17 DECEMBER 1954, Page 18

SHALL AND WILL

SIR,—It is good to find Mr. John Betjeman defending the fine old 'buildings of England, but sad to find him among the demolishers of its language. Has he noticed the decline of ' shall ' ?

For instance, about Staunton Harold he writes;

' The demolishers paid £12,000 for the house and I should think they will get their money back on the fittings alone, but we WILL never have back one of the most gracious buildings in England,'

Alas ! He is in the general stream and in distinguished company. Soon ' shall ' and ' should ' will be no more.—Yours faithfully, Rue Du Bac, Rouen

LAURENCE E. GREEN