22 MAY 1953, Page 7

Sic Among the innumerable requests for facilities at the Coronation

for overseas visitors, the following letter, addressed to a high official, surely qualifies for some sort of consolation prize. " We " (write the authors from Calcutta) " intend to attend the Coronation to chant the Vedic Mantras (to give blessings to Her Majesty) on that pompous occasion to our beloved Queen. . . . We hope Her Majesty will be aware of the facts that our late Maharani (Queen) Victoria who reigned long and nicely had also blessings from the Indian Brahmin Pandits. 1 . . It will be a new thing for the people of England to see such Indian Pandits On the actions on that day. Really modesty prevents us to trumpet our own blow, but . . ."

There follows a good deal of trumpeting.