7 NOVEMBER 1981, Page 34

Sir: To shed further light on the origins of the

tune' Lilliburlero', Lord Macaulay in his Vol. 2 of The History of England refers in.a footnote thus: 'The song of Lilliburlero among the State Poems. In Percy's Relics the first part will be found, but not the second part, which was added after William's landing. In the Examiner and in several pamphlets of 1712 Wharton is mentioned as the author.'

In the main text of the book MacaulaY states that the song was to remind Irishmen of the Popish designs of the agent of James II — Tyrconnell.

R. T. Rushton The Old Orchard, Leeds Road, Otley, Yorkshire