Translation:Aurora de Chile/28/Portugal.

by Camilo Henríquez

PORTUGAL.

PORTUGAL.

EL periodico de Londres ya citado[1] publicado en 1º de Febrero trahe[2] la notable orden siguiente dirigida por el Gobierno del Brazil[3] al supremo tribunal relativo á obras literarias establecido en Lisboa.=Algunos exemplares[4] de dos obras publicadas en esa[5] capital con permiso de esa autoridad, han aparecido en Rio de Janeiro; la una es una traduccion de una historia del Gabinete de S.Cloud, que contiene una carta &c. sumamente injuriosa á la Reyna de España, y que repite las calumnias que se han difundido contra esta señora infeliz[6] : la otra es un folleto en que se describe la Constitucion inglesa con los colores mas brillantes, [hasta][7] llegar á recomendar su adopcion á la nacion portuguesa (como si fuese posible mudar de gobierno sin gravisimos inconvenientes,) es ademas mui peligrosa en tiempos tan calamitosos. S.A.R[.][8] ha visto con indignacion que se diece licencia para la impresion de tales obras ; y para lo sucesivo ordena que se elija para censor un hombre de talentos y profunda politica, y que no se impriman, ni publiquen las obras siguientes:=á saver,[9] las que sean injuriosas á la reputacion de qualquiera Soberano, y principalmente de los parientes y aliados de la Real familia. 2º. Las obras que ataquen directa ò indirectamente la religion del Estado, e igualmente las que del mismo modo sean injuriosas à las otras religiones ó sectas de la cristiandad establecidas en los grandes Estados de Europa, ó á las formas de su gobierno; por que el pueblo sin dicernimiento es introducidos en errores por tales obras, y puede armarse [contra][10] su prosperidad. 3º. El tribunal favorecerà el progreso de las ciencias, artes é industria, y con espacialidad las obras que inculquen los profundos principios de la administracion, y propongan útiles reformas. Las obras, cuya publicacion se prohibe, por el entusiasmo que introducen, comunican ideas que en la presente crisis no pueden prometer buenos resultados. No es necesario recordar al tribunal que el Principe Regente ha prohibido que se imprima ó publique qualquiera cosa en favór ó en contra de las cortes[11] actuales de España. &c. &c

THE newspaper of London already cited[1] published on the 1st of February brings the following notable order commanded by the Government of Brazil[3] to the supreme court relative to the literary works established in Lisbon.=Some copies of two works published in that capital with the permission of that authority, have appeared in Rio de Janeiro; the one is a translation of a history of the Cabinet of St. Cloud, which contains a letter &c.[12] extremely injurious to the Queen of Spain, and which repeats the insults that have been spread against this unfortunate lady:[6] the other is a pamphlet in which the English Constitution is described with the most brilliant colors, going so far as to to recommend its adoption to the Portuguese nation (as if it were possible to change the government without very grave inconveniences,) it is furthermore very dangerous in times so calamitous. HRH[8] has seen with indignation that license would be given for the printing of such works; and from now on orders that a man of talents and strong policy be chosen for censor, and that the following works not be printed, nor published: namely, those that be injurious to the reputation of whichever Sovereign, and principally of relatives and allies of the Royal family. 2nd. The works that attack directly or indirectly the religion of the State, and equally, those that in the same manner be injurious to the other religions and sects of Christianity established in the great States of Europe, or the forms of its governance; because the people without discernment are introduced into errors by such works, and can take up arms against their prosperity. 3rd. The court will favor the progress of the sciences, arts, and industry, and especially the works which inculcate the strong principles of the administration, and propose useful reforms. The works, whose publication are prohibited, by the enthusiasm that they introduce, communicate ideas that in the present crisis can not promote good results. It is not necessary to remind the court that the Prince Regent has prohibited that whatever thing in favor of or against the current cortes[11] of Spain be printed or published. &c. &c[12]

Notes

1. The paper had previously reported on European news taken from the The Times of London (cf. issue 24, 23 July 1812, pg. 2).
2. "trae"
3. In 1812, the Portuguese royal court and seat of government is in Rio de Janeiro in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, where it had established itself in exile after the French invasion of 1807.
4. "ejemplares
5. Auroradechile'cl's transcription corrected; was "esas."
6. The court of Napoleon was held at the Château de Saint-Cloud. The reference is presumably to The Secret History of the Court and Cabinet of St. Cloud: In a Series of Letters from a Resident in Paris to a Nobleman in London, Written During the Months of August, September and October, 1805, attributed either to H. Stewarton or Lewis Goldsmith, which was a series of often sordid attacks by the English author on the Bonapartes in the form of supposed letters to London. Specifically, Letter XXVII decries King Charles IV and the "upstart" Prime Minister Manuel de Godoy, accusing first Godoy's brother and then Godoy himself of being lovers to Queen Maria Luisa. The text was translated into Spanish by José Francisco Heredia, the father of famed Cuban poet José María Heredia some time around 1809-10 to coincide with Napoleon's occupation of Iberia.
7. The original document reads "hatas," which the translator has inferred was an error for hasta.
8. SAR is a Spanish acronym for "Su Alteza Real," or "His/Her Royal Highness," and is typically used for princes and princesses, as opposed to Su Majestad, "His/Her Majesty," as the monarch is styled. "SAR" is used here because João IV is meant, who was ruling as regent for his mother, the mentally incapable queen regnant, Maria I.
9. "saber"
10. The original document reads "cantra," which the translator has inferred was an error for contra.
11. Cortes here, left untranslated, refers to the Spanish Cortes Generales, which is today Spain's legislature, but in imperial Spain typically exercised little power outside of occasional tax-related matters. However, the session held during the Cádiz period (1808-1814), when, after Napoleon's invasion and Ferdinand VII's abdication, the Cortes were established in Cádiz, was a liberal, reformist legislative body, operating in the monarch's name, but with no royal oversight.
12. "etc."

Source

• Scan of original document pg. 3, pg. 4
• Spanish transcription from Auroradechile.cl