To: Wilhelm HI Bleek (03 September 1862)

To: Wilhelm HI Bleek (03 September 1862)

Correspondence

A letter from Jemima Lloyd to Wilhelm Bleek dated 3 September 1862 (continued 4 September) from Christleton near Chester. Jemima writes her final long letter before sailing to Cape Town in early October, reflecting on her trying and painful visit to Bonn, where her struggles stemmed from "personal perplexities" rather than any fault of his beloved family. His loving letters help and bring her comfort, easesing her sad thoughts tied to health doubts. Shocked by gossip about Mrs. Hill, she decides against sailing with the Hills, fearing association with them and future social discomfort. Jemima reports preparing frugally for their life together, feeling somewhat healthier. With help from relatives in London, her boxes are packed and with the agent. She and Aunt Fanny purchased linens with her trousseau money, having declined his mother's offer to buy them. Jemima is encouraged by Dr. Russell's assurance that her health permits marriage. She reports that their engagement news has been well-received by her sisters and awaits her father's response to hers and Wilhelm's letters. She outlines her last month's plans visiting friends and relations and seeing a dentist as well as Dr Russell, and explores possible voyage options having not yet found a Cape vessel. She plans to sail on 5 October unless Wilhelm's news changes her course. Jemima then discusses the investment of "their" money and the appointment of trustees, as advised by Uncle Marmaduke. As she now thinks it inadvisable to go first to Natal, she explains she is pressing Loui to come to the Cape and assuring her she will not be a burden. She closes with faith and hope despite her fears of the voyage, reminding Wilhelm "whatever happens" she is his "own wife".

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1. Wilhelm Bleek has written "rcvd 09 Oct" on the top left of the first page of the letter. 2. There are many missing pages in Wilhelm Bleek's letter to Jemima [see C4.18] and some of these probably contained the Mrs Hill scandal. 3. In his June-July letter to Jemima [see C4.18], Wilhelm wrote that if Parliament does not approve his position there is a slight chance Sir George Grey might let him work for him in New Zealand. 4. There are photographs of Reverend Woolley, Dr Russell and family and the Sandersons. See Photographs and Portraits on this website.