MR. FREEMAN'S SPELLING OF "HAROLD."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—The reviewer of " Current Literature," in your last num- ber, is good enough to say of the article on "The Normans at Palermo," which bears my initials, in the present number of the British Quarterly Review, that I treat the subject "not the less agreeably to " my " readers, because " I do " not find it necessary to hold up any one to the execration of mankind for such villainies as spelling Harald with an o, or the like." Will the reviewer be kind enough to point out any passage in my writings where I have held up anybody to " execration " for " such villainies as spelling Harald with an o?" Will he be kind enough to point out any passage where I have spelled a name which I have cer- tainly had occasion to use pretty often, in any other way than that which has been usual in English from the days of the Chroniclers onwards ? My eyesight must be singularly at fault, if the name Harold will be found in any writing of mine spelled otherwise than Harold, unless, perhaps, in some extract from a Scandi- navian writer. But what is more important than the fact that the critic has made a singularly unlucky choice of an instance to illustrate his supposed position, will he be kind enough to point out any passage in my writings where I hold up any- body to " execration" for the " villainy " of spelling any name any way ? Perhaps I do not fully understand the force of Romance words like " execration " and " villainy." To a plain English understanding, they seem a little strong, and out of proportion to the supposed matter in hand.
I not uncommonly see these strange things said about me, at the origin of which I find it yet harder to guess than at the origin of the myth about " Perish, India." Not long ago I saw myself described as " the great enemy of the name of Charle- magne." The description puzzled me, as I know not where I have expressed such enmity, and as I myself freely use the name of Charlemagne on fitting occasions. This was not in your pages, but it seems to point to a delusion somewhat akin to that of your reviewer.—I am, Sir, &c., EDWARD A. FREEMAN.
Somer•leaze, Wells, Somerset, April 19th.
[We apologise for the error. The intention of the notice— not very happily carried out—was to banter Mr. Freeman on the severity with which he sometimes visits slight literary offences.—ED. Spectator.]
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