GREEK AT OUR UNIVERSITIES.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPROTATOR.1
SIR,—The letter under the above heading in the Spectator of October 11th awakens a reminiscence of the way Greek was taught in the University of Glasgow in the good old time of Sir D. K. Sandford, Professor from 1823 to his death in 1840. In the sessions 1837-38-39 I was one of his students, and speak from personal experience. In addition to the curriculum lectures, he gave an optional course of " prelections," which consisted of exposition of the more important passages of the Iliad, &c., and enlivened the subject not alone by his splendid elocution, but by reciting parallel passages from Shakespeare, Scott, and others. His enthusiasm awoke that of his hearers, and I doubt not in many cases created a love of the language, and especially of Homer, which they never let die,—Kviiiss ic At this distance of time, sixty-five years, I vividly recall the tones of his voice. On one occasion, having read from " Ivanhoe " the description of the battle between Garth and the miller, and pronounced it equal to any of Homer's battles, he told us that some years ago he had the privilege of meet- ing Sir Walter at a friend's house in Edinburgh, and the con- versation turning upon Homer, Sir Walter expressed regret that he could not read the Iliad in the original. "I could hardly forbear," said Professor Sandford, "exclaiming aloud: Sir, you are Homer to yourself!' "—I am, Sir, &c., Cork. W. WHITELEGOE.
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