PIETE.0 GIANNONE. 393 



neval, and other perfons of high difHnclion, and 

 granted him an annual perilion of 100 guldens, out of 

 the revenue of the fecrctarifhip of Sicily. But he 

 could never be induced to promote him even to the 

 fmalleft poft. 



At Vienna Giannone wrote two fevere farcaftical 

 pieces againft the excommunication of the archbiiliop 

 of Naples ; though he had been immediately abfolved 

 from it by cardinal Pignatelli, at that time alfo archbi- 

 fhop, and again (1 the papal prohibition of his book. 

 By the advice of his friends, however, he only circu- 

 lated them in writing. Patronifed by the grandees of 

 the court, and in favour with numbers of the learned, 

 he here alfo wrote feveral other works ; of which his 

 Triregno (the name he gives the papal crown) Hands 

 foremoft in reputation. Pie employed almoft i% years 

 upon it at Vienna, and finilhed it at Geneva. It 

 abounds with proteflant principles. 



In the year 1734, when the kingdom of Naples and 

 Sicily fell under the dominion of Don Carlos, he had 

 the misfortune to lofe his penfion and with it all hopes 

 of returning to his country. Pie left Vienna ; and went 

 to feek his fortune at Venice. Here he found a fa- 

 vourable reception with the grandees of the republic, 

 and all who had pretentions to letters: parricmaily, 

 with the fenator Angiolo Pifani ; who, belide other 

 tokens of regard, gave him one of his houfes to inha- 

 bit. He immediately acquired the eireem of the ara- 

 baffadors of France and Spain, who employed all their 

 .intereft. to procure him a return to his country : but 

 •they, as well as his patrons at the Neapolitan court, 

 found every way to this end cut qiF, The Venetians 



offered 



