Life in Lisbon and the Casa do Espirito Santo, 1807–33

This chapter turns to an examination of the quotidian elements of Binh’s life in Lisbon after the prince regent’s departure for Brazil in 1807. It begins with a discussion of the French occupation of Lisbon and the hardships that Binh witnessed and experienced, noting the numerous parallels he wrote of with his experience of civil war in Tonkin. It discusses the implications of the ruler’s departure and Binh’s being stranded in Portugal for how he understood his situation, arguing that Binh had now become a diasporic individual who thought about himself and his situation in distinctly different ways. The chapter then examines Binh’s writings about civic institutions and life in Lisbon in the early 19th century. It looks at his descriptions of libraries, of the postal service, the public lottery, public safety institutions, and medical care. It also looks in detail at his description of Portuguese food as he experienced it in his Oratorian dining hall. It concludes with a discussion of the key events in his later life: the restoration of the Jesuit order, his attempts to sail to Brazil to join the prince regent, and the deaths of his remaining companions.