Sir: I was somewhat surprised to see that a letter
from Mr Berkeley had been entitled " Humphry Bash" (June 24). My surprise was effectively disposed on reading it. Nothing could have more thoroughly impaired his reputation than his own words.
The first paragraph displays his
ignorance of English; ' tendentious ' means having a vigorous and unequivocal tendency, a label which I bear with pride, and to which Mr. Berkeley can hardly lay claim. 'Mendacious' means decitful; it does not mean differing from Mr Berkeley as to the significance of events and words.
In the context of the time, the quotation from his article doubtless appeared less like a crude attempt to have it both ways than it does in retrospect.
The final paragraph consists wholly of a puerile jibe, which is disingenuous rather then mendacious, since it can have deceived nobody.
This correspondence, combining the suspense of Flash Gordon with the moral atmosphere of Tom and Jerry, has been gorgeously evocative of my childhood, and since neither Mr Berkeley not myself will willingly forgo the last word it could last indefinitely. I will regret deepy the occasion when you indicate that it must close, but qui potest capere capiat. and doubtless some fresh outrage will attract my notice, so that I will crave your indulgence once more.
Meanwhile, I wonder what the various constituencies to which Mr Berkeley has applied can make of a prospective candidate who
brawls ineptly in your columns with an inconnu?
C. N. Gilmore
197 Woodstock Road, Oxford
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