3 OCTOBER 1998, Page 36

Sir: The assertion in Mr Alan Ford's letter (26 September)

that 'England has given more to Western civilisation in the arts, lit- erature, poetry, the sciences et al. than any other country' prompts one or two queries. Does he mean 'the arts' to include music or painting? Does he regard 'poetry' as somehow distinct from 'literature'? And what sort of thing is covered by his et al.? Michael Cullis

Peel House, Buntingford, Hertfordshire