San Francisco, California
30 April 1888
Mr. Mariano Ponce
My distinguished Countryman and dear Friend,
Excuse me if I dare address you with the last title without having had yet the honor of meeting you, but I think that between us, and because of the favors I owe you, I should be honored by now with your friendship. Our mutual friend Viola[1] told me that you have disinterestedly taken charge of my works; I thank you very much for that and I hope that I will find an occasion to show you my gratitude. Now I am here in America on my way to Europe. For some time I will be in London, from where I will write you a letter, because I want to correspond with you.
If I have some money there from the sale of my books, please buy me the complete works of Larra,[2] already bound, that was published by Biblioteca Universal and send them to me by mail at London: Rizal, Esq., Billiter Street 12, London.
If I have no money there and somebody is or yourself are willing to advance the payment, on my arrival at London I will remit the amount to cover all the expenses, postage, etc., etc. It can be sent as printed matter, etc. I am bothering you because I am in a hurry to read these masterpieces in order to catch up with the language.
Give my many regards to Rogers,[3] whom I am bothering by sending this letter to his house, as I do not know your address; I beg him to excuse me a thousand times. Regards to Rianzares and to all our other countrymen, and command me or order something from London, for I will be very glad to be useful to you.
Your affectionate,
Jose Rizal
01-293 [Family]
[1] Dr. Maximo Viola.
[2] Mariano Jose de Larra (1809-1837), pseudonym “Figaro.” A Spanish prose writer and trenchant critic. He committed suicide at 28 years.
[3] See letter of Enrique Rogers to Rizal, dated [May or June?] 1887.