O réu deste processo agrediu Vital de Medeiros por este último lhe ter tentado tirar a mulher. Vital de Medeiros era trabalhador de estanco (no Jardim do Tabaco) e, segundo o réu, perseguia constantemente Inácia de Jesus, tentando convencê-la a deixar o marido e a voltar para a casa onde fora criada desde pequena: a sua. Na correspondência estão presentes várias súplicas de Francisco Henriques no sentido de alguém interceder por ele e de o conseguir soltar, sendo sobretudo referidas nesse papel de intercessoras a mulher de Vital de Medeiros, a quem o réu chama "sogra" e "mãe", e a Regente da Roda dos Expostos da Real Casa. Quando escrevia à mulher, o réu fazia cartas autógrafas, mas quando escrevia à sogra, ditava as suas cartas a um escriba de letra mais perfeita. Francisco Henriques acabou por ser condenado a 4 anos de degredo em Castro Marim, apesar de a acusação ter pedido 8 anos na Índia – prática ainda comum e que não deixava de causar grande angústia, já que era muitas vezes uma viagem sem regresso. O procurador que o defendeu, insurgindo-se contra a falta de universalidade da justiça, mostra-nos como os primeiros ecos da Revolução Francesa já se faziam ouvir em Portugal: “Se o miserável do R. não cazasse ou depois annuisse, ou ao menos disfarçasse as seduçoes q. o A. fazia a sua mulher, não veriamos esta tão injusta perseguição, mas tudo acontece a quem é pobre, e honrado, fechando-se lhe até as portas da sua justa defeza…”.

Private letter from Madalena de Jesus Maria, director of the Royal House of the Foundling Wheel of Lisbon, to Vital Medeiros, a tobacco worker.

The author gives some information about Francisco Henriques, who is in prison for assaulting the recipient.

Francisco Henriques, married to Inácia de Jesus, was accused of assaulting Vital de Medeiros because he constantly disturbed his wife. Vital de Medeiros stalked Inácia de Jesus, who had been his servant for many years, trying to convince her to leave her husband and go back to work as a servant at his house. Francisco Henriques tried to convince Vital de Medeiros’s wife and the director of the Royal House of the Foundling Wheel of Lisbon to intercede on his behalf. Despite his efforts, he was sentenced to 4 years of exile in Castro Marim.

«Mister Vital de Medeiros.

First of all, I want to know about your health, as well as that of Madam Teresa de Jesus, to whom I send my compliments and I wish both of you as much happiness as I wish for myself. I inform you that your son-in-law wrote me that letter, asking me to intercede on his behalf. However, as I’m not sure of his good or bad intentions, I will not do it. In order to satisfy your daughter and respect you, I send you the letters he sent me here. He promised not to offend, but I can’t be sure of it; may God whisper what’s best. And from everything that is happening, and that will happen, don’t say a word to no one, so that your daughter won’t suffer. Yes, don’t do it yet. She was not here because she has told me she wanted to be involved in her husband’s release. I’ve been giving her what I believe to be good and reasonable advice, since I assure her that, if she leaves from here, she will only get more trouble to herself and to her husband. He said he wanted to talk to you and ask you for forgiveness. In this case, I can only tell him yes. When you can and it doesn’t cause you any trouble, please come talk to me, and Madam Teresa de Jesus as well, because, the truth is I care for him a lot and I have told your daughter many times that you are people with status, you and Madam Teresa de Jesus. Your daughter has been giving me quite some work, but I do it all with my heart in God and because I feel pity for her. I told her already that, if this continues, what she earns won’t be enough to pay for the stamps of the letters. I’ll bother you no more. I ask you to send me back the letter of the prisoner that was address to me. I’ll write no more. Your daughter asks for your blessing and sends her love. May God keep you as long as I live.

From your minor servant, who’s much obliged, Madalena de Jesus Maria»