Hong Kong
Hongkong, February 10, 1888
Victoria School
My dear Parents and Brothers:
When you receive this letter you can still answer me, with the assurance that your letter will still reach me here, because I am thinking of sailing on the Oceanic or on the Gaelic.
Life here is costly, so I believe that instead of sending the boys here, it would be better to send them to Europe, where life is not so costly. Here one will learn English, business affairs, but there is none of the European milieu, does not breathe the literary, scientific and political atmosphere of Europe.
I met here Mr. Balbino Mauricio in the house of Mr. Basa; I saw the Maurente brothers, Manuel Iriarte, several young men who study in the college where I stay. The Victoria College is run by a lady, named Mrs. Geller; they have an Englishman professor. They say before and after meal a short prayer of some four seconds.
The portrait of Sra. Ipia is being made by the most famous painter here. I did not like that the painter make more changes on the picture so that the thing will not come out worse; he should paint as the picture is, which after all looks like her. As a result of the Chinese Xmas, they do not like to work, and it will take two weeks to finish the said picture. The face has this size:
[sketch]
Oil paintings here are very inferior to those in Manila, so have them made there.
Write to me in London.
Jose Rizal, Esq.
12 Billiter street 12
London
Regards to all; I kiss the hands of my beloved parents.
Yours,
J. RIZAL
04-282 [Misc.]