Fonds: Companhia Confiança

Date of creation: 26 March 1838
Date of extinction: 8 September 1845
Administrative history: In January 1838 the Banco de Lisboa and the Associação Mercantil de Lisboa proposed some measures to the Parliament (the so-called Cortes) with a view to overcoming the serious crisis that the country was facing. One of those measures envisaged the creation of a Company to be funded by Banco de Lisboa and the capitalists and retailers that were interested in associating with the aim of lending 2,400 contos to the Government.

At a session on 19 February, the Parliament endorsed the establishment of the Company and, by an Executive Order of 2 March, approved the conditions for the organisation of the Company, under the name of Companhia Confiança.

On 26 March a loan agreement was signed with the Government, totalling 2,400 contos. This amount was to be repaid by public revenue incoming into local tax offices.

An Executive Order of 20 November established the conditions for a "2nd association" with an aim of granting a further loan to the Government, to the amount of 830 contos. This agreement was signed on 23 November.

An Executive Order of 19 December 1840 established the conditions for a "3rd association" with an aim of granting a further loan to the Government, to the amount of as 630 contos. This agreement was signed on 19 December.

In 1841 a "4th association" was established and its conditions were approved by an Executive Order of 24 May, in order to grant a 420 conto loan to the Government.

The Company kept separate accounting records for each “association”, although there were common elements, such as the name of the Company, the members of the Board and the shareholders.

The Company ceased its activity in 1845 with satisfactory profit. All the loans granted by it had been repaid.

As this Company was housed in the premises of Banco de Lisboa, its archive was kept by the latter. Documentation from this Company consists of a total of 30 books covering its entire period of activity.

Documentation dates: 1838-1845

No. items: 30
Extent: 1.04 Lm

Finding aid: Arquivo da Companhia Confiança (Col. Inventários, 2)
Access: No consultation restrictions.

All documentation is microfilmed and digitalized.