Paris
Concerning “A Reply to I. de los Reyes” – Isabelo made a mistake in refuting Anotaciones a la Historia de Morga – Luna dedicates to Rizal a sketch of the death of Magellan – A more appropriate title would be “Victory of Lapulapu and Flight of the Spaniards”.
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Paris
8 November 1890
Juan Luna
Dear Rizal:
A thousand thanks for your very detailed report. You are priceless as a proxy, but I also realize that it is bothersome, so that you are really doing me a great favor.
Enclosed is a draft for 120 pesetas which together with the 40, the balance of the first, make 160. Please give to Antonio’s boarding-house matron one hundred fifty, asking her for a receipt, and the remaining 10 to Antonio, which together with the 40 he receives from La Solidaridad will be enough for his pocket money.
I congratulate you on the campaign being waged in the newspapers of the city and may they attend to your complaints for the welfare of your family and of our country. I am sorry about your article “A Reply to I. de los Reyes,” because, though you have very many reasons in your favor, this discord will make the Spaniards in Manila burst with joy. Isabelo (who is also my friend) has done harm, but a great harm, in refuting your “Annotations,” perhaps exaggerated, because of your excessive patriotism, but this does not detract anything from your Berut and you should have let pass of these españoladas, if one can call this the cheek that some writers have to contradict facts for the simple reason that they imagine differently.
Chap, I do not know what makes me say these things to you, but I am saying this as I have said before because the Castilas [Spaniards] of Manila will celebrate it.
I have made a sketch of the death of Magellan according to the description of Pigafetta; it is a very important event in our history. If I give it the title of “Death of Magellan,” it is a tribute of admiration for this great man (A Portuguese to boot, as Blumentritt would say); but if I make it, as it should be, “Victory of Lapulapu and Flight of the Spaniards” instead of “Death of Magellan,” every ridiculous fellow will criticize it, and the painter will be finished and the poor citizen will find himself against the wall. At any rate, I am dedicating this sketch to you if you like it.
Regards from everybody in my home and Pardo’s family.
Kisses of Luling and Bibi.
An embrace of your friend,
Luna
P.S.
Do you know Osorio of Resumen? He is [a] very good man and tell Antonio to introduce you to him, or if you prefer, I will send you a letter.
03-586 [Reformists]