2 FEBRUARY 1962, Page 13

NAPOLEON BRANDY

SIR,—I am writing an article on Cognac and wondered whether any of your readers can tell me where on earth Napoleon comes into this galley. True, he did spend his last night on French soil on the tiny island of Aix, which is very vaguely in the Cognac district, and the scratch meal, which his chef knocked up for him after the Battle of Marengo, did contain a little brandy from a soldier's hip flask. Otherwise what?

Napoleon was one of the least food and wine conscious men of history, and he only drank an occasional glass of Burgundy. The rapidity at which he ate was phenomenal.

So Why is his name linked with this excellent spirit: it seems about as odd as tying up Bernard Shaw's name with fillet steak?

T. A. LAYTON