Vol. I. In Bologna per Ferdinando Pisarri all' insegna di S.Antonio. 1739.

Vol. II. Part. I. In Milano nelle stampe di Francesco Agnelli, 1741.

Parte II. Ivi, 1742.

Vol. III. Parte I. Ivi, 1743.

Vol. V. (cont. Indice Univ.) Ivi, 1752.

FRANCESCO SAVERIO QUADRIO was born at Ponte in the Valteline 2 1 Dec. 1695. At the age of 15, he took the habit of a Jesuit, in the Province of Venice. He studied at Padua, and Bologna; and afterwards preached at Venice, and Modena.

Thence he was appointed to preside over the school of Padua. At this time he composed his two Books Della Poesia Italiana, which he a little after wards published under the name of Giuseppe Andrucci; and which he again reformed, and made the foundation of his great work on this subject. For this purpose he sojourned at Venice, Modena, Milan, Bologna, always labouring on his great task for which he encountered not a few difficulties and disgusts In 1743, he went to Rome, where Pope Benedict XIV. received him with singular marks of affection and efteem. He returned to Venice to prosecute the printing his work. But being of a melancholy humour, full of suspicions; and of a morbid fancy; he thought himself viewed with evil eyes by the domestics; and being at the same time loaded with debts, he abandoned himself to the greatest perturbations of mind; and

:

took the desperate resolution of throwing off the habit of his Order. Having obtained in May 1744. a licence to retire into the Country from Milan for the benefit of his health, not far from Como, he threw off the habit, which he had worn for so namy years, and went to Zurich in Swisserland, whence he wrote. to the Pope, and had a most clement answer. He went on to Basle where he disputed against heretics for the Catholic Religion, of which he was always a most passionate defender: from Basle he went to Paris, where he was well received by Voltaire, and Cardinal di Tencin. In May 1747, he returned to Italy and to Ponte, his native Country. In 1748 he went to Rome to obtain the Pope's leave to live for three more years in the habit of a Secular Priest . This sage Pontiff furnished him with money; and with letters of recommendation to Cardinal Querini, Bishop of Brescia, the grand Mecenas of Literature. He returned to Milan and the Pope , not content with what he had done for him, conferred on him in April 1757 two Canonries of St. Maria Perona, and St. Zeno in Pavia, declaring at the same time that Quadrio might remain for the rest of his life a simple Priest. Jn Sept. of this year, the Marquis Don Alessandro Teodoro Trivulzi, the honour of the Nobility of Milan, procured for him in the Court of Count Gio. Luca Pallavicini, Governor of Milan, the office of Librarian. In 1754, at the termination of the Government of Pallavicini Quadrio preferred to remain at Milan rather than accept the generous offers of this great patron to reside at Genoa, or Bologna among one of

the Religious Orders here, he devoutly ended his days 21. Nov. 1756, æt. 61, leaving a great fame for his multifarious knowlege; for which he was held in esteem by the highest persons; and associated a meinber of many learned Academies.

His Book Della Poesia Italiana Libri due (under the name) di Giuseppe Andrucci was published at Venice, 1734. 4. To the Marquis Trivulzi the world is indebted for the publication of the truly classical and learned Work, founded on this, (his Storia d'ogni Poesia) for no publisher in Italy could at this time be found spirited enough to undertake it; while they were sufficiently ready to engage in petty works of no value; and libels unworthy to see the light.

It is observed by the Italian Biographers that Crescimbeni's 's History, though executed with great diligence and care to collect the best and most copious Notices, yet was written at a period, when Criticism had made but little progress Quadrio wrote in times of greater research: And though Tiraboschi in his Storia della Letteratura Italiana has corrected many of his errors, and confuted many of his opinions by means of a still improved criticism, and the various and valuable knowlege, furnished from the treasure with which in latter times libraries have been enriched and which the researches of learned curiosity among Archives have produced, yet Quadrio formed a Work, in which to indefatigable application was united the greatest erudition.

Italy expected a still better work on this subject. from Apostolo Zeno. He speaks of it in his letters;

but his call to Venice interrupted it, and he afterwards laid the design entirely aside. His MSS Collections for it went with all his Books to a Convent at Venice.

The following is the character given of CRESCIMBENI, and QUADRIO, by Tiraboschi.

II CRESCIMBENI e il QUADRIO ci han date due Storie della Volgar Poesia, nelle quali essi non han per-donato a diligenza e a fatica per raccoglier su ciò le migliore e le più copiose notizie. Ma il Crescimbeni scriverà in un tempo, in cui ne la critica avea ancor fatti que' felici progressi che a discernere il vero dal falso erano necessarj ne le biblioteche e gli archivi erano stati recerbati con quella erudita curiosità che ci ha arricchiti in questi ultimi anni di tanti e si pregevoli cognizioni. Il QUADRIO benchè abbia scritto a tempi più rischirati, e benchè fosse uomo d' indefessa applicazione, ciò non ostante, qualunque ragione se ne fosse ci ha data un' opera in cui alla vastissima erudizione non sempre vedesi correspondere una saggia critica, e un giusto discernimento. Altra assai migliore opera si aspettava l'Italia su questo argomento dal ch. APOSTOLO ZENO, prima che il Quadrio pensasse a compilare la sua. Ninno vi ebbe per avventura giammai che più di lui fosse a questa impresa opportuno

But it seems to me that Tiraboschi speaks too slightingly , at least of Crescimbeni, who in my opi→

* Tiraboschi. IV, 380, 381.

nion is a writer of mnch more ease; of a finer taste, and more genius than he who thus criticises him. Pignotti, in his turn, mentions Tiraboschi, as uomo dottissimo; ma dotato più d' erudizione, che di fino gusto

ART. XXVIII. SUPPLEMENTAL COLLECTIONS
OF ITALIAN POETRY.

1. Scelta di Poesie Italiane non mai per l'addietro stampate de' più Nobili Autori del Nostro Secolo. Venezia, presso Paolo Baglioni. 1686. 8.

The Compiler was Signor STEFANO PIGNATTELLI; of whom the Printer in his Address to the Reader says. Nel tempo stesso che il mentovato Signor Pignatelli, col suo genio magnanimo di giovare altrui, procaccia nuova vita agli Autori di queste Poesie, ecche la morte improvisamente ce lo rapisce, con acerbo rammarico di chiunque ha in pregio la Virtù, e l'Amicizia, prole primogenita della Virtù ; e con grave danno della Republica Litteraria”.

NOMI DEGLI AUTORI

Delle seguente Poesie.

Satira di Monsignor Azzolino.

Satira d'Incerto contr' alcuni mali Poeti . ec.

+ Pignotti, Stor. Tosc. IV. 187.