26 SEPTEMBER 1992, Page 32

Detective work

Sir: It is distressing to think of P.D. James's party of detective-story enthusiasts from the United States wandering vainly along Magdalen Bridge in search of the spot where Lord Peter Wimsey proposed mar- riage to Harriet Vane (Diary, 1 August).

It was in New College Lane that Lord Peter finally and successfully popped the question, using a form of words — 'placetne, magistra?' — that could have occurred only to a Balliol man.

John Gere

21 Lamont Road. London SW10