1820. Cópia de carta de Inácio José Brilhante, marchante, para o seu irmão João Brilhante, também marchante.

Copy of a family letter from Inácio José Brilhante, a merchant, to his brother João Brilhante, also a merchant.

The author tells the addressee that he will surely feed his horse, as requested. He states that he has nothing of his own and owes everything to the rest of the family.

Inácio José Brilhante accused his younger brothers João Brilhante and Francisco Brilhante of stealing, in the night of April 14 1823, 41 head of cattle, 256 bovine skins, 191 sheep skins and 1,280 pounds («40 arrobas») of wool. The accused argued that the cattle was theirs and that Inácio José had only managing functions. He argued back, saying that he was the curator of the younger siblings. The letters that we find in the court's proceedings were used as proof both by the accusation and the defense. The accusation said that they were written at the time when all three were still friends, so they proved nothing. The defense found in them the proof that Inácio Brilhante was only a manager.