Gian-Rinaldo, Count of, a celebrated Italian writer on antiquities and economics, was born at Capo d'Istria, in 1720. He was early distinguished for the extent and variety of his acquirements; for at the age of twenty-four he was appointed by the senate of Venice to the newly-established professorship of astronomy and navigation in the University of Padua, and intrusted with the superintendence of the Venetian Marine. After filling these offices for seven years with great credit, he resigned them in order to devote himself to antiquities and general economics. In 1754 he published the first volume of his great work Delle Monete, e delle Instituzioni delle Zeche d'Italia. This laborious work, which in nine years had increased to seven volumes 4to, was completed in 1785. An edition in 19 vols. 8vo appeared also at Milan from 1784 to 1794. In his speculations on the Balance of Trade, though he did not anticipate Adam Smith on this point, he was the first continental philosopher who maintained that what is termed the Balance of Trade between two nations is no criterion of the prosperity of each; for that both may be gainers by their reciprocal transactions, on the same principles as developed by Smith. His merits were appreciated by the discerning Leopold of Tuscany, afterwards Emperor of Germany, who in 1765 placed Count Carli at the head of the Council of Public Economy, and of the Board of Public Instruction. The duties of these honourable offices he continued to discharge for some years; but for several years before his death he was relieved from their toils; retaining, however, their emoluments, as a reward for his important services. It was during the leisure thus afforded that he completed and published his very valuable Antichità Italiche, Milan, 5 vols. 4to, 1788–91, in which the literature and arts of his country are ably discussed. It is highly praised for its research and erudition by Tiraboschi, Bossi, and CARLISLE, or Caroline Thistle. This plant is said to have been discovered by an angel to Charlemagne, to cure his army of the plague; whence its denomination.