22 FEBRUARY 1913, Page 17

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

SIR,—As Mr. McHale has charged me with refraining from publishing in my book, " Dawn in Darkest Africa," a certain phrase from a Government despatch, may I trespass further on your space to point out that in the section to which Mr. McHale refers I was dealing only with what the slaves themselves said. Obviously, therefore, Mr. Hay's comment was irrelevant. I do not feel called upon to deal with the offensive passages in Mr. McHale's letter, beyond reminding him that mud-throwing is usually the occupation of persona incapable of taking part in reasonable controversy.—I am,