ABSTRACT
On 28 January 1728, Captain Diogo de Pinho Teixeira presented a project to reform the governance of Goa to the viceroy of the Estado da Índia and the assembled members of the city’s municipal council. is act consisted of the solemn declamation of this long document and its official approval, and took place in the grand hall of the viceregal palace which was typically used for receiving embassies. During the preceding year, Teixeira had been selected for the task from a list of other names drawn up by the city council. In order to assist him in his efforts in preparing the project, he counted on the assistance of José Moreira Freire, a citizen of Goa. Well-known for his long record of service in the Estado da Índia, and especially for his term as captain general of Macau, Teixeira speculated that his name might have been forced to the top of the Câmara’s list by his powerful friends and relatives. He had nevertheless been skeptical, from the start, about his envisioned reforms’ chances for success, primarily because he doubted his enemies would accept following his plans. In other words, Captain Teixeira was fully aware that political ideas would not prevail over social relations.
