Madrid
2 January 1890
MR. JOSE RIZAL
LONDON[1]
MY ESTEEMED SIR,
I received your letter of 26 December with a bill for 25 pesetas enclosed as your membership fee in the Associacion Hispano-Filipina. You will know that its new treasurer is Antonio Luna so that as soon as I received your 5 duros I delivered them to him, which I suppose he will tell you when he writes you. I believe its inauguration will be before the Three Kings. It would be a great pity if you would not be here at least on that day.
I am very glad to know that the postal card I sent you reached your hands and at the outset I am exceedingly grateful to you for having accepted my sincere friendship.
Night before last, the last day of the past year, the colony held the customary dinner. Though more modest than in former years, fraternity and enthusiasm prevailed at it. In the toasts they alluded to you and Luna as glories of the Philippines, which were received with a salvo of thundering applause.
I wish you likewise Merry Christmas and I reiterate my offers to you as compatriot and servant who kisses your hand,
GUILLERMO PUATU Y CONSTANTINO
02-485 [Blumentritt V.2]
[1] Though the letter was sent to his London address, Rizal at that time was in Paris.