25 JULY 1998, Page 26

Johnsonisms

Sir: Surely Paul Johnson's 'I hold no partic- ular brief for Ms Hurley: she is a girl one occasionally chats to at parties' (And another thing, 18 July) must be one of the most pretentious throwaway lines ever. As Miss Mitford would have said, 'Do admit.'

Peter Burnham

Estate Farmhouse, Pitney, Langport, Somerset