QUEEN VICTORIA AS GODDESS. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sm,—My attention has only to-day been directed to the article in your issue of March 17th on "Queen Victoria as Goddess."
Your notice of the addition to the Pantheon may tend to pro- duce the good results upon "even English electors" which yea indicate, but, if it is worth mentioning, I may say that the won-
der you express that this recognition of the Queen as a goddess has never occurred before is somewhat misplaced, for the deifica- tion is nothing new; indeed, I am inclined to think that we- should not have heard of it now, if Serjeaut Atkinson had not been greatly impressed by hearing for the first time what has been a frequent experience to many, though possibly among the tribe in Orissa referred to the veneration may have taken a more tangible form than elsewhere. Further south and west, I have frequently had occasion to enlighten the good people as to the mortality of their Sovereign ; one instance particularly occurs to mind. Coming across a town of no little importance on the borders of Hyderabad, rather more than six years ago. the regard of the people for the Queen as a Devi (or goddess) was expressed to me by one of the most intelligent and respect- able of the inhabitants, and the apprehensions that were enter- tained respecting the then recent visit of the Prince of Wales. Strange imaginings had got abroad, and I was not allowed to leave until I had left in this man's hand some little account in the vernacular of the district, correcting the prevalent ideas, and allaying their fears.
How the Queen will feel when acquainted with the honour done her depends entirely upon her knowledge of Hindu ways, and if she understands how readily a new god or goddess is added to existing ones, she will not feel very much exercised ; the likeli- hood of the worship, if so we may speak, of the ignorant but pro- found veneration producing any political effect seems to me to be very remote, or, indeed, to misrepresent the attitude of the great unreasoning masses of the people to practical politics. There is a possibility of people at home connecting the venera- tion as goddess with the conferring of the title of "Empress I may add that the two things have no connection, indeed I doubt whether any, except a very few here and there, know that a more honorific title has been assumed who do not read Eng- lish papers, and certainly the fact that our Queen is their Empress is not appreciated by those who regard her as a goddess. —I am, Sir, &c.,
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