readers whose idea of freedom of the press is a freedom limited by their own tastes and prejudices, and continue to publish a column of nonconformity, dissent, sedition, indecency, disrespect, and downright bad taste, even if it be entitled 'Notes from the Dustbin' and contributed by Demon Richard Neville himself.

We don't want to go back to the old Spectator, with no 'Underground,' no genuine saunas, ,no genuine masseuses, and no genuine business opportunities. Don Peters 69 Renters Avenue, Hendon NW4