[1827]. Carta de Maria José de Miranda para seu filho José Caldeira Vieira de Andrade, cadete.

Family letter from Maria José de Miranda to her son, José Caldeira Vieira de Andrade, cadet.

The author gives her son some news from home, advises him to be wise and promises to send him food through a muleteer.

The process of José Caldeira Vieira de Andrade, cadet in Elvas, accused of deserting the army, is contemporary with the liberal revolution in Portugal, during which liberal insurgents opposed the supporters of absolutism, led by the King D. Miguel. In reaction to this revolt, the forces of the regime persecuted and arrested people on the streets, simply based on common complaints and without further investigation.

«My dear José. 29 October. I've received your letter. I'm glad that you are better now. I haven't got any novelties and your sisters are fine and they are all very well, and so are your aunts. Aunt Cristina and her children arrived about a month ago. They are now here and they are well, but don't write to anyone here, because I don't want people to know where you are, and so you should believe what I say, as I know it for sure. And, therefore, be very cautious and don't rely on [luck] and don't make mistakes, because you'll pay for them. And so, keep your good sense, behave as a good person. In what concerns the saints celebrations, as soon as the muleteer, our neighbour, departs from here, and he says he will go next week , I'll send you some meat, dried figs and some other things from here. I'll let you know when the muleteer is about to arrive there. Here things are getting worse every day. God takes care of us and may Him give us patience. I'm your mother, Maria José de Miranda