Letter in the name of Dom Pedro II (1887)

Dom Pedro II became interested in the research of a French agronomist specializing in olive trees, a few months before the end of the monarchy.

Letter from the Viscount of Nioaque to a French agronomist. Cannes, December 12, 1887. One sheet : 20 cm x 27 cm (the letter : 11.2 cm x 18 cm). In French. Excellent condition. Single piece.

On July 29, 1887, Dom Pedro II, who was staying in France, came to spend the day at the Camille Flammarion observatory (he had all of his books) in Juvisy, accompanied by the Viscount of Nioaque and L. Cruls, director of the Rio observatory. of January. On this visit, he inaugurated the new telescope and observed the planet Venus.

But who was the Viscount of Nioaque?

Behind all great personalities, there are always lesser known people, without whom history would sometimes be very different: spouses, friends, dedicated assistants or secretaries.

The Viscount of Nioaque was one of them. Not much is known about his life: he was a nobleman, born in Porto Alegre with the name Manuel Antônio da Rocha Faria, and began his career as a military man in the French Navy for five years, under the command of Napoleon. He then returned to Brazil where he was deputy, magistrate, senator and private assistant to Dom Pedro II.

This letter was written by him, in French, on behalf of the Emperor, to an agronomist specializing in olive trees, a few months after visiting the observatory in Paris. The letter is pasted onto a sheet that the scientist has commented on at the bottom.

Letter from the Viscount of Nioaque

Cannes, December 12, 1887

Hotel Beau Séjour

Sir,

The Emperor of Brazil received your letter of the 8th and will be very happy to read your interesting book. Receive His Majesty's thanks and respect.

Viscount of Nioaque (spelled Nioac in French)

Below, the (unidentified) recipient wrote

Viscount of Nioak

Secretary to the Emperor of Brazil

After having read my work on olive trees, the Emperor asked to arrange a meeting with me. If the Emperor hadn't been deposed shortly afterwards, I would have won the most beautiful medal in existence, the Rose of Brazil.

I found this document interesting in at least two respects: first, it is yet another testament to Dom Pedro II's immense interest in science, scientists and France… which was reciprocal; second, it allows us to better imagine his agenda a few months before the end of the monarchy, in the company of his secretary - and certainly confidant - the Viscount of Nioaque, who incidentally died in Cannes a few years later.