Postal routes by roads and by rivers: the attempt of postal integration in the captaincies of Portuguese America (1798-1807)

Abstract:

The Postal reform of the late 18^th century reached the Portuguese America and a discussion was started for the opening of new public roads, to ensure the existence of internal post linking the captaincies to each other. The governors, taking into consideration the demands from the center, took actions both to reuse already commonly traveled land paths, especially in the case of more southerly connections, and to explore unusual river routes, which would connect the inland captaincies with the North. However, some governors refused to open new roads for improve communication. The analysis of the governors’ ideas and actions about the postal routes allows us to understand how the postal reforms in Portuguese America were a process of dialogue and clashes between the Crown and its regional representatives.

Keywords:
Postal reforms; Postal routes in Portuguese America; Public roads