Hong Kong
At last Rizal receives a duplicate of his diploma, Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery, the original diploma sent to the governor general of the Philippines in 1887 having been lost – Rizal graduated in 1884 and began negotiating for the delivery of his diploma in 1887 – The Committee on Propaganda at Manila has not written Rizal – Blumentritt informs him that La Solidaridad will cease publication – Noli is out of print – He asks for the return of unsold copies.
* * *
Rednaxele Terrace, Hong Kong
17 May 1892
MY DEAR FRIEND ROXAS,
In reply to your affectionate letter that I have just received, I have the pleasure to inform you that I received my diploma and in keeping your letter as a remembrance of the indifferences of the employees over there who dispatch so well the business of their offices. I am only sorry that I do not have now on hand the 35 pesetas with which to refund you. Here they do not sell drafts of that amount for Spain, but I will send money at the first opportunity.
Please announce to Lete that through the kindness of a private person I succeeded to get 15 pesos for his prize, a sum that neither can I send orders at Manila. The person who advances this amount for the prize is Mr. Eulalio Villavicencio of Taal. The Porpaganda of Manila has not written me since December, which makes me believe that it ignores me. I am sorry, but I am not worried, and until a certain degree I am glad, for it proves to me that things get along well without me, a thing I have always wished.
Blumentritt has written me that La Solidaridad would be discontinued and it would be a pity, etc. etc. I also believe that it would be a pity, but I cannot vent it. For years, either for good or ill, I have not interfered in the Policy of Madrid or of La Solidaridad. I believe having told you that I ought not to meddle in that private enterprise, I have done enough by not accepting the management of any publication that might be the rival of or even supplement La Solidaridad. I believe that those in charge of it should have the responsibility. I absolutely refrain from interfering in it, not even to help myself. I believe you were present when Pilar said that La Solidaridad was a private enterprise and that he alone was responsible for it.
Here we work and write booklets. The Tagalog translation of Noli is about finished. Now the 3rd chapter of Morga is being translated.
Please tell cousin Rianzares, if you see him, to send me here all the Nolis he has in his possession for the edition is out of print. If some had been sold, will he please give the money to Pilar in payment of the loan of 35 pesetas.
I know that Lauro is now at Lipa and they tell me that he has had already a dispute with the captain of the Civil Guard. The father-in-law, it seems, is returning. Lauro does not write me.
This is short for I received your letter at 9 and now at elven o’clock the mail leaves.
Regards to all my friends and command yours,
RIZAL
Regards to Dona Matilde, Elenita, etc.
04-736 [Misc.]
1892.5.19 Sandakan
From: W. B. Pryer
To: Jose Rizal
Rizal’s draft “Bases” sent to the Directors in England – Pryer tells him North Borneo is the best place for Philippine Colonization.
* * *
Sandakan, 19 May 1892
DEAR DON JOSE,
Yours of 11 May is duly at hand. I saw Mr. Hughes the last night, he is going to send on to me the letter you wrote him. I have not seen the governor since I received your letter, but I believe he has sent to England for consideration by the Directors your Bases.
Your Colony being represented at the Council, meetings are not often held, rarely above once a month.
As for quite fine land unclaimed by any government, there is never in the world that I know of, do you? It was only the threat of sending the British fleet to Manila that made the Spanish drop their claim to North Borneo, while the Dutch claims have only just been settled after a 14 years dispute during which both English and Dutch showed each other their men of war frequently. If you tried to make a settlement on Celebes or New Guinea, where are the men of war to back up your claim? No, North Borneo is the only place you can come to and you can make better terms with us than you can with anybody else.
I am going on with my plantations and settlements and am planting Manila Hemp, sugar cane and Liberian coffee as fast as I can. I have made an agreement with two Manila men on the lines you suggested to me and will see how it works out. I am told that all the men I have are “deportados” and two or three of them are “tulisanes,” not very promising material to deal with, and I should much prefer having two or three families of good people to settle on farms if you can get them for me, I will pay their passage moneys and start them in good house with gardens and plant up Manila Hemp and other things for them.
Let me know as soon as you can which lands you prefer and I will try and get them for you on the best terms obtainable, and as everything is very bad here now, land is to be had very cheap.
Yours very truly,
W. B. PRYER
04-737 [Misc.]
1892.5.30 Sandakan
From: Henry Walker
To: Jose Rizal
Encouraging information: very great local demand for rice – Available water for irrigation to operate rice mills.
* * *
Sandakan,
20 May 1892
TO RIZAL
HONG KONG
DEAR SIR,
The Returns for the year 1891 have just been made up and I send you the figures of value of food imported into the British North Borneo.
I am particularly anxious to see a Rice growing population and you will see by the Returns that there is a very great demand, local demand in North Borneo.
The quality of the paddy would be improved by irrigation and our rivers would supply water power for the Rice Mills.
I hope to hear again from you.
Yours truly,
HENRY WALKER
04-738 [Misc.]