Bidspirit auction | Cartas Francisco

Cartas Francisco - OLIVEIRA (Francisco Xavier de) CARTAS Familiares, Historicas, Politicas, e Criticas . Discursos Serios e Jocosos Dedicados à Excellentissima Senhora Condessa de Vimioso. Lisboa: s.n., 1855. 3 v.; 145 mm. Francisco Xavier de Oliveira (1702-1783), or Cavaleiro de Oliveira as he is better known, served as an Officer in the Court of Accounts from the age of fourteen to thirty-one. Upon his father's death, he was appointed to replace him as Secretary to the Count of Tarouca, plenipotentiary minister in Vienna, leaving for that city in April 1734, never to return to Portugal. It seems he was never actually sworn in due to disagreements with the ambassador, and several attempts to remedy the situation in his favor were unsuccessful. Ruined, he went to Holland in 1740, where he began publishing his works, and then to England in 1744, where he converted to Protestantism. The Inquisition prosecuted him and burned his effigy in an auto-da-fé. His work can be divided into two distinct periods, coinciding with his stays in The Hague and England. The ”Family Letters” are part of the first, characterized by an attempt to enlighten Portuguese and foreigners about certain national values that are generally disregarded. His entire body of work remains one of the most vehement attacks ever launched against the Inquisition. Uncommon and esteemed. ! Please note that this translated text was generated by Google. !