To: Wilhelm HI Bleek (04 January 1862)

To: Wilhelm HI Bleek (04 January 1862)

Correspondence

A letter from Jemima Lloyd to Wilhelm Bleek, sent from Croydon, England, on 4 January 1862, concluded on 5 January. She responds to Wilhelm's declaration/proposal letter, confirming her love but questioning whether she loves him as a wife ought-with "that deep true allsufficient love". She traces the evolution of her feelings and tries to clarify misunderstandings between them while exploring her ideals of love and marriage. She tries to dispel Wilhelm's concerns about his invalidism and marriage. If they become engaged, she insists on secrecy from her family and others, probably recalling Lucy's broken engagement, and discusses the problems of long engagements over great distances. She misses her late mother and wishes to know Wilhelm's. Wilhelm's financial anxieties are addressed with mention of her small legacy. Lastly, she explains her reluctance to use Wilhelm's given name, as it reminds her painfully of her father.

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1. Wilhelm's "October letter" (or declaration/proposal letter) is dated 31 October 1861 [see C4.7]. 2. This letter is concluded on January 5th on a separate sheet of paper due to Jemima's running out of room on the other sheets. [See C8.11]. 3. There are photographs of the Sandersons, Dr Russell and family and George Woolley. See Photographs and Portraits on this website.