GALIANI (FERDINAND), an eminent Italian writer, was born at Chieti, in the Neapolitan province of Abbruzzo, on the 2d of December 1728. At eight years of age, he was sent to his uncle at Na ples, who was then first chaplain to the King. Here he received his elementary education, along with his brother, Bernard, who was a few years older. In 1740, the uncle being obliged to go to Rome, upon a political mission, he gave his two nephews in charge to the Celestine fathers, for the continuance of their studies ; and accordingly, in the course of two years, they were instructed in philosophy, the mathematics, and other liberal sciences. The archbishop, on his return to Naples, received them back into his pa lace, where they studied law, and enjoyed the socie ty and conversation of the most distinguished pro fessors of the University of Naples. Ferdinand, who possessed great talents and vivacity, devoted himself with ardour to the study of history, antiquities, the Belles Lettres, and philosophy, and more particular ly to political economy. At the age of sixteen, he produced a Memoir on the Coins of the period of the War ; and this early production first inspired him with the idea of his great work on money. He also translated Locke s treatise on Money and Interest. At the age of eighteen, he undertook a work on the Ancient History of the Navigation of the Mediterranean ; and in his great work, we find that he there made use of a part of the materials which he had collected at this early age. A jeu d'esprit, which had nearly been attended with serious consequences, diverted him, for some time, from his graver studies. Hav ing been charged by his brother, Bernard, to deli ver, in his absence, a discourse in an Academy, of which he was a member ; the president, looking only at the youth of Ferdinand, and being ignorant of his talents, would not permit him to proceed. The lat ter resolved to revenge himself in a manner that showed more spirit than prudence. It was the cus tom in this Academy, as in several others, that when any great personage died at Naples, all the acade micians published, in his praise, a collection of pieces in prose and verse. The executioner at Naples having died, Galiani seized the opportunity of turning the Academy into ridicule. With the as
sistance of a friend, he composed, in the course of a few days, a collection of seriouspieces on this event, which were ascribed to each of the members, and in which their peculiar style and manner were so well imitated, that one of them confessed he should have been himself deceived, if he had not been per fectly certain that he had not written the piece to which his name was subscribed. This malicious and witty little volume appeared in 1749, under the title of Componimenti varj per la Morte di Domenico Jan nacone, Carnefice della gran corte della vicaria, rac colti e dati in lute da Gian. Anton. Sergio Avvocato Napoletano. This Sergio was the president of the Academy. The publication was eminently success ful, and excited a sensation which the authors had not foreseen ; and as they became afraid of being discovered by the publisher, they went directly to the minister Tanucci, confessed the fact, and got of for the performance of some spiritual exercises.
Galiani soon effaced the impression made by this piece of youthful folly, by the publication of his Treatise on Money, which had employed the labour of several years. It appeared at Naples in 1750, when the author was only twenty-one. It was first published anonymously, and the author did not make himself known until the success of the work was decided. The Archbishop of Tarentum took this occasion to patronize him, and procured for him several benefices, which induced him to take orders. He afterwards travelled through the whole of Italy, was presented at the various courts, and found him self every where preceded by his reputation. He was well received by the Pope, and several of the Italian princes, was admitted a member of some of the most celebrated Academies, and established a correspondence with many of the most eminent li terary characters. His next publication was a trea tise, entitled, Della perfecta Conservazione del Gra no, written, with his usual elegance, for the purpose of recommending an ingenious machine, invented by his friend Intieri, for drying and preserving grain.