Leitmeritz
10 August 1888
Dr. José Rizal
My dear Friend,
I have not heard from you for three weeks and “as the deer clamors for water so I cry for you,” according to what is written in the Bible. I need your letter to freshen me up, for my work is exhausting. Balaguer[1] from his Tusculum[2] has sent me a brochure dealing with his administration of the ministry of colonies whose perusal makes me deplore that he has had to leave the post, for his projected reforms would have been very beneficial to the Philippines.
Through a ship from Hong Kong of the Austrian Lloyd I have received today more pleasant letters from Manila than by the French mail. When I think of these last ones, my blood boils. Today Desengaños sends me a copy of Noli me tángere. He has not had it more than 48 hours and he wishes to read it carefully, because I have called his attention to the stupid and mean way in which some attack and slander that great work. Unfortunately, I do not know where I can obtain a copy of the book. I have ordered it in writing at my . . . . in Madrid. I hope it will arrive within ten days.
Your poor book must be very much persecuted in the Philippine Islands, because Desengaños writes that it should be very well wrapped so that no one at the post office would know what it is about.
With regard to my work on Mindanao, I fully approve your decision not to submit it to the censor in Manila.
Toward the end of this month, I shall have again the pleasure to embrace a Filipino, because Mr. Eduardo P. Casal will visit with me. At present he is in Karlsbad, where Mr. Jurado also wanted to go, in order to drink the medicinal waters there. And has he left for that place? Before his departure, it is advisable for him to have himself examined . . . . If he has . . . . it would be poison for him. I greet you affectionately.
The big ones and the little ones, old and young, send you a thousand regards. Also Dr. Czepelack.
Write me soon.
Your faithful friend embraces you,
F. Blumentritt
04-321 [Misc.]
[1] Victor Balaguer, Catalan poet and Liberal minister of colonies and statesman.
[2] Tusculum, and ancient Latin city, near Rome, celebrated for Cicero’s villa nearby , which gave the title for his philosophical work, Tusculan Disputations .