25 JUNE 1977, Page 18

Sir: It is some time now since I have managed

to read one of Mr Waugh's articles to the end. His article in your issue of 21 May, just received here, however, struck me as reaching a low level even for him.

There is a place for political invective in a journal such as yours, but to be effective it must be well-written, accurate and preferably witty. Bernard Levin, for example, has shown how this can be done. When Mr Waugh employs the language of the guttersnipe in using such expressions as 'their blubbering, shit-faced supporters' to describe his political opponents, he is merely demeaning himself and your journal, without contributing anything to political debate or the readers' entertainment. J M Walpole .

University of Ghana P.O. Box 24, Legon, Accra, Ghana