Hong Kong
Hong Kong, 4 August 1890
MR. JOSE RIZAL
Brussels
DEAR FRIEND AND COMPATRIOT:
Yesterday I received your letter of 11 July and I am glad to know you are in good health.
I received your letter for your family and I shall be glad to forward it through the first boat that leaves for Manila.
I will send a copy of your letter to the Propaganda of Manila through the first boat. I am going to work to see if something can be done about your monthly pension of P100 in Madrid, as you wish. For the time being you may count on my little contribution and I will let you know the reply of our compatriots.
Do not bother about Dr. Padro’s book, which does not interest me much.
For the present do not think of going to Manila; leave that for another occasion; later we are going together. Instead of going to Manila, come to Hong Kong, as I have said to you before and I have no doubt that you will succeed in the practice of your profession.
As to your Morga, to date I have sent 170 copies to the Propaganda. As soon as they send me the payment, I will forward it to you.
Those in Madrid do not write me. La Solidaridad comes irregularly and in somebody else’s name. I do not know why. With the new ministry in Spain we have gone fifteen years backward.
I wish you to keep well for the good of our country and do not think of going to Manila, but in any case come to Hong Kong, and command your friend and compatriot.
J. M. BASA
P. S.
If you write to Pilar, please tell him that Mr. Panis to whom he sends La Solidaridad is no longer here. He went to Bombay a long time ago. Just accidentally I received the bundles of this paper. I do not understand why they do not send them to me. I have written them about it a long time ago and they have not answered me.
August 1890. Brussels.
Letter of Suzanne T[hill] to Jose Rizal.
*Quirino. Great Malayan p. 192.
“Where are you now? Do you think of me once in awhile? I am reminded of our tender conversations, reading your letter, although it is cold and indifferent. Here in your letter I have something which makes up for your absence. How please I would be to follow you, to travel with you who are always present in my thoughts.
You wish me all kinds of luck, but forget that in the absence of a beloved one a tender heart cannot feel happy.
A thousand things serve to distract your mind, my friend; but in my case, I am sad, lonely, always alone with my thoughts—nothing, absolutely nothing, relieves my sorrow. Are you coming back? That’s what I want and desire most ardently—you cannot refuse me.
I do not despair and I limit myself to murmuring against time which runs so fast when it carries us toward a separation, but does so slowly when it’s bringing us together again.
I feel very unhappy thinking that perhaps I might never see you again.
Goodbye! You know with one word you can make me very happy. Aren’t you going to write to me? She who wishes to protect you from all harm.
Suzanne T.
04-566 [Misc.]