(Lewis Anthony), a learned and celebrated Italian writer, born at Vignoles, in the territory of Bologna, in 1672. He early discovered an extreme fondness for the learned languages and sciences; and this was seconded by an excellent education. After having completed his first studies, he embraced the state of an ecclesiastic; and applied himself to polite literature, philosophy, theology, civil law, antiquities, and other sciences; by which means he became in a manner universally learned. He was scarce 22 years of age when he was made librarian of the Ambrosian library at Milan. In 1700 the duke of Modena, his sovereign, recalled him, and made him his librarian, and keeper of the archives of his duchy. Muratori discharged this double employment during the rest of his life, and had no other benefice than the provostship of Santa Maria del Pompofa. He acquired the esteem of the learned throughout Europe, who had recourse to him for the lights they wanted. He became an associate to the Academies of the Arcades of Rome, Della Crusca, and Colomberia of Florence, the Academy of Etruria at Cortona, the Royal Society of London, and of the Imperial Academy of Olmutz; and died in 1750. He wrote a great number of learned works; the principal of which are,—1. Anecdota, or a collection of pieces taken from the Ambrosian library, 2 vols 4to, with learned notes and dissertations. 2. A treatise on the perfection of the Italian poetry, 2 vols 4to. 3. Anecdota Graeca, 3 vols 4to. 4. A genealogical history of the house of Modena, 2 vols folio. 5. An excellent collection of the writers of the Italian history, 27 vols folio, with learned notes. 6. Another collection, under the title of Antiquitates Italicae. 7. A collection of ancient inscriptions, under the title of Novus Thebæus, 6 vols folio. 8. The annals of Italy, 12 vols 4to, in Italian, &c. 9. Letters, dissertations, Italian poems, &c.