1832. Carta anónima dirigida a um cabo da Guarda Real da Polícia.

Anonymous letter to a Police Real Guard corporal.

The author denounces a wine warehouse clerk, accusing him of speaking out against the government of Dom Miguel and of having a copy of the constitution charter.

Those were the times of the king Dom Miguel, who developed a vast secret services apparatus and whose repressive methods were much well-known. The persecution practices filled the Lisbon jails with prisoners and many perished there ‒ this was the case of the liberals Pedro Melo Breyner and Manuel Borges Carneiro, among many others. Much more modest was the defendant in this process: the Royal Guard of the Police, after receiving the anonymous letter published here, promptly arrested Manuel Luís Pereira, a wine warehouse clerk. The defendant always claimed his innocence, but nevertheless was condemned to leave Lisbon and retiring to his homeland, Valadares.

«Finding of a Liberal in Travessa da Palha, in a retainment warehouse number 24. For further evidences of truth, he just got out of Limoeiro. And more: as soon as he is arrested, he must be frisked, since he has a constitution charter in his wallet, a letter pretty much against our Government and against religion. As soon as he is arrested, I will reveal my identity, and I will also tell you who this friend is. You will be forced to hand him in to the Commander. He's Manuel Luís Pereira. Lisbon, 6th January 1832»