Page (Roberto)

This English subject, who so endeared himself to the people of Madeira through his acts of philanthropy and generosity, was already in Madeira in 1804. There, together with José Phelps, he ran a wine business, which still existed in 1840. He withdrew, we believe, to England around the middle of the 19th century, when many English firms wound up their affairs because of the hardship brought on the island by the devastation of its vineyards by oidium tuckery, and he died there some years later. Among many other things, we know that he did the following for the benefit of the island and its inhabitants, as we have already had occasion to state in an article published in January 1904 in a newspaper of this city:

Repairs to the chapel of the Lord of Miracles (Senhor dos Milagres) in Machico, to which he gave a fine painting for the chancel, contributing money towards the works carried out there.

A contribution in money, at the request of the then captain-general (capitão-general, military governor of Madeira) and governor of Madeira, Pedro Fagundes Bacelar, towards the ransom of Portuguese sailors held captive in Algiers.

The placing of an iron marker on the shoal known as the Carneiro (‘ram’), west of Funchal, to prevent the loss of coastal boats, many people having previously perished there. A tiled house at the Ribeira das Cales (‘stream of the channels’), as a shelter for travellers. A large bridge over that same stream, which was extremely dangerous in winter. A tiled house at the Ribeira dos Boieiros, in the hills of Porto da Cruz (‘harbour of the cross’), as a shelter for travellers. Repairs to many public paths in the hills. The completion of the bridge and road at the Ribeira dos Frades, in Câmara de Lobos (‘seals’ den’), a work considered greatly needed. A stone bridge over the Ribeira do Engenho, on the main road west of Funchal, which had been destroyed by the flash flood (aluvião) of 1803. A wooden bridge over a fearsome precipice near Praia Formosa (‘beautiful beach’). Major repairs to the São Martinho road. Extensive repairs to the Rua da Laranjeira and Rua do Mosteiro Novo (‘New Convent’), a very necessary and useful work. A contribution towards the new fountain in Rua dos Ferreiros (‘blacksmiths’). A contribution towards the new fountain at the stream of Our Lady of Calhau (Nossa Senhora do Calhau). A contribution of 700 escudos towards the great theatre of Funchal. A contribution towards a bridge in the town (vila) of Santa Cruz (‘Holy Cross’). A wooden bridge at Ribeiro Frio (‘cold brook’). A house next to the Convent of São Francisco (St Francis of Assisi), to shelter the poor. A contribution towards the church of São Sebastião in this city. A new bridge at Monte (‘hill’). Repairs, for the second time, to the bridge in Rua dos Ferreiros. Repairs, twice, to the upper Torreão (‘turret’) bridge. A good tiled house in the hills of the Paul, as a shelter for travellers. A public fountain on the Monte road. Another at the Fonte da Telha. Repairs to and paving of the street running from Cruzes to São Paulo. Another fountain on the Monte road. Four resting places and seats on that same road. A wooden bridge on the Levada de Santa Luzia (‘St Lucy’s channel’). A new bridge at the Ribeira das Cales. Six plank beds for the Funchal gaol. A loan of one conto (one million réis) de réis for the completion of the Lancasterian school. 100 blankets for the Holy House of Mercy (Santa Casa da Misericórdia). Six iron beds for the same Holy House. A donation of 300,000 réis (old Portuguese money of account; 1$000 = 1,000 réis, 1:000$000 = one conto = 1,000,000 réis) for the building of the bridge over the Ribeira dos Socorridos. A substantial donation to the inhabitants of Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’) during the great drought there in 1822. He organised a subscription, to which he contributed generously, in aid of the prisoners in the Funchal gaol. What is listed above, done for the inhabitants of this island, is no small thing. But there is more.

In 1816 he kept up the price of Madeira wine against a monopoly that had been formed, and thanks to his energetic stance and unfailing probity the inhabitants of this island gained many tens of contos de réis (conto: one million réis). So evident and so significant was this benefit that the Funchal Council sent him an official letter of sincere and affectionate thanks.

Such acts of benevolence could not go unnoticed by those in government, and Robert Page was twice honoured by John VI. At that time decorations and other royal favours still carried great value and were not squandered as they are today. One did not obtain a knighthood of the Order of Christ or a commandery of the Order of Our Lady of the Conception for trivial reasons or for unmentionable services, as happens so frequently at present.

Ninety and a hundred years ago this was not the case. Robert Page received the rank of knight of the Tower and Sword and was later made a commander of the same order. If even today its grades are among the few that carry any standing in the social market, we may judge that in those days they were held in high esteem and granted only to those who had truly earned such an honour.

It is rather surprising that Robert Page, who gave so many notable proofs of the nobility of his character and of his sympathy for the Portuguese, should have lent himself – moved, perhaps, by a misguided patriotism – to posing as the discoverer of the famous ‘relics of Robert Machin’s cross’ to which Dr Azevedo refers on p. 417 of ‘Longing for the Homeland’ (Saudades da Terra). These ‘relics’, deposited in the mother church (igreja matriz) of Machico and which nobody has so far taken seriously, are kept in a wooden frame glazed on the front. The label accompanying them states that they were found in 1814 in the chapel of the Lord of Miracles in the same town (vila).