L30/14/359/3

From Rodrigo De Sousa/Souza Continho, Lisbon to 2nd Baron Grantham [Madrid].[Text in French]:

20 Jul 1782

From: 1782 To: 1782

Translation: It was with the greatest pleasure and the sweetest satisfaction that I received your charming letter, and at the same moment I count on assuring you that it is not at all a want of attention, or negligence which has stopped me from fulfilling this obligation of my late father, which I regard as most sacred and to which I am bound. Condescend to believe My Lord, in the sincerity of my expression and deign to wait somewhat longer, and you will receive this debt, either in parts at regular fixed times or all at once. I do not know how to express how much I am mortified that in a free country, there is so little regard for the justice of its pensioners to have confused them with those that the Court would have given to maintain its influence, and that the prosperity of the Nation required to be abolished. My Lord, I could give you an even more unhappy recital of my situation. After the death, on my arrival in Portugal, finding the very considerable wealth belonging to my Mother had been ruined by my father, even though in very lucrative employment, has always sacrificed his wealth to the happiness of the people and in the service of the Court, I had reason to expect justice from the most worthy of Sovereigns, that she would consider me in the same way as her august predecessors had done towards those who had not rendered such considerable service to her Court, and which was not to be found in such brilliant [word illegible] Unfortunately enemies of my father had enough power to have all pensions refused to me, for the payment of debts after I had ceded from all that should that should have belonged to me by way of titles and honours. Such My Lord, was the recompense and the sum of thirty years work and trouble, consecrated with the greatest zeal to the service of the Court, after having laid waste the dowry of my mother who was one of the richest heiresses of her time. Thus I am obliged to pay my fathers’ heavy debts , with what is left of my mother’s wealth , and yours which lies heavy on my heavy on my heart will surely be one of the first. Allow me My Lord, to interrupt this discourse, my heart bleeds to freely and there is no Philosophy which holds when it comes to such things. You tell me that you are married, that you are a happy father and husband. Heaven has been pleased to recompense you for your virtue and to aid you with light, in the terrible choice which decides forever of the good or bad fortune of life. (I am now so Good Christian as your Waddilove when I speak of P- in so genteel manner)[in English in the text] I would like to see him Bishop and father of a large family, and although I will never be able to receive his blessing I am only left respecting his virtues and his talents. You do me the honour of telling me that the gentleman who is your brother remembers me - Oh what regrets I have that I am not close to your adorable family to have pleasant moments contemplating the happiness which it enjoys. Be pleased My Lord to believe that no-one has more respect for your virtues and for your insight than he who has the honour to be with the most perfect devotion My Lord, your most affectionate and humble servant, D Rodrigo de Souza Continho.

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debt, Portugal