7 NOVEMBER 1908, Page 19

Some of the greatest scholars have used their learning more

as a weapon than a means of illumination. Professor Lewis Campbell's gentleness and courtesy may be illustrated by the following true story. Some years ago he was in the chair at a meeting of the Hellenic Society when Dr. Arthur Evans described the results of some of his first excavations in Crete. Amongst his finds were a number of seals and other relics showing traces of affinity with early Egyptian art. Discussion followed, in the course of which a venerable Admiral, who bad been present at the battle of Navarino, rose and said that he did not know whether he was in order, but he would like to state that in the year 1828, when he was cruising in the Levant, he saw a herd of seals off the coast of Crete,—a sight which he had never seen before or since. The situation was delicate, but it was saved by the chairman, who rose immediately to express the thanks of the meeting to the Admiral for his interesting reminiscence. " Here," be said, " we have another link with Egypt, for all of us must remember the story in the Odyssey of Protens and his herd of seals on the island near the mouth of the Nile."