Recent Acquisitions - Richard C. Ramer Old & Rare Books

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richard c. ramer
Barère (1755-1841) was born at Tarbes and practiced law until elected to the States-
General in 1789. There he quickly gained a reputation as one of the most indefatigable and
radical members of the revolutionary Assembly. Elected president of the Convention in
December 1792, Barère presided over the trial and execution of Louis XVI. His rhetorical
style earned him the sobriquet “l’Anacréon de la guillotine.” Narrowly escaping deportation
after Robespierre’s fall, Barère was eventually banished to Belgium in 1816 as a
regicide, only to return after the revolution of 1830. His many published works include
poetry and translations in addition to political commentary.
There is some confusion about the authorship and publishing history of the work.
Palau nº 137771 calls this Portuguese edition a translation of his nº 137769, which is a
translation from French into Spanish—yet he gives the date of the Spanish edition as
1835 (i.e., 2 years after this work appeared). At nº 24149, however, Palau cites this as a
translation of Barère. Innocêncio V, 185 states that the work was originally published
in 1804 and was written in France or by someone under French influence, but does not
identify the author. NUC cites the work under Barère’s name and lists several Spanishlanguage
editions published between 1820 and 1842. Our edition is a translation from
one of the Spanish editions.
j Innocêncio V, 185. Palau 137771 (cf. 137769) and 24149. On Barère de Vieuzac, see
Nouvelle biographie générale V, cols. 490-5. OCLC: 8213908 (Princeton University, University
of Virginia, Stanford University). Porbase locates a single copy, in the Biblioteca Nacional
de Portugal, but gives a collation of liv, 103, [6] pp. only. Not located in Copac.
17. BARRETO, José Antonio de Oliveira. Memoria sobre as verdadeiras
causas da ruina da agricultura, e meios de tornar melhor este ramo da industria
nacional, offerecida ao soberano congresso. Lisbon: Na Offic. de Antonio
Rodrigues Galhardo, Impressor do Conselho de Guerra, 1821. 4°, disbound.
Typographical ornament on title page and at top of p. 3. Some
light waterstains. A good to very good copy. 16 pp. $150.00
FIRST and ONLY EDITION. The author calls attention to a number of factors detrimental
to the agricultural economy. Absentee landlords are a principal factor. Then
there are laws which have negative effects, discouraging increased cultivation. Another
negative factor is that large tracts of the most fertile land are held by the crown, ecclesiastical
entities, and other official bodies. The dizimos, a tax, is also said to be a hindrance
to agriculture. On pages 12-15 the author expresses a vehement dislike for bullfighting,
which he says also has a negative influence on agricultural production. The excessive
number of religious feast days is cited as yet another negative factor.
Father José António de Oliveira Barreto was a member of the Order of São Bento de
Avis. A partisan of liberal ideas who contributed many articles to the press between 1820
and 1823, he was nevertheless opposed to Freemasonry. Imprisoned on 24 May 1834 on
suspicion of being a Miguelista, a charge which he considered unjust, he subsequently
published in 1836 a Memoria in his defense.
j Kress, Luso-Brazilian Economic Literature Before 1850, p. 11. Goldsmiths’-Kress
23167.12. Innocêncio IV, 245. On the author, see also Grande enciclopédia IV, 280-1. OCLC:
55526568 (Newberry Library), plus ebook and microform copies. Porbase locates a single
copy, in the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal. Copac locates microform copies only, at the
University of London and Manchester University.