From: Wilhelm HI Bleek (24 September 1867)

From: Wilhelm HI Bleek (24 September 1867)

Correspondence

A letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey, sent from Cape Town on 24 September 1867. Bleek sends copies of of Volume IV Part One of the Grey Library catalogue and asks Grey to share his opinion of Bleek's work with the Trustees, Committee and Bleek. He hopes to visit Europe to seek funding for his research and is working to publish his "Comparative Grammar". Despite receiving encouragment to persevere by scholars like Müller and Livingstone, he fears he may have to leave philology if he fails in his endeavour, and reluctantly considers politics. He describes his financial struggles and believes a pension would help him continue his scientific work. He appeals to Grey again, acknowledging past help and hoping his involvement in a controversy will not hinder Grey's support - he does not believe his convictions affected his philological correspondence with orthodox missionaries. He ends with a list of books sent, notes on his retiring life since marriage and news of Justice Watermeyer's deathly illness.

24 September 1867

Wilhelm Bleek (letter to Sir George Grey 24 September 1867), George Grey (Sir), Jemima Bleek (in letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey 24 September 1867), ill health (in letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey 24 September 1867), South African Public Library (in letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey 24 September 1867), money (Wilhelm Bleek's poverty), religion (Wilhelm Bleek's involvement in Bishop of Natal's controversy), manuscript (in letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey 24 September 1867), publication (in Wilhelm Bleek's letter to Sir George Grey 24 September 1867), Comparative Grammar of South African Languages (A), catalogue (in letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey 24 September 1867), letter (and other items sent from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey 24 September 1867), John Colenso (Bishop of Natal), Bishop of Natal (John Colenso), missionaries (Wilhelm Bleek does not believe "partisanship" affected philological correspondence with orthodox), EB Watermeyer (Mr Justice)

1. A short part of the letter is missing: a few lines at the bottom of the page marked V in blue. 2. The controversy Bleek refers to is his support of the Bishop of Natal. 3. Bleek concludes the letter by listing 10 books (plus periodicals, gazettes, pamphlets, etc.) he is sending to Sir George and adds a note referring to item 10 - a file of papers relating to the arrival of HR Highness. 4. For a short summary of this letter, see Dr OH Spohr's typewritten notes on Wilhelm Bleek's letters to Sir George Grey (C10.19.1-26).