26 SEPTEMBER 1992, Page 30

Learning the hard way

Sir: The economic mess into which our politicians have allowed us to fall, as well as those same politicians' nightly tergiversa- tions in front of the television cameras, their steadfast refusal to admit to any errors of judgment, their transparent attempts to lay the blame anywhere but on themselves, have all served to remind me of the words of Lord Chesterfield in his Let- ters to his Son: 'You will be surprised when you come to learn with what little intelli- gence the world is governed.'

E.J. Lacey

21 Walpole Road, Surbiton, Surrey