Based on the "Letters from Petrópolis", written by Joaquim Nabuco to the newspaper O País (1885-1886), the present article discusses the theme regarding nature and sensibility. The starting point of our analysis are Nabuco's reflections concerning environmental destruction, the wastefulness of public funds and the problems related to urban sanitation in Petrópolis at the end of the 19th century. We also give emphasis to the chroniclers that shared Nabuco's line of thinking in relation to "environmental crimes" which were revealed by the press at that time.
Joaquim Nabuco; nature; deforestation; public funds; city