1817. Carta de Felismina para seu irmão Jacinto Júlio de Queirós Moura, estudante.

Family letter from Felismina to her brother, Jacinto Júlio de Queirós Moura, student.

The author tells her brother the news and expresses her wish to meet the woman he talks about.

Jacinto Júlio de Queirós Moura, a law student, and Josefa Viana de Campos, his lover, were both accused of adultery. He was also accused of planning the death of Dr. António Joaquim de Campos, Josefa’s husband.

«Amarante, fifteenth of May. Beloved brother,

Our cousin Bernardino was just here and showed us a letter of yours, in which you said you weren’t coming. Mother said you should do what you please, because, by the way, she couldn’t care less. But she also says the lack of money will force you to come back soon. My dear Jacinto, I would love to meet that lady whose beauty and qualities you praise. I believe you lie, because you are not worthy of such a treasure. I must ask you to remind of Doctor João Luís, who disgraced himself with his marriage in Coimbra. The reason why I tell you this is because I don’t believe you to be that fortunate to find a lady with all the qualities you have described us. However, being so, you must cherish her. Give her, on our behalf, many thanks for all she has done for you, according to your own words. If I had any influence on mother, I would ask her to let you stay. However, I am afraid of bothering her, but Bernardino alone is enough to convince her. There are no news. Only that Ba. Apolinária already gave birth to a baby boy, and the lower court judge told me he had informed you of that. You should congratulate her! I have nothing else to say, except that you send my compliments to that lady. And tell her that, if I knew she considered my handwriting pleasant, I would write her.

Your beloved sister, Felismina.

Send my wistful and tender compliments to the very honourable lady Dona Josefina Clara Alexandrina do Bom Sucesso Sousa.