To: Edwin Norris (23 July 1859)

To: Edwin Norris (23 July 1859)

Correspondence

A draft letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Edwin Norris, dated 23 July 1859 and sent from Government House, Cape Town. Bleek expresses dismay at not replying sooner to Norris' last letter, explaining the year has been difficult: his father and "best friend" died in February, and he has since suffered a severe illness, leaving him unable to work for two months. He reports his position has worsened with Sir George Grey's unexpected recall, making his future uncertain. He hopes Grey can secure a post for him before leaving; otherwise, he may return to England, though winter there would be ill-suited to his health. He adds that he was unable to pursue the Dutch interpreter post in Japan.

23 July 1859

Wilhelm Bleek (draft letter to Edwin Norris from 23 July 1859) (reports on his hard year to Edwin Norris) (death of his father/"best friend" at the end of February) (severe illness) (could not work due to over-exertion) (position with Sir George Grey precarious after recall) (hopes Sir George Grey can find position for him) (may return "home" to England with Sir George Grey), Edwin Norris (draft letter to from Wilhelm Bleek 23 July 1859) (Wilhelm Bleek reports to him on his employment situation and hard year) (Wilhelm Bleek horrified he did not reply to Norris' last letter), letter (draft from Wilhelm Bleek to Edwin Norris 23 July 1859) (Wilhelm Bleek horrified he did not reply to Edwin Norris' last), employment (Wilhelm Bleek's position with Sir George Grey precarious after recall) (in letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Edwin Norris 23 July 1859), George Grey (Sir) (recalled as Governor of Cape) (Wilhelm Bleek's employment by precarious) (in draft letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Edwin Norris 23 July 1859) (Wilhelm Bleek hopes he can find a position for him before he leaves Cape), ill health (Wilhelm Bleek's severe after death of his father) (winter in Northern climate not advisable for Wilhelm Bleek's) (in draft letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Edwin Norris 23 July 1859), death (of Wilhelm Bleek's father Friedrich Bleek in February) (in draft letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Edwin Norris 23 July 1859), father (death of Wilhelm Bleek's Friedrich Bleek in February) (Wilhelm Bleek's "best friend") (in draft letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Edwin Norris 23 July 1859), Friedrich Bleek (death of Wilhelm Bleek's father in February) (in draft letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Edwin Norris 23 July 1859)

1. Norris was a linguist and philologist who worked as translator at the Foreign Office until 1866.