To: Jemima C Lloyd (04 May 1862)

To: Jemima C Lloyd (04 May 1862)

Correspondence

A letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Jemima Lloyd in England, sent from Cape Town and dated 4 May 1862. Wilhelm is anxiously awaiting Jemima's letter, which he hopes will give him her "firm assurance" of her intention to be his "for better or worse". The long letter also includes description of his health "trials", including the repurcussions of "an accident" at the boarding house; discussion about informing people (like her father) of their engagement; his Volksblad and other literary work; religious matters; the Bishop of Natal's controversial publication; the publication progress of and subscriptions for Wilhelm's "Grammar"; and the progress of his Grey Librarian position. Among other topics, Wilhelm also comments on Jemima's reluctance to use his given name, their photographs and her understanding of the realities of their "future position". Wilhelm also informs Jemima that this long letter encloses another "little" one, addressing her as "his own dear wife" and containing things that only a husband should say to a wife.

04 May 1862

A Comparative Grammar of the South African Languages, accident at boarding house, appointment as Grey Librarian, Auguste Charlotte Marianne Sethe, anxiously awaits letter, awaits Library fate, awaits firm assurance of her intention to become his, Bishop of Natal, Bishop of Natal's controversial publication, Bishop of Natal's travels, Bishop of Natal's publications, Bleek family news, boarding house, brother, Buenos Aires, Cape, Cape Parliament, Cape weather, chest pain, confirmation of engagement, Dales, delicate letter, difficult position, doctor, Dr Russell, Elementary Latin Grammar, employment, engagement, engagement secrecy, England, family, Fanny/Frances Lloyd, fate to be decided soon, father, finances, foundation of Grey Library, future position, Grey Library appointment, health setback after walk, Het Volksblad leaders and articles, history, husband, Hottentot Fables, ill health, inflammation, informing people of engagement, inmost thoughts, Jemima Lloyd's letter confirming intentions/engagement, Julia Lloyd, letter, letter intended only for wife, letter to be read alone and not in state of excitment, literary work, Lloyd sisters, love, Lucy Lloyd, marriage, Marie Bleek, May 1862, Mercantile Advertiser, mother, mother's letter of welcome, My Sister's Latin Grammar, name, Natal, Natal family, Natal history, Nicholas Trübner, pain of Wilhelm Bleek's first name, Parliament decison on Grey Library, personal history, photograph, proceeds of Latin Grammar, progress of publication, publications, publication hopes, publication name, publisher, R. Russell, Rev. William Lloyd, Salt River, Sir George Grey, sister, sleeplessness, sources of income, spitting blood, subscriptions disappointing, telling people, Theodor Bleek, things only a husband should say to a wife, thoughts almost her property, trial of strength, two big boys at boarding house, visit Colensos in England, walk to visit Dales in Salt River, weather and ill health, wife, Wilhelm Bleek, Wilhelm Bleek's first name, William Lloyd, writing letters, writing work, work

1. See Wilhelm's letter to Jemima as "my own dear wife" [C4.14]. 2. There are photographs of Dr Russell and his family and Dr Wolff. See Photographs and Portraits on this website. 3. Of Trübner & Co. Trübner published Wilhelm's "Grammar" and was also a philologist.