MS New York Public Library: Berg Collection
My dear Miss Cleveland
I knew your name directly and well remembered your visit at Otterbourne. I am greatly obliged to you for the elucidation of reef of Norman’s woe.1 I was highly dissatisfied with the idea that it was connected with the White ship,2 but having nothing more definite to put in its stead I let it stand. I strongly suspect that the word Woe – which I see in one version is Oh, ought to be Oe , an island the Danish or Norse form of ey. You know philologists tell us the insertion of S in island is a mere mistake and confusion with isle which comes from insula and that it ought to be I-land – Angles-ey Guerns-eye &c in the south and in the we have Stroms oe Far-oe and many more. So perhaps Norman’s Oe was the islet or reef where this original Richard Merman was wrecked; and then became Woe from association and Woe still more from the hesperus. It is a very curious history altogether and it will quite add to the value of the September Monthly Packet to have it cleared up ‘on the very best authority’
The autograph too is a very great prize and I thank you much for it. Pray thank Mr Longfellow greatly from me for so kindly sending the explanation
I hope to find and send your MS tomorrow with this. I have always meant to put it in, but have never had room. I have thought of it often. Do you remember sending me the lives of the members of Harvard University3 I have lent that book so often, and only the other day Miss Bramston, the author of Ralph and Bruno wanted it again to come some thing of Charles Lowells
With many thanks
Yours sincerely
C M Yonge