Thank you for explaining that, at 1.68tn lb, New York City’s built infrastructure is roughly equivalent in weight to 140 million elephants (New York City is sinking due to weight of its skyscrapers, new research finds, 19 May). That makes it so much easier to visualise.
Mark de Brunner
Burn Bridge, North Yorkshire
• It would be even more helpful to know whether these are the larger, heavier African elephants or the smaller, lighter Asian ones.
Michael Robinson
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
• Your article on Tim Minchin (29 April) said the late Cardinal George Pell “had figured in multiple child sexual abuse scandals”. It should be noted – as your article did not – that Cardinal Pell was acquitted on child abuse charges in April 2020 by the high court of Australia.
CDC Armstrong
Belfast
• I knew that if you are on certain benefits and you cannot afford to pay for the funeral of a relative then the state will step in. I had no idea the limit was so high (Events marking Queen Elizabeth’s death cost the public £161.7m, figures show, 18 May).
Catherine Stephenson
Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
• My vet used to call clients in to appointments using the animal’s name followed by the owner’s surname, so I couldn’t resist calling my cat Henry (Letters, 18 May).
Linet Purcell
Pontardawe, Neath Port Talbot
• “Rishi Sunak: Britain has moved on from judging people for being rich” (19 May). No. We. Haven’t.
Alex Chambers
Halifax, West Yorkshire
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
