Having withdrawn from political life after the end of the monarchy, the abolitionist Joaquim Nabuco responds to a request from the prestigious Brazilian Historical and Geographical Institute.
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Handwritten letter from Joaquim Nabuco to Henri Raffard.
- One sheet, two pages.
- In Portuguese, 11 cm x 16.5 cm.
- May 11, 1898, Maricá (RJ), Brazil.
- Excellent condition conservation.
- Unique piece.
Pilar Farm, Maricá
May 11, 1898
My dear friend Mr. Raffard,
I see that the Institute has adopted May 20th as the date for its commemoration. Unfortunately, I will not be able to be in the city on that day; I have come to the countryside for health reasons, and the time is too short to return – and with a speech. Please excuse me to the Institute. It is a fine opportunity that I am giving to others to exalt the Portuguese people: for my part, I have already done so enough and so many times that it would be monotonous for those who listened. I will not telegraph you, as all this explanation would not fit in a telegram. Believe me, I am very sincere.
Your friend and confidant [?]
Joaquim Nabuco
Known for his fight against slavery, being the founder of the Brazilian Anti-Slavery Society, Joaquim Nabuco (1849-1910) strongly criticized the Catholic Church, which, in his view, had not defended the emancipation of slaves in Brazil. Furthermore, he defended religious freedom and the separation of Church and State. He was also a historian, jurist, and journalist, as well as one of the founders of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. He served as Brazil's ambassador to the United States between 1905 and 1910, at the end of his life.
With the advent of the Republic and the Monarchy, Joaquim Nabuco withdrew from public life, married, had five children, and dedicated himself to journalism, his work, and studies. It was during this time that this letter was written at the Pilar farm, which belonged to Joaquim Nabuco's family. Interestingly, Princess Isabel visited Maricá in 1868, stayed at the farm, and attended a ball in her honor in the main hall of the Maricá City Council.
The recipient of this letter is Henri Raffard (1851-1906), son of a Swiss consul-general, merchant, industrialist, and elected first secretary of the IHGB from 1891 until his death. The IHGB is the oldest and most traditional entity supporting research and preservation of the history, geography, culture, and social sciences of Brazil, and was created in 1838.
Joaquim Nabuco is seen as one of the great names in Brazilian history, considered a national hero and honored in various instances and monuments: his autograph documents appear very rarely, especially in excellent condition, with an important recipient (the IHGB) and interesting content that reveals a certain weariness on Nabuco's part: " It is a fine occasion that I yield to others to exalt the Portuguese: for my part I have already done so enough and so many times that it would be monotonous for those who listened to me."
