14 February 1894

Dapitan

Without letters or news — Application for liberty borne by his brother-in-law -— Tatay (Father) most fitting to present it on behalf of his son, but he is old already — Brother-in-law Silvestre may not want to do anything for Rizal — House plan —- Consult M. Salvador’s father about its cost.

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Dapitan, 14 February 1894

MR. MANUEL T. HIDALGO

MY DEAR BROTHER-IN-LAW MANENG,

Although I have not yet received your letters, nor do I know if I have any in this mail, nevertheless I presume that nothing unpleasant has happened to you there. “No news, good news,” say the English.

Enclosed I send you a request addressed to the governor general,[1] I do not send it directly to His Excellency, because, as he is not there, I am afraid it may be lost in some corner anywhere. If Tatay were not as he is, he would be the most fitting person to my request to Malakañang on behalf of his son, but I am afraid he may lose it. He is moreover very old and those trips can hurt him.

I have thought of you, but you have much work; my brother is very busy and I say the same about Antonino. As to Silvestre, there is nothing to say; I do not believe he would like to do anything for me; he behaves towards me in a way that I do not believe I deserve. I do not know then how to proceed. In short, I leave to your good judgment to decide who ought to present this request.

Enclosed is a plan for a house with some suggestions. I should like to know from a contractor how much it would cost. I think that the father of M. Salvador2[2]understands much about this.

Here we are all well, thank God. Our mother is already well.

I have heard that Sra. Neneng is having a house built in Mainit. I am glad of it.

Command as always your brother-in-law who loves you truly,

JOSÉ RIZAL

01-811 [Family]