Description

Relação dos factos praticados pela commissão dos commerciantes de vinhos, em Londres, correspondentes da companhia geral da agricultura

[List of Facts Performed by the Commission of the Wine Merchants, in London. Correspondents from the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro, in Porto, as a Result of the Petition Presented to the House of Commons on July 12, 1813, by Certain People, who Called Themselves Members of the Former [British] Factory House…]

Lisbon: Impressão Régia 1913.

[bound together with:]

Continuação da Relação dos Factos Practicados Pela Commissão dos Commerciantes de Vinhos, em Londres, Correspondentes da Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro, no Porto. Trasladada do Original Inglez.

[Continuation of the List Of Facts Practiced by the Commission of Wine Merchants, in London, Correspondents of the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro, in Porto. Translated from the English Original.]

Lisbon: Impressão Régia 1913.

The trade of Port wine from Alto Douro in Portugal has been significantly influenced by the complex relationship between Portugal and Great Britain since the early 18th century. The longstanding alliance between the two countries presented Great Britain with a substantial opportunity to dominate the wine trade, following the industry’s shift from traditional wool production in the region.

Just a year after the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the Portuguese Prime Minister, the Marquis of Pombal, founded the Douro Wine Company (Companhia Geral da Agricultura e Vinhos do Alto Douro) in 1756. This company took control of the quality and export of Port wine, which left the British somewhat frustrated. This frustration was particularly pronounced after they had established a significant British Factory House (Feitoria Inglesa) in Porto, where trading deals were previously arranged privately before the foundation of the Douro Wine Company.

In the early 19th century, following the Napoleonic Wars, which had significantly weakened the Portuguese wine trade, Great Britain sought to reassert its dominance over the production and export of Port wine. In 1811, the British Factory House—part of the British consulate since 1806—attempted to suppress and close the Douro Wine Company by introducing substantial new funds.

The present book is a Portuguese translation of documents in English language that were submitted to the House of Commons by various British wine dealers. These dealers had experiences with the Portuguese before the Napoleonic Wars and urged the government to end the suppression of the Douro Wine Company, which is essential to the Port wine trade. The book includes documents that discuss the foundation of the company, its significance for Portuguese relations, and its benefits to British trade.

The book includes a sequel of the first title. Both volumes are only rarely found together.

A book with the same title was published in the same year in Rio de Janeiro.