NANCOWRY, or SOWRY, one of the Nicobar islands, lying at the entrance of the bay of Bengal. See NICOBAR.

NANI, JOHN BAPTIST, was born in 1616. His father was procurator of St Mark, and ambassador from Venice to Rome. He was educated with attention, and made considerable improvement. Urban VIII. a just valuer of merit, soon perceived that of young Nani. He was admitted into the college of senators in 1641, and was shortly after nominated ambassador in France, where he signalized himself by his compliant manners. He procured considerable succours for the war of Candia against the Turks; and became, after his return to Venice, superintendent of the war office and of finances. He was afterwards ambassador to the empire: where he rendered those services to this country which, as a zealous and intelligent citizen, he was well qualified to discharge. He was again sent into France in 1660 to solicit fresh succours for Candia; and on his return was appointed procurator of St Mark. He died November 5, 1708, at the age of 63, much regretted by his countrymen. The senate had appointed him to write the History of the Republic; which he executed to the satisfaction of the Venetians, although the work was less admired by foreigners, who were not proper judges of the accuracy with which he stated the facts, of the purity of his diction, nor of the simplicity of his style; although it must be acknowledged that his narrative is much interrupted by too frequent parentheses. In writing his history of Venice he has given an universal history of his times, especially with respect to the affairs of the French in Italy. This history, which is continued from 1613 to 1671, was printed at Venice in 2 vols 4to, in the years 1662 and 1679.