4, 1 of 4

4, 1 of 4

Correspondence

A letter from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek, dated 24 January 1866 and sent from the Foreign Office. Norris thanks Bleek for his letter and treatise MS, which he read, saying it must be satisfactory to the few in London who care about such topics. He comments on Bleek's comparison of "Kafir" language classes with other language families, offering his own opinions. In relation to the Colenso case, Norris reflects philosophically on foolishness and reason. He is pleased Bleek remains engaged in scientific life and hopes to hear of publications. Norris is working on an Assyrian dictionary, which he calls an arduous but necessary undertaking. He mentions occasional melancholic letters from Sauerwein and ends his "tedious epistle" knowing Bleek will excuse the long-windedness of a man of his age.

24 January 1866

Wilhelm Bleek (letter from Edwin Norris to 24 January 1866) (sent Edwin Norris letter and treatise) (Edwin Norris comments on his treatise and the "very few" who will appreciate it in England) (comparisons between African and other language classes in treatise) (Edwin Norris comments on his "scientific life"), Edwin Norris (his letter to Wilhelm Bleek from 24 January 1866) (received Wilhelm Bleek's letter and treatise) (comments on Wilhelm Bleek's treatise and the "very few" who will appreciate it in England) (comments on reception of Bishop Colenso) (discusses Wilhelm Bleek's treatise comparing language classes) (philosophical discussion of reason and foolishness) (on Wilhelm Bleek's "scientific life") (publishing Assyrian dictionary) (comments on age) (his "tedious epistle") (a long-winded "man of three-score and ten") (Georg Sauerwein writes to him occasionally) (publishing dictionary because no-one else will), letter (from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek 24 January 1866) (Wilhelm Bleek's sends one to Edwin Norris with printed treatise) (Georg Sauerwein writes to Edwin Norris occasionally) (Edwin Norris' "tedious epistle"), Bishop of Natal (John Colenso) (Edwin Norris comments on his reception in England) (in letter from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek 24 January 1866), John Colenso (Bishop of Natal) (Edwin Norris comments on his reception in England) (in letter from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek 24 January 1866), philology (Wilhelm Bleek sends printed manuscript of treatise to Edwin Norris) (comparisons between African and other - classes in Wilhelm Bleek's treatise) (Wilhelm Bleek compares classes of "Kafir" -s with European and Asian) (Edwin Norris publishing Assyrian dictionary) (in letter from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek 24 January 1866), publication (Edwin Norris of Assyrian dictionary) (in letter from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek 24 January 1866), treatise (Wilhelm Bleek sends printed manuscript of his - to Edwin Norris) (comparisons between African and other language classes in Wilhelm Bleek's) (in letter from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek 24 January 1866), dictionary (Edwin Norris publishing Assyrian) (in letter from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek 24 January 1866), Georg Sauerwein (writes to Edwin Norris "always in a melancholy strain") (nervous temperament) (in letter from Edwin Norris to Wilhelm Bleek 24 January 1866)

1. Norris worked as translator at the Foreign Office until 1866. 2. Volume 1 was published in 1868, volume 2 in 1870 and volume 3 in 1872 (Norris died in 1872): "Assyrian dictionary: intended to further the study of the cuneiform inscriptions of Assyria and Babylonia" (Williams and Norgate, London). 3. (Georg) Sauerwein.