It is worse.   I now get the message

apply: Wrong number of arguments: #[(G22706 funs global args) "ÆÇ!ÆÈ!‰
LˆLˆ	J:ƒH$‚L#‚L\"*‡" [--cl-global-- --cl-funs-- funs global G22706 args make-symbol "--funs--" "--global--" t ...] 11], 3

when I type a user name into trhe To: line.
have to switch off abbrev-mode to type any message.

This is a slightly different machine but same OS and slightly
different propcessor

==John ffitch