23 MAY 1998, Page 28

Ironic lesson

Sir: In your article 'The Archbishop calls on Max' (16 May), you report that the Arch- bishop of Canterbury met with Mr Max Clifford. This is incorrect. We were sur- prised that no attempt was made to contact Lambeth Palace to check this fact. The Archbishop of Canterbury has not met Mr Clifford and has not asked him for advice. Andrew Purkis

Archbishop of Canterbury's Secretary for Public Affairs, Lambeth Palace, London SE1

The Editor writes: All of which should make Miss Wyatt, Mr Clifford and myself finally learn that lesson of life which is so often ignored, and probably will be ignored again by all three of us before long: never use irony.