[JESUIT COMMERCE IN NORTH AMERICA]. Fair Copy Manuscript Letter Transcribed by a Scribe of the Portuguese Royal Court of an Intercepted Letter from Jesuit Pietro Antonio Contarini Intended for Pope Clement XIII (1693-1769). [Lisbon, June 5, 1759, though transcribed in 1760]. Six folio pages on two large folio folded leaves; each page approximately 344 x 222 mm, large folio leaves approximately 344 x 444 mm. Text in Italian. On white laid watermarked paper. Some toning, creasing, edgewear and small internal chips, central folds partially torn. A letter with superb content with significant historical impact. This letter was originally intended to appraise Clement XIII of the excellent work done by the Jesuits in America in terms of trade and commerce. The natural riches of California (gold, pearls and medicinal herbs) are emphasized. Anti-Jesuit propaganda and persecution in Lima are mentioned, with the aim of securing Clement’s support during their troubles. He also describes the execution of Jose Antequera y Castro (“Giovanni Antequera”), the unofficial governor of the Spanish possession, Paraguay, as well as his secretary, Juan de Mena.
The transcriber’s final note states that the original letter (which he had in hand to make this copy) was intercepted by the court of Portuguese King Joseph I, who (along with his minister, the first Marquis of Pombal), three months later, officially expelled the Jesuits from his kingdom and colonies, an action influenced by this letter and other events. On the final page is a sonnet honoring St. Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Jesuit movement. The Jesuits’ relationship with King Joseph I was strained: they had been accused of fomenting a plot for his assassination (the “Tavora Affair”), which they allegedly supported with theological justification (in addition, his death would cover up their rebellion in South America, where they were allegedly were attempting to establish their own fiefdom). This letter, with its detailed description of the riches of California, was one of the reasons the Marquis of Pombal was determined to rid the New World of the Jesuits and claim those riches for Portugal. The letter’s original author, Pietro Antonio Contarini, was a member of the ancient and noble family, the Contarini, the most powerful of the twelve founding families of the Venetian Republic. The letter was intercepted by an unnamed agent of the Portuguese Court, and given to Judge Ignacio Ferreira de Souta, who, in turn, gave it to the Marquis. A note at the end is translated thusly: “This letter and the sonnet were given to S. E. Count of Oeyra [Pombal] by Mr. Ignacio Ferreira last year.” Still debated today, the “Tavora Affair” was a huge political scandal, which was one of the catalysts of the expulsion of the Jesuits (allegedly, the Tavora family and the Jesuits attempted an assassination of the king; they were discovered, and the entire Tavora family was tortured and executed, and the Jesuits were eventually banished). Here are some translated excerpts from this letter: “Certainly by traveling places, the best of Europe and most of Asia, and in both of the Spanish Americas, repeatedly in Mexico, I found myself within reach of being informed in big business by the Fathers… potentially this universal commerce could not only be in all of the discovered world, but in all regions where the different types of [?] is relevant for commerce.” “... California, a large peninsula where many great riches have been discovered… At this time, California is abundant with gold and precious stones, and with Coral Sea pearls and other marine rarities…” “in Paraguay… the investigation proceeded with an auditorium of justified council and a scholar named John D. Antequeixa… to penetrate the tyrannies of the Fathers and the wealth they had accumulated.”