THE life of Sir Henry Oliver, most appropriately called A Great Seaman and written by Sir William James (H. F. and G. Witherby, 18,9.), is a fascinating book, full of anecdotes of an adventurous career, mostly taken from his own notes and from letters to a brother. He joined the Navy in 1878 in the days of sail, and has been an Admiral of the Fleet for a longer period than any other naval officer.

Two men who recognized his out- standing ability as a seaman were the first Lord Fisher and Sir Winston Churchill—no mean judges. His repu- tation had been acquired by assiduous practice in the art of seamanship and by intensive study. Sir Arthur Bryant has written a foreword, stating that Sir Henry was one of the greatest navigators that even the Royal Navy has produced.

In the course of his career, which included over four years in the Sur- veying Service in different parts of the world, he founded the Navigation School, and placed the training of navigating officers on a sound footing.

He displayed intrepidity, wisdom, resolution and audacity. It was the combination of Rear-Admiral Sir Arthur W7ilson and Navigating Officer Sir Henry Oliver which was to become famous not only in the British Navy, but throughout the world. His never- to-be-forgotten feat was to take the Channel Squadron from the Irish Sea, in a thick fog, with the constant menace of submarine attack, to a safe anchorage in the Scilly Islands, when he himself was weary from previous want of sleep.

So it was but natural that after active service his heart should have responded to the appeal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution, to which the last chapter of the book is devoted. He was elected a Vice- President after many years as a mem- ber of the Committee of Management.

J. G. C..