MARIA II DA GLORIA

(1819-1853, Queen of Portugal 1826-1828 and 1834-1853) Fine Manuscript letter in Portuguese with translation, signed !The Queen!,

      to Emmanuele Paolo Polidori, (1778-1847), Cardinal from 1834 (published 1835), beginning with her titles !Dona Maria, By the Grace of God, Queen of Portugal and of the Algarves, of the Nearer and Further Sea, in Africa Lady of Guinea, and of the Conquest, Navigation, and Commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India etc.!, thanking him for his wishes !on the joyful occasion of the Birth of Christ Our Lord!, assuring him of her favour !on all occasions that may arise of showing you the special place which your merit holds in my estimation ... May Our Lord keep your Person in His Holy care!, 1 side folio, address and embossed wafer seal on conjugate leaf of the Portuguese Foreign Ministry with the Royal Arms, Necessidades Palace, Lisbon, 2nd March 1842, Dona Maria was born when the Royal family were in Brazil and spent her early years there. She was proclaimed Queen in 1826 but on her arrival at Gibraltar in 1828 found that her uncle had been proclaimed King as Miguel I, and much of her reign was marked by civil war. She married Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, Prince Albert!s cousin.#11;Cardinal Polidori was Prefect of the Congregation of the Council, whose task was to interpret the decrees of the Council of Trent, receive reports from Bishops on their dioceses, and consider the revision of provincial councils.