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While we deplore the University of Bristol's high-handed decision to abolish the study of German literature pre-1750, we wish to dissociate ourselves from Cyril Edwards' unfounded imputation of responsibility to the incoming professor of German, Robert Vilain (Letters, 16 December). We are reliably informed that the decision was taken before Vilain's arrival and without his knowledge.

Ritchie Robertson, Taylor chair of German; Almut Suerbaum, chair of the sub-faculty of German; Helen Watanabe-O'Kelly, chair of the Modern Languages Faculty Board; University of Oxford.