A Queda do Despotismo. Drama Heroico em tres actos composto para se representar em o dia 24 de Agosto de 1822, em memoria do faustissimo dia da Acclamação feita na cidade do Porto da nossa Regeneração Politica, e alusivo ao mesmo dia. Por seu author ....

Coimbra, Na Typografia da Rua dos Coutinhos, 1823.. FIRST and ONLY EDITION. 8°, disbound. A few ink scribbles in lower outer blank margin of title page. Light browning. In good to very good condition. 31 pp. *** FIRST and ONLY EDITION. The play (more of a dialogue between allegorical characters) was written to celebrate the uprising in Porto on August 24, 1820, that brought the liberals to power in Portugal and led to the country's first constitution. The dramatis personae include Lisia, Esperança, Despotismo, Constituição, Douro, Tejo, Mondego, Genio do Mal, and a chorus of winged Genii. The play takes place on August 24, 1820.Pages 3-5 are an ode by J.M.C. Valente. The list of subscribers runs to over 150 names (pp. 25-31).Joaquim Antonio de Magalhães (Lamego, ca. 1790-Lisbon, 1848) studied law at Coimbra and by 1826 was serving in the Côrtes. He later served as minister plenipotentiary to Rio de Janeiro. An influential figure in the 1820s and 1830s, he was noted for his oratorical powers; many of his speeches in parliament were printed, and are of considerable interest for the history of the period. Innocêncio speaks delicately of "certos desregramentos intimos" that were said to have disturbed his faculties and shortened his life. In a later volume, Brito Aranha reprints a letter to Innocêncio from Magalhães's nephew stating that Magalhães's early demise was not due to a dissolute life, but to a skin disease he contracted in Brazil. The disease left him nearly blind, and a physician's energetic attempts to reverse the blindless adversely affected his mind.*** Innocêncio XII, 9. Not in Biblioteca Pública de Braga, Catálogo do Fundo Barca-Oliveira. Not located in Porbase, which cites many other works by the author (and A Queda do despotismo by Moniz, published Lisbon, 1809). Not located in Jisc. Not located in KVK (51 databases searched).