From: Wilhelm HI Bleek (16 January 1875)

From: Wilhelm HI Bleek (16 January 1875)

Correspondence

A letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey, sent from Mowbray, Cape Town on 16 January 1875. Bleek sends a copy of JA Froude's speech, which aligns with Grey's policies. He expresses his ongoing wish to see Grey and shares that he has become a "settled" Cape resident, having reluctantly bought Charlton House after losing their rental. Struggling with poor health, Bleek reports on his Bushman work, which is costly and underfunded by the government; he plans to appeal to supporters in England. He also hopes to involve missionaries in preserving Native folklore before it vanishes. Despite past support, Premier Molteno refused to back his plan. Bleek notes he has housed Bushmen for over four years- once seven at a time, but now only one remains. He updates Grey on Sir Thomas Maclear and news of the discontinued Board of Examiners. A postscript mentions Government railway expenditure and fires in Stellenbosch.

16 January 1875

Wilhelm Bleek (letter to Sir George Grey 16 January 1875), similarity of policies to Sir George Grey's, George Grey (Sir), |xam (number staying in Bleek household over time), Bushman (Wilhelm Bleek's plan to collect folklore), Dia!kwain (only instructor staying in Bleek household), folklore (Wilhelm Bleek's plan to collect Native), other interested parties, missionaries (Wilhelm Bleek's plan to collect folklore using -), JA Froude (Wilhelm Bleek on his visit to the Cape), Cape politics (Wilhelm Bleek on JA Froude's visit and policies), letter (from Wilhelm Bleek to Sir George Grey 16 January 1875), money (Wilhelm Bleek appeals to Molteno Ministry for financial assistance collecting Native folklore), finances (Wilhelm Bleek's struggles with), Mowbray (Charlton House), Charlton House (Mowbray), Thomas Maclear (Sir), John Molteno (Government), ill health (Wilhelm Bleek's)

1. 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).