First and only edition of a rare Portuguese pamphlet describing the failed attempt of the Algerians, with the help of the Ottoman Empire, of defending the city of Oran during a siege of the city by the Spanish in 1732. In the text, the focus lies on the dates of the different events and the number of ships involved in the destruction of the Algerian armada. The Spanish victory was only partially the result of their own efforts, since part of the Algerian fleet had been wrecked in a storm. The author felt that the Spanish should thank the Almighty for their luck and good fortune.
In 1714 Philip was confirmed as the king of Spain and with the rapid recovery of Spain's economy, he was now able to redirect his attention further afield, for example to the recapture of Oran. His operation in 1732 in northern Algeria was successful and he and his successors were able to hold the city for another 60 years before king Charles IV signed his claim over the city away to the Ottoman Empire in 1792.
The present copy contains the stamp of the library of the Dukes of Palmela, a title first granted, by royal decree, to Pedro de Sousa Holstein. He not only was one of the most important Portuguese diplomats and statesmen during the first half of the 19th century, but also was the first modern Prime Minister of Portugal (first in 1834-35 and later also in February 1842 and 1846).
With contemporary ink manuscript foliation ("224-227") in the upper outer corners of the recto side of each leaf, browned and somewhat soiled throughout, with a purple ownership stamp of the library of the Dukes of Palmela (their monogram beneath the ducal coronet) on the title page, small holes in the upper and outer margins of the first two and fourth leaves, without loss of text. Barbosa Machado 2, 856; Inocêncio IV, 348; Porbase (4 copies, all BNP); WorldCat (3 copies).