27 NOVEMBER 1976, Page 19

Dr Gully

Sir: A man of so many preoccupations as Lord Hai!sham may be forgiven when his memory deceives him regarding a couple of small facts. In his review of Mr Speaker, Sir (near top of p. 23 in your issue of 13 November) he mentions Dr Gully as 'the famous surgeon who discovered the qualities of Malvern water and was afterwards tried for murder.'

Dr Gully was of course a homeopathist, not a surgeon. Although he, as well as at least two other persons, had to face a very bad quarter-hour or more of cross-examination at the second inquest on Charles Bravo in 1876, the jury found insufficient evidence to justify any person being put on trial.

E. W. Hodge Elterwater Hall, Near Ambleside, Westmorland