18 APRIL 1952, Page 4

It has been pointed out to me by a number

of solicitous and well-intentioned mentors that there was a reference in this column last week to the equipment of horses in the royal carriages with bearing-reigns. Now I believe myself incapable of writing bearing-reigns, and I can produce my original manu- script as evidence that I did not in fact write bearing-reigns. Yet at some point the intrusive consonant insinuated itself. At what point I decline to indicate. No censoriousness here. JANUS