On the front of the folded document Bleek has written his name. In pencil below it, in a different hand: “Draft written in London after return from W. Africa and before going to S. Africa.” The text of the draft letter is on two sides of the single page insert and the inside right section of the folded sheet. Written in ink with numerous blots. It is undated.
Rough draft of letter of introduction in Bleek’s handwriting directed to two members of his family – Arthur Henry Bleeck , 27 Argyll Square, New Road and Charles Thring Bleeck Esq., 6 South Square, Gray’s Inn. Bleek uses the original form of their family name in addressing them “Bleeck” explaining that his father “dropped the c, as irrelevant.” He outlines his family connections and is anxious to know the origin of their branch of the family, wondering if they might be descended from his Grandfather’s brother who emigrated and they had no idea as to what became of him or if he had any descendants. He then continues, “As to myself and my present stay in London, I was appointed as scientific officer by Her Majesty’s Government to an Expedition appointed to explore the Niger and its tributary, the Tchadda, but I was obliged to leave the Expedition, when arrived at Fernando Po, on account of ill health. It is most likely that soon I shall go out again to some other part of Africa.”