2, 3 of 12

2, 3 of 12

Correspondence

A letter from Wilhelm Bleek to Jemima Lloyd sent from Cape Town and dated 31 October 1861. An important letter, because in it Wilhelm declares his love to Jemima and proposes their marriage (or, as he puts it, her "sacrifice"). The proposal includes a discussion of Wilhelm's doubts and his internal war between "duty"/reason and his love for her. Essentially, Wilhelm believes himself unsuitable as a husband due to his prolonged invalidism. While he isn't sure he has done the right thing, he longs to hear Jemima answer that she loves him too. The letter also contains much discussion of religion and Wilhelm's great respect for his father's expertise in the field of theology. Wilhelm also encourages Jemima to visit his mother in Bonn and starts planning her trip. There are also the usual themes of ill health (plus loneliness), possible travel, and details about his family and how far away they are.

31 October 1861

ancestor worship, Anna Bleek, anxiety, Auguste Charlotte Marianne Sethe, Auguste Bleek's wedding preparations, Bishop of Cape Town, Bleek family, Bonn family, Bonn visit, broken down health, brothers, Cape, cold windy weather, comments on family, company, concern for sisters, critical methods, Darwin, declaration of love, desire for easy communication, difference of opinion re religion, distance from family and friends, doubts, Dr Callaway, Dr Callaway's objections, Dr Langham Dale, duty and real love, duty VS reason, family, father's book, fear, feelings at war with reason, Fraser's, Fraser's article on "toleration" in Church of England, Friedrich Bleek, friends, German church VS Church of England, Gospels, great original ideas of Christianity, health and strength, heavenly bliss, Hedwig Bleek, higher form of love, ill health, improved health, Introduction into the Old Testament, invalidism, Jemima Lloyd, language paper for Bishop of Cape Town, letter/s, literary discussion, little to offer, loneliness, longs for answer, love, Lucy Lloyd, Lucy Lloyd recommends Fraser's article, marriage, marriage doubts, mother in Bonn, mother's fine qualities, Native Literature, October 1861, poor self-image, praises mother, proposal, questions all things, reading habits, reason, relationship with family, religion, religious differences, religious views, sacrifice, Salt River visit, selfish yearning, sisters, sharing of views, sour old selfish invalide, suitability as husband, Superintendent General of Education, trust, views on religion and theology, visiting mother in Bonn, weather, Westminster Review, Wilhelm Bleek, wishes to make Jemima Lloyd his own, working power, Zulu name for God

1. Jemima Lloyd's answer to this, Wilhelm's proposal/declaration letter, was written on 4 January 1862 [see C8.10 and 11]. 2. Fraser's is Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country.