16 JANUARY 1909, Page 3

Our attention has been called to the fact that the

Academy of Saturday, January 9th, p. 652, contained the following statement :—" Mr. Bottomley is either a rich man or he is not. If he is rich he should pay his own way. If he is not, what becomes of the prospectus of John Bull, for particulars of which please see the Saturday Review and the Spectator of a few weeks ago." The above statement is untrue as regards the Spectator. The Spectator did not contain the prospectus of John Bull or any advertisement of that paper. Such advertisement was offered to the Spectator, but was refused,