The Portuguese Maritime Mail Service: Logistics and Some Financial Results (1798-1803)

Abstract

In 1798, as part of the postal reforms conducted by D. Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho, Portugal implemented the first official mail transport lines between Lisbon and its overseas domains. The system initially combined the use of merchant and war vessels with two packet boats circuits serving the main American ports. However, in 1803, the packet boats trips were interrupted, having been restarted, with another configuration, only after the arrival of the Royal Family to Rio de Janeiro. The present work seeks to reflect on this change and, based on documents under the custody of various archives and on Lisbon newspaper announcements, concludes that not only logistical factors, but also economic-financial ones were behind the decisions adopted at that time.