Racing certainties
Sir: It is a truth universally acknowledged that pundits exist to be reviled save only when they manage to get something com- pletely and utterly wrong; only then, like the splendid Lord Rees-Mogg, do they earn public esteem.
I am researching a book of 'regrettable
quotes'; a collection of a cathedra pro- nouncements which the cruel caprice of History has — often remarkably swiftly shown to be as wide as possible of the mark. Mogg's assertion that the Lockerbie disaster was caused by metal fatigue is sure to be included: I should like to invite your readers to add their contributions to the precious hoard.
Contributions may be from any age and sphere of public activity, always provided that the subject matter is not too alien to the intelligent general reader: the footnote must not dominate the text. Provenance, for example in the form of date and title of publication, should be given wherever pos- sible; private utterances do not count. All contributors will, on publication, be grate- fully acknowledged. Malice should on no account be reckoned a bar to participation in this public-spirited exercise.
David Milsted
Keston, Newbury,
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