, a very learned Italian scholar of the seventeenth century, was
, a very learned
Italian scholar of the seventeenth century, was born Aug.
31, 1651, at Borgo-san-Donino, in the duchy of Parma.
In 1653 his father went to reside at Parma, where he spared
no expence in the education of this son, although his fortune was considerably reduced by family imprudence. For
five years he studied the classics, under the tuition of the
Jesuits, and in his sixteenth year entered the order of St.
Benedict, on which occasion he adopted the name of that
saint, in lieu of Bernardine, his baptismal name. Soon
after, his father died, leaving his widow and three children
with very little provision. Bacchini, however, pursued his
studies, and took lesson in scholastic philosophy from
Maurice Zapata; but by the advice of Chrysogonus Fabius, master of the novices of his convent, he studied mathematics, as the foundation of a more useful species of
knowledge than the physics and metaphysics of the ancients. He afterwards applied to divinity with equal judgment, confining his researches to the fathers, councils, and
ecclesiastical history. When he had completed his course,
his abbé wished him to teach philosophy, but he had no
inclination to teach that scholastic philosophy which he did
not think worth learning and having obtained leave, on
account of his health, to retire to a monastery in the country, he remained there two years, during which he studied
the science of music, and on his recovery began to preach,
agreeably to the desire of his superiors. In 1677, Arcioni, abbe of St. Benedict at Ferrara, having appointed him.
his secretary, he was obliged to follow him to Arezzo, Venice, Placentia, Padua, and Parma. While at Piacentia,
in 1679, he pronounced a funeral oration on Margaret de
Medicis, mother of the duke of Parma, which was printed
there. In 1681 he formed an acquaintance with Magliabecchi, the cardinal Noris, and many other eminent men of
the age. In 1683, on account of his health, he solicited
permission to resign his office as secretary to the abbe“, and
as public preacher, which was granted; and having his
time again in his own hands, he began to arrange the library belonging to his monastery, and to consult the fathers
and sacred critics, and studied with assiduity and success
the Greek and Hebrew languages. In 1635 he was appointed counsellor of the inquisition at Parma, and ne^t
year had a visit of three days from father Mabillon and father Germain, and about the same time began to conduct
the
” Giornale de Letterati." In this he was encouraged
and assisted by Gaudentio Roberti, who was eminent in polite literature. Bacchini accordingly began the Parma
journal, in imitation of that published at Rome, and continued it monthly, but without his name, until 1690. But
afterwards, when at Modena, he resumed it for 1692 and
1693, after which, the death of Roberti, who defrayed all
the expence, obliged him again to discontinue it. In 1695,
however, Capponi engaged to furnish the books and all necessary expences, and he edited itfor 1696 and 1697, when
it was concluded. The whole make nine small volumes
4to, the first five printed at Parma, and the rest at Modena.
, a very learned Italian astronomer and philosopher, was born at
, a very learned Italian astronomer and philosopher, was born at Verona, Dec. 13, 1662. After being instructed in the elements of education in his own country, he removed to Bologna, where he went through a course of rhetoric and three years of philosophy, in the Jesuits’ college. He afterwards studied mathematics and design, and made a great progress in both. In 1680 he removed to Padua, where he studied divinity, and was admitted to the degree of doctor. His master in mathematics and natural philosophy was the learned Montanari, who became much attached to him, and bequeathed to him his collection of mathematical instruments. At Padua Bianchini learned also anatomy, and, with rather more pleasure, botany. His inclination being for the church, he went next to Rome, where he was kindly received by cardinal Peter Ottoboni, who knew his family, and appointed him his librarian. Here, as was usual for persons with his views, he went through a course of law, but without losing sight of his favourite studies, experimental philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy. He was admitted a member of the physico-mathematical academy, established by Ciampini, and read many learned papers at their sittings.
, a very learned Italian prelate, and voluminous editor, was born
, a very learned Italian prelate, and voluminous editor, was born at Lucca, Feb. 16,
1692. At school and college he made rapid progress in
every branch of study, but became particularly attached
to ecclesiastical history and biography. He was for some
years professor of theology at Naples; but the greater part
of his life was spent in reading, and carefully exploring
the contents of the Italian libraries, particularly the manuscripts, from all which he amassed a fund of information
on subjects connected with ecclesiastical history, of vast
extent and importance. His first station in the church was
that of a clerk-regular in the congregation of the Mother
of God; and from this, in 1765, at the age of seventy-two,
he was promoted to the archbishopric of Lucca, by pope
Clement XIII. who had a high esteem for him. He died
Sept. 27, 1769. His life, in our authority, is little more
than an account of his works, which indeed must have occupied the whole of his time. His first publication was
entitled “Tractatus de casibus, et excommunicationibus
episcopis reservatis, confectusad normam label lae Lucanse,
”
Lucca, Dictionary of the Bible,*' with additions; an,
edition of Thomasini
” De veteri et nova ecclesise disciplina,“3 vols. folio; a Latin translation of Calmet’s
” Commentaries on the Bible,“1731, &c. 7 vols. an edition of
Baronius’s annals, with great additions, in 30 vols. folio
a new edition of the Councils, including Labbe, Cossart,
&c. 1759, &c. 30 vols. folio; anew edition of yneas Sylvius (pope Pius II.) orations, with many hitherto unpublished, 1755, 2 vols. 4to. He was the editor of some other
ecclesiastical collections and theological pieces of inferior
note; but we must not omit the work by which he is perhaps best known in this country, his excellent edition of
Fabricius’s
” Bibliotheca Latina mediae et infimae aetatis,"
6 vols. 4to, generally bound in three, printed at Padua, in
1754. This alone is sufficient to place him in the first
rank of literary antiquaries.
, a very learned Italian, was born at Cerreto, in Umbria, in 1426,
, a very learned Italian,
was born at Cerreto, in Umbria, in 1426, and settled at
Naples, where his merit procured him illustrious friends.
He became preceptor to Alphonso the younger, king of
Arragon, to whom he was afterwards secretary and counsellor of state. Having reconciled this prince to his father
Ferdinand, and not being rewarded by the latter as he
thought he deserved, he aimed against him “A Dialogue
on Ingratitude,
” in which also he launched out into the
praises of Charles VIII. of France, his great enemy. Ferdinand had the magnanimity to despise his censures, and
suffer him to hold his appointments. Pontanus died, according to Moreri, in 1503, at the age of seventy-seven;
according to others two years later. His epitaph is famous,
and, though vain enough in the beginning, concludes with
a fine thought, which seems to have suggested the still
more sublime close of Dr. Foster’s epitaph on himself.