Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on March 24, 2006 at 09:58:57 from 213.38.124.194 user ACB.
In Reply to: Correction posted by Headmaster on March 24, 2006 at 08:03:08:
In Ransome's day, the correct way to address a letter to someone whom one did not know well, but respected, was:
"Dear Smith"
A shipping company for whom I once worked in Hong Kong got itself into all sorts of hot water over this. A letter arrived from the Marine Department, an organisation with many Indian staff, and the English manager to whom it was addressed (Eton, Oxford, Guards) replied, intending to flatter its author, "Dear Bindranwale..." The recipient felt that he had been slighted, and all sorts of troubles ensued.
When at University, in the 1970's I applied to join an expedition and the distinguished explorer, a veteran of the Somme, to whom I had written, replied, "Dear Craig-Bennett"