UNITED KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL, BRAZIL, AND THE ALGARVES.

Rio de Janeiro, 23 March.

The Most Dignified Queen, Maria I., passed away as a consequence of an extreme illness on 20th of the current month at a quarter past eleven in the morning, 81 years, 3 months and 3 days of age (…).

This hereby releases this terrible news and shall close the Offices and Courts and beginning with the periods of mourning, with the fortresses and vessels of the port firing a salute of honour every ten minutes and duly lowering their flags to half-mast.

National Library of Lisbon