observation under Gen. Parrocli to the north, when Vidaurri, under pretence of protesting against the tariff and the tobacco-privilege, recalled the depu- ties of Nuevo Leon from congress, and was ac- cused of an intention to form the independent republic of Sierra-Madre, consisting of the north- western states. Being defeated by the government troops at Mier, he retired to Saltillo ; but after re- signing the executive of Coahuila, in September, 1856, he was re-elected by a packed legislature. Afterward he was more successful, and Comonfort signed a treaty, on 18 Nov., 1856, which left Vi- daurri in undisputed possession of the two states, which position was sanctioned by the constituent congress of 1857. Vidaurri held the northern states against Zuloaga and Miramon during the war of reform. In the summer of 1861 he entered into friendly relations with the secessionists of Texas, and on the invasion of Mexico by the allied powers in December, 1861, he declared his adhesion to the national cause, and served for some time against the French. But when the Republican government abandoned the capital, on 31 May, 1863, and established itself in San Luis de Potosi. differences arose between Juarez and Vidaurri, and when Juarez, in December of that year, retreated before the advancing French toward Monterey, Vidaurri opposed his entry by force. Soon after the French forces occupied Monterey in 1864, Vi- daurri was induced to give his adhesion to the empire, and he was rewarded with honors and ap- pointed a member of the imperial council. In the latter capacity he assisted in the assembly of Orizaba, 26 Nov., 1866, where he was the leader of the party that opposed Maximilian's abdication, and by his flattering representations induced the emperor to return to Mexico. He accompanied Maximilian to Queretaro, but in March, 1867, was sent to Mexico with Leonardo Marquez as presi- dent of the ministry and lieutenant of the empire. Disapproving of Marquez's harsh measures, he re- signed, and, unable' to escape at the occupation of the capital by the Liberal forces, 21 June, 1867, he remained in hiding, but was discovered and ar- rested. He was tried by a court-martial, quickly sentenced to death as a traitor, and shot in the square of Santo Domingo.
VIEIRA, Antonio (ve-ay'-e-rah), Portuguese
author, b. in Lisbon, 6 Feb., 1608; d. in Bahia, Bra-
zil, 18 July, 1697. He went early to Brazil, stud-
ied with the Jesuits at Bahia, and entered their
order in 1635. He learned the Indian dialects, but
was refused by his superiors permission to engage
in missionary work, and in 1641 accompanied to
Lisbon Fernando de Mascarenhas, son of the vice-
roy of Brazil. He preached with remarkable suc-
cess before the king, was appointed member of the
privy council, and employed in several diplomatic
missions. In 1652 he obtained the king's consent
to return to Brazil, and on his arrival engaged im-
mediately in missionary work among the Indians
of the province of Para and of the basin of the
Tocantins. He endeavored to free the Indians, and
denounced the labor that they were compelled to
Eerforra for the Portuguese. The latter opposed
im bitterly, and, being threatened with imprison-
ment by the local authorities, he sailed for Lisbon.
There he justified himself before the king, who is-
sued peremptory orders to the viceroy, and Vieira,
on his return to Brazil in 1655, was henceforth
supported by the governor of Maranhao. During
the following six years the Indians enjoyed rela-
tive freedom, but at the death of Joao IV. the set-
tlers obtained Vieira's arrest, and he was taken to
Lisbon in 1661. The regent, Luisa do Gusman,
approved his conduct, but for the sake of policy he
was exiled to Coimbra by order of the state secre-
tary, Castelmenor. Vieira in his exile constructed
an ideal Portuguese empire in a remarkable work,
" O Quinto Imperio do Mundo," of which he cir-
culated a few copies. They were seized by the tri-
bunal of the Inquisition, and the author was im-
prisoned from 1665 till 1667, when he was released
by order of Pope Alexander VII. and greatly hon-
ored in Rome. But he longed to return to Brazil,
and in 1681 obtained permission to labor again
among the Indians. He was appointed visitor and
provincial of the Brazilian missions, which posts
he retained till his death. Vieira was the most
celebrated preacher of his age, and is considered as
the purest and most eloquent of the Portuguese
classic authors. His works include " Sermoes *' (16
vols., Lisbon, 1683); "Historia do futuro" (1718);
" Cartas " (3 vols., 1736) ; and " Ecco dos voces
Saudosos" (1757). The original and only known
copy of " Quinto Imperio do Mundo, is pre-
served among the manuscripts in the National
library of Paris. " Arte de furtar " (Amsterdam,
1652). one of the most curious and popular works
of the seventeenth century, is also attributed to
him. Biographies of Vieira were written by Fran-
cisco de Fonseca (Lisbon, 1734) and Antonio de
Barros (1746).
VIEIRA, Joao Fernandes, Brazilian patriot,
b. in Olinda about 1600 ; d. in Pernambuco about
1660. He was one of the richest proprietors of the
province of Olinda when that port was captured
in February, 1630, but when the East India com-
pany sent out Prince Maurice, of Nassau, as gov-
ernor-general, Vieira. with other proprietors, qui-
etly submitted to the new government, as it was
only a change in foreign masters, Portugal being
then under Spanish rule. But Portugal recovered
her independence in 1640, and after the recall of
the Prince of Nassau in 1643, when the Dutch be-
gan to pursue the native owners with vexatious
measures, discontent became general. Taking ad-
vantage of this sentiment, Vieira put himself at
the head of a revolutionary movement, and in
June, 1645, with a small army of badly equipped
country people, attacked the outposts of Recife,
but after a short struggle was defeated. The in-
surrection, however, spread over the whole coun-
try, Vieira employed his resources in procuring
arms and ammunitions for the revolutionary forces,
and with untiring energy and great natural tal-
ent harassed the Dutch forces in numerous en-
counters. He was not well supported by the home
government and the governors of the other Bra-
zilian colonies, and but for his unwavering reso-
lution the province would have been conquered
again. Amid great hardships he held out until
he received succor from Andre Vidal de Negrei-
ros. Soon he took the offensive, and after the
two battles of Os Guarapes, in 1648-'9, the Dutch
no longer dared show themselves outside the forti-
fications of Recife, which place, after the capture
of Fort Milhon, capitulated, 26 Jan., 1654. thus
ending the Dutch dominion in Brazil. Vieira,
as the first instigator of the insurrection in the
province of Pernambuco, was greatly honored by
the people and court, but refused all recompense,
retiring to private life. Lately a monument in
honor of his memcry and that of Negreiros's has
been erected in Pernambuco.
VIEL, Étienne Bernard Alexandre, clergyman, b. in New Orleans, La., 31 Oct., 1736; d. in the College of Juilly, France, 16 Dec, 1821. He be-
came a member of the Society of Jesus, and labored for many years at Attapakas, La. He translated
