Sir,—" Parent's " letter raises an Interesting and perhaps controversial issue. Few would care to give an exact definition of a boys' Public School, and who would hazard a guess at the identity of the big four " recognised (Catholic) Public Schools to which "Parent " refers!
But Paton's " List of Schools, 1955" and " Schools, 1955" (published by Truman and Knightley) assume a boys' Public School to be one that is represented on the Headmasters' Conference on the Association of Governing Bodies of Public Schools. Taking this as a criterion, there is no justification for limiting the number of our Public Schools So four. Paton's List gives: Arnpleforth; Beaumont; Douai; Downside; Mount St. Mary's; Ratcliffe; St. Benedict's, Ealing; and Stonyhurst." Truman's " Schools " also includes the Oratory School and Prior Park. It would be interesting to learn into what category should he placed some other famous Catholic colleges, with their Splendid tradition and achievement.
Eric Lovelock.