Miscellaneous Letters Exchanged Between José Rizal and Others in 1896

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142. Governor-General Ramon Blanco, Manila, 1 July 1896

Rizal is appointed to the Army in Cuba as a physician attached to the Military Health Corps.

Manila, 1 July 1896

Mr. José Rizal

My dear Sir,

I have expressed to the Government your wishes and it has no objection to your going to Cuba to serve in our Army as physician attached to the Military Health Corps.

Therefore, if you still wish to carry out your idea, the Politico-Military Commander of that district will issue you a pass so that you can come to this capital where in my turn I will give you a passport to the Peninsula where the Minister of War will assign you to the Army of Operations in Cuba, attached to the Military Health Corps.

With this date I write on the matter the Politico-Military Commander and you can start the trip immediately.

To be able to please you has been a satisfaction for your most affectionate and attentive servant who kisses your hand,

Ramon Blanco

X X X

London, 6 September 1895

Mr. José Basa

Hong Kong

Friend Pepe,

I reply to your two letters of 24 July and 1st August, which arrived with just a few days interval. I have also received the correspondence concerning the purchase of machinery to which you refer and I shall deal in detail with it in my next letter. This time I am going to speak to you exclusively of the Rizal case. I have not telegraphed you about it because though I take charge with pleasure of the negotiation, I do so in response to the impulse of my own desire rather than to the receipt of three thousand duros which are offered me. I am in the most intimate and cordial relations with Govantes and so I know that it would be an insult to offer him even a single cent and instead of having him on our side, we would have him by this means face to face against us. I am also a very good friend of General Azcarraga and for this reason I know for a certainty that to claim that we can count on him by making him such offers, instead of helping us he would fight us with ill will. He is very rich, very intelligent, very honest, and his name and position are due to these three qualities that everybody acknowledges and admires.

I am of the opinion, on the other hand, that the freedom of Rizal cannot be obtained by the manner which you want to use the money. You will do wrong in spending that sum for that purpose because it is the same as throwing it away.

If his freedom depended merely on connections, I could put into play not only my connections with the General but I could also approach Messrs. Reverter and Tetuan with whom I have social relations, and especially the first, I believe, would attend to me. The elections are not so far away as you suppose; but since you do not want to follow my suggestion in this order we shall try to adopt other means. In fact I have a plan known to [Ferdinand] Blumentritt and a friend of ours that I believe would have to succeed towards the end of October, not before. In the meantime I shall put into play another means which is as follows:

The government needs physicians to go to Cuba to attend to the troops: and a friend [02] of yours, mine, and Rizal is going to ask the Government of Madrid to authorize by telegram General Blanco to permit Rizal to embark at once for the Greater Antilles. Such a patriotic petition will prove that he is not a filibustero and that he feels like the rest of the Spaniards. The painful thing will be if our friend's stay in Dapitan has weakened his nature and at the eleventh hour, notwithstanding his great desire and that of his friends, he may not go to Cuba and perform there his mission. At any rate I believe that you ought to advise him that, if they permit him, he should not fail to start on his journey if he really is not well there and he wants to get out of it.

The best reward for my initiative and work in favor of our friend will be the attainment of his liberty, which I also like as much as the rest of you. I only regret that on account of his youthful inexperience he had ignored my counsel when he put his head in the mouth of the wolf, giving credit to the empty talk and supposed integrity of the wicked [Eulogio] Despujol.

The telegraph informs us today that Mr. Castellanos has resigned as Minister of Colonies. It is a pity, for he seemed to be a good man and without prejudices. The Madrid press also speaks of energetic resolutions of the Military element of Spain against the religious orders for their opposition to General Blanco.

Keep in good health and believe me as ever your very affectionate friend,

A Regidor

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[01] Related to this appointment of Rizal is a letter o Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor to Mr. José Basa which follows.

[02] It was Ferdinand Blumentritt who suggested to Rizal that he apply as a physician in Cuba.

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143. Josephine Bracken, Manila, 13 August 1896

Miss Bracken complains of the treatment accorded her by Rizal's sisters because she is not married to him - Only his sister Narcisa and his father are kind to her. The original letter in English is published in Documentos Rizalinos, Manila, 1953, pp. 7-9.  Miss Bracken’s letter was in ungramatical English and is reproduced exactly as she wrote it.

Manila, 13 August 1896

My dear Joe

 This morning at half past eight Sra. Narcisa received a letter from you, I am very sorry that I have made a mistake of your cloth not sending your pants and waistcoat, but as you said you are not in great need of it. I only send you some more collars and cuffs, You ask in your letter man­goes cheese Tyrines & some lansones, I hope I can fulfill your wishes in sending the things, Mangoes I am sure I can send to you but the other things I am not very sure. Yet we send Antonio to see if we can get the cheese lansones and tyrines. Ah; my dear I am suffering a great deal with them in Trozo, it is quite true they ought to be ashamed of me as they say in my face & in Presenance of Sra. Nar­cisa & their children because I am not married to you. So if you hear that I don't go to Trozo any more don't be surprized, if you like me to send all your things on board of the man of war I can do so. If you go to Spain you see any one of your fancy you better marry her, but dear hear me better marry than to live like who we have been doing. I am not ashamed to let people know my life with you but as your dear Sisters are ashamed I think you had better get married to some one else. Your Sister Narcisa and your Father they are very good and kind to me.

Yours Affect

Josephine Bracken

P.S.

       Dear I am glad that I could get this foies gras for you.  I send you the tyrus of foies grass one hundered of sweet Santoles we will send to you tomorrow the cheese & lansones.  If you are not ashamed of me alright the same.

Yours same

J.B.

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144. Josephine Bracken, Manila, 17 August 1896

Miss Bracken tries to see the Governor General in behalf of Rizal - She has fifteen pupils - She is also studying piano - She remembers their life together in Dapitan. The original letter in English was published in Documentos Rizalinos, Manila, 1953, pp. 13-16.

17 August Manila 96

Dr. J. Rizal

My darling Love

Body I received your most kind and welcomed letter dated the 10th Wednesday. I am very much surprised not hear­ing anything about if you have received the three Tyrnes of Foie gras: well! perhaps you have not received any other letters that I have written to you. I went to the Governor General today but unfortunately he is laid up with a severe cold, but his aidecam told me to go back in three days to receive an answer from him.

Dear I would like very much to go with your dear famaily, but; you know what I have written to you, I would like to go alone, so I can speak to you better for in your famaily's presence we can be very free to each other.

I know my dear it breakes my heart to go and bid you good bye! but! dear what can I do; than to suffer until the Good God brings you back to me again. Your sister Choling came to visit me yesterday and she wants to give me her daughter Maria Luisa to me she says she had great confidence in me, well I told her for my part I am quite wil­ling and satisfied but I have to comunicate with your first if you are willing, I have also many pupils about fifteen three dollars each and I am also studying Piano 4 $ a month in Dna. Maria's house one of my pupil, Dear I have to do something like that because I am always sorry thinking of you Oh! dear how I miss you. I will always be good & faithful to you, and also do good to my companions so that the good God will bring you back to me. I will try all my best to be good to your family especially to your dear old Parents "the hands that we cannot cut lift it up and kiss it or adore the hand that gives the blow" How it made the tears flew in my eyes when I read those few lines of you. Say darling say it makes me think of our dear old hut in Dapitan and the many sweet ours we have passed there.

Love I will love you ever, love I will leave thee never, ever to me precious to thee never to part heart bound to heart or never to say good bye.

So my darling receive many warm Affection and love.

From Your

Ever faithfull and

True till death

Josephine Bracken

P.S. the boys are very well I am giving my home pupils their lesson every night from 7 until 9 o’clock.

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145. Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Philippines, Manila, 30 August 1896

With two letters of introduction to the ministers of war and colonies.

Manila, 30 August 1896

My dear Sir,

Enclosed I send you two letters for the Ministers of War and Colonies that I believe will be well received.

I have no doubt that you will make me proud of you before the Government with your future behavior, not only for your promised word but because present happenings have palpably demonstrated to you that certain procedures, the product of extravagant ideas, give no other result but hatred, ruins, tears, and blood.

May you be very happy is the wish of your attentive servant who kisses your hand,

Ramon Blanco

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146. Rizal, Real Fuerza de Santiago, Manila, 10 December 1896 || To the Investigating Judge

Rizal inquires if he will be allowed to issue a manifesto to his countrymen concerning the use of his name in their agitation. Permission was granted him and he wrote the manifesto, but its publication was not allowed.

10 December 1896

Sir Investigating Judge

Mr. José Rizal Mercado y Alonso, 35 years old, prisoner in the Real Fuerza de Santiago on account of the proceedings against him, to Your Lordship respectfully expounds:

That having learned that his name was being used as a war cry by some individuals and having reasons to believe afterwards that some continue still to be deceived, promoting disturbances; as he wished since the beginning to disapprove such ideas and does not want his name to be abused, he requests Your Lordship to please inform him if in his present state he would be permitted to manifest in one way or another that he condemns such criminal methods and that he has never permitted that his name be used. [Click Here for the Manifesto] The only object of this step is to undeceive some unfortunate men and perhaps save them, and the undersigned does not wish it to influence the case against him.

God, etc.

Manila Real Fuerza de Santiago, 10 December 1896

José Rizal

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147. Rizal, 20 December 1896 || To Luis Taviel de Andrade

What do you think of a consultation with a lawyer proposed by my sister? - Rizal, however, has confidence in the ability of Andrade.

20 December 1896

Mr. Luis Tavel de Andrade

My very esteemed Defender,

It is very possible that my sister may go to your house to speak to you about my case; and it is very possible also that in her eagerness to see me freed, she may ask you something that may vex you: You will know how to forgive the impatience of women. She (who does not know you personally) has indicated to me the convenience of a consultation with a professional lawyer. Frankly, having you, I do not want him nor do I need him. I trust more in the nobility of the defender than in practical ability and I be­lieve you have enough of the latter for my little case. Moreover, you are better informed of certain matters than another lawyer with whom I have not spoken. However, as I have put my case in your hands, I give myself up to your arbitration. Do as you please, accept consultation or not, as it seems best to you. I am satisfied with my choice.

I permit myself to remind you that I have asked for confrontation in your presence and the judge did not accede.

Pardon the paper but I have no other.

I reiterate I am your most attentive servant, who kisses your hand,

J. Rizal

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148. Rizal, Royal Fort Santiago, 25 December 1896 || To Mr. Luis Taviel de Andrade

Rizal requests an interview with his defender before appearing before the Plenary Court in the trial of his case.

Royal Fort Santiago

25 December 1896

Mr. Luis Taviel de Andrade

My very distinguished Defender,

The judge has informed me this morning that my case will be taken up before the Plenary Court tomorrow. I have been waiting for you this morning to speak with you about an important matter but undoubtedly your pursuits did not permit you to come as the judge expected. If you have time to spare, I should like to speak with you before I appear before the Council. I would" appreciate it very much, this afternoon, this evening or morning.

Wishing you Merry Christmas, I reiterate I am as ever your most attentive affectionate servant and client, who kisses your hand,

José Rizal