How long a time that I have not written you! I was very busy and I did not want to write you until after I had finished my work in order to surprise you with a grand news. Now everything is ready.

We have formed an Associatio Internationale des Philippinistes of which you should be the president. Don't say no before having read the whole thing. I enclose with this a copy of the project so that you can analyze it and express your important points of view.

We are planning to hold a congress at Paris during the Exposition. You will receive money for the trip and stay in Paris. The Association's committee is composed of

Prof. Blumentritt (Austrian), President Edm. Plauchut (French), Vice President Counselor : Dr. Rost (Anglo-German) Counselor: Dr. Regidor (Mestizo Filipino) Secretary: Dr. Rizal (Malayan-Tagalog)

As you see, the board of directors is truly international. Write me your observations and advice so that we may be able to improve the Association. We should like to invite all scholars who are interested in Philippine affairs.

If you have any suggestion, please send it to me so that I can pass it on to the others. As soon as we receive your exequatur, we are going to print the bylaws.

I am very sorry that the busts were broken. For whole days I worked steadily in the hope of furnishing some joy to my dear friends Blumentritt and Czepelack, but God did not want me to settle my account. I must always be in debt! However, the man to whom I delivered them at the post office had packed them very carefully. I had insured them against breakage, and all was in vain! Have you paid the freight and insurance? Through a misunderstanding they collecte from you on delivery. I learned about it when I went there to inquire about the boxes. They told me that it was twelve shillings for the freight and the insurance for which I am sending you thirteen by mail.

Last week I sent you Max Havelaar. As you understand Dutch, I am sure the book will be of interest to you.

Here it is very cold and foggy. I am seated at my writing desk facing the beautiful water-color picture by Dr. Czepelack. I have ordered for it an elegant frame. On the wall is hung your ethnographic map of the Malayan Archipelago, which is very useful. Unfortunately your legend has been lost but with the aid of the dictionaries of Crawford and Wallace I shall make a new one.

Archbishop Payo has died. May God forgive him! He did a great deal of harm to the Philippines and to the Filipinos, but I believe he did not do it deliberately.

I have just received two postal correspondence which ought to have been received last year. One is a programme and the other a letter. Both traveled from Europe to Manila and from there again to Europe. The letter was dated in 1887.

I close this letter greeting my good friends of Leitmeritz.

Your friend embraces you,

In order to attain this objective the Association shall

lst, Convoke international congresses;
2nd. Open public contests on subjects that are in accord with the objective of the Association;
3rd. Work for the establishment of a library and museum of Philippine objects.

The latter shall be either ordinary or honorary members.

The Board of Directors shall be composed of a president, a vice president, two counselors, and a secretary.

In case of resignation or death of any member, his successor shall be elected by the other members of the Board.

In the absence of the President, the senior or the oldest counselor shall perform his functions.

The ordinary members shall pay an annual fee of ten francs.

All correspondence, letters, reports, etc. shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Association.

President: Prof. F. Blumentritt (Austrian)
Vice President: Mr. Edm. Plauchut (French)

Counselors:

Dr. Ant. Regidor (Spanish)
Dr. Reinhold Rost (German)

Messrs. Edm. Plauchut, Ant. Regidor, and J. Rizal have already accepted their nomination for vice president, counselor, and secretary respectively.