31 MARCH 1984, Page 5

We must apologise to a number of clergymen who have

received letters ad- dressing them as 'Dear Rev'. This was a very grave error, and if the Spectator had the resources of the Sunday Times it would publish a three-page investigation of what went wrong. The short explanation is that computers, which address the letters, know nothing of correct form and cannot even be trusted to speak properly to an archdeacon, let alone a vicar. Attempts are now being made to teach them manners.