1 DECEMBER 1990, Page 32

Texan Mavericks

Sir: Anthony Howard erred on a small point in his discussion of Texas politics (Books, 27 October). Liberal Congress- man Maury Maverick did not lend his own surname to denote an independent-minded person roving about, but rather an ances- tor lent his.

According to my edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary (Oxford, 1975) a Texas engineer named S.A. Maverick, c.1850. owned unbranded cattle.

Maury Maverick is sometimes credited, at least in the US, with introducing the word 'gobbledegook', referring to meaning less jargon in government publications.

R. M. Raukz

210 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA