CANCELLIE'RI, FRANCESCO, born at Rome in 1751, after studying in the Roman college under the Jesuit professors Cunich, L'ordars, and Zaccaria, became secretary to the senator Rezzouico, and ifterwards librarian to the learned Cardinal Antouelli, Prefect of the Propaganda. In 1773 he edited a newly discovered fragment of the Hat book of Livy, with a preface. On the occasion of the new sacristy added by Pius VI. to the Basilica of the Vatican, Cancellicri undertook a work of historical and liturgical erudition on the ancient office of Secretary of that Basilica, 'De Seeretariia Basiliere Vaticante,' 4 vols. 4to, Rome, 1788, which contains en ample store of information concerning the Basilica, its early history, its vaults, its library, its former monastery, the circuses of Caligula and Nero, with illustrations of numerous monuments and documents. This work was received with great applause by the learned, and the author Wile placed among the first writers on church antiquities. He afterwards published a 'Deecrizione del Careens Tulliano, a notice on the datum of Pasquino and Marforio, as well as various treatises on the origin and meaning of the ceremonies which are performed in St. Peter's church and in the pontifical chapel of the Vatican on great festival days. 'Descri clone dei tre Pontificali che ei celebrano nella Basilica Vaticana per le Feats di Natale, di Pasque, e di S. Pietro ; " Dcecrizione delle Funzioni che ei celebrano nella Cappella Pontificia per la Settimana ' Notizie intorno Is Novena, Vigilia, Notte, e Festa di Natale;' De serizione delle Cappello Pontificie e Cardinalizie di tutto 'Stone del isolenui Poseensi de' eommi Pontefici da Leone III. It Pio VII.;' Memorie storiche delle nacre Foote dei SS. Apostoli Pietro o Paolo, e della lore solenne Ricognizione nella Basilica Lateranense fatta da Pio VII.;' 'Deserizione della doppia Illamineziono della Cupola di S. Pietro a Lanternoni a Fiaccole, e della Gimndola della Mole Adriana.' Moat of these treatises have been translated into French.
When the French revolutionists drove away Pius VI. from Rome, in February, 1798, Cancellieri was separated from his patron Cardinal Antonelli, who was arrested and sent to Civitavecchia. Some years
after, when Pine VII. took possession of Rome, Canceilieri was appointed director of the printing peer of the Propaganda. In 1801 ho accompanied Cardinal Antonelli to Paris, on the occasion of Napoleon's coronation. He kept a diary of that journey, from which many entertniniug extracts are given in Itamldre ' Life of Cancellieri.' When the French invaded Rome a second time, in 1803, Cardinal Antonelli was banished to Sinignglia, where he died in 1811. At the restoration of Pius VII. Caucellieri was reinstated in his office. He continued to write works of antiquarian erudition until 1826, when he died at Rome. The year before, he had at his own expense raised a handsome cenotaph with a biographical inscription to his patron, Cardinal Antouelli, in the Basilica of the Lateran, below which he desired by will to have himself buried. He published an account of this monument ; 'Cenotrtphium Leonardi Antonelli,' Pesaro, 1825. Among the printed works of Cancellieri, which exceed 160 iu number, the following, besides those already mentioned, are deserviug of notice 'II Mercato, it Lego dell' Acqua Vergiue, it Palazzo Piusfiliano nel Circa Agonale,' &n, 4to., Rome, 1811. This is an erudite description of a most interesting district of the city of Rome. 'Diseerteziona iotorno agli Uoiniui dotati di gran ?demons, e a quelli divenuti Smemoratl,' 1815; 'Descrizione dell' Uso dl rappresentare Is Befana nen' Epifaula.' This refers to one of the popular customs of Rome.
' Notizie sopra l'Origine e l'Uso AudIo peacatorio e degli altri Anelli ccelosiastici,' 1823; ' Lettere sopra l'Origine dells Parole Dominus a Domnus, e del l'itolo di Don,' Rome, /808; `Diesertazioni epistoleri rpm Crietoforo Colombo e Giovanni Gerson,' 1809. Many of his minor works have appeared In the • Effenteridi Lettemrie,' ' Notizie del Giorno," Giornale Arendieo; and other journals. There is a list of his Inedited works, amounting to eighty.
(Tipaldo, Biogralla degli Italians Magri.)