On 4 June 1772, both of them were enrolled in the Collegio di Bari, just founded, where they had as teachers, among others, Emanuele Mola, Filippo Farchi, and Nicola Fiorentino.

In order to overcome these diffculties, Cagnazzi was in correspondence with Saladini himself, who, among other things, suggested that he had to study his book Institutiones Analyticae, written together with Vincenzo Riccati.

In Naples, Cagnazzi could study math and science and he could exchange views and opinions with the most notable Neapolitan scholars, but he also reluctantly had to study law and theology as his guardian Carlo de Marco wished; this sort of conflict between favorite subjects and hated and reluctantly imposed subjects appears several times in his autobiography.

[6] In February 1790, while he was in Naples, Cagnazzi was appointed "Primicerio" of the Cathedral of Altamura and "I had to doctorate in the ridiculous manner that was practiced in the College of the Prince of Avellino".

Cagnazzi describes Carlucci as "highly skilled in ecclesiastical matters and rational philosophy" and contemptuous of the superstition "that was promoted by foolish priests".

The Major Officer then turned to Cagnazzi who gave his first proof of ability in calculations and, from that time, his technical competence made him much appreciated and requested by the Neapolitan government.

Many of Cagnazzi's friends, such as Francesco Conforti, Carlo Lauberg, Domenico Cirillo, Giuseppe Leonardo Albanese, and Ignazio Ciaja, were placed at the head of the provisional government.

I said that true freedom and equality was that taught to us by Jesus Christ in the Gospel, and I continued to the Church.Lamiavita, p. 17According to Cagnazzi's testimony, such statements caused him the animosity and enmity of the revolutionaries ("the turbulent ones discredited me among the people, as I was from a noble and wealthy family").

According to his autobiography, Cagnazzi advised removing Palomba, Mastrangelo, and their followers, cutting down the Liberty Tree (planted in the center of Altamura's "market square"), and surrendering.

Upon arriving in Pomigliano d'Arco, Palomba flaunted "the same frenzy for republican power," while Cagnazzi informed the city officials of the events and the imminent fall of the republic.

Later, Cagnazzi moved to the house of President Giuseppe de Gemmis, and at dawn the next day, he went to Castel Sant'Elmo, where many Jacobins were taking refuge under the walls, as they had not been allowed to enter the castle.

In the streets, shots were being fired between Calabrians and Patriots, and I saw many fall on both sides, but I believed I should walk moderately, otherwise, I would inevitably have been lost.Subsequently, Cagnazzi moved to Castellammare di Stabia with the knight Giuseppe de Turris (who would later become a marquis).

Upon landing in Trieste, Cagnazzi had to stay in the city for several days, having been struck by a fever that had partially caused him to lose his hearing and sight.

[19] He reached Graz, and, not being allowed to proceed to Vienna, he headed towards Switzerland, armed with a guidebook and a small German dictionary, and arrived in Brixen and Bormio.

[21] In those years, Cagnazzi also received an offer of collaboration (in exchange for money) from a woman and a man who revealed themselves to be French spies supplying the Austrian army "at a loss" while observing its movements.

"[25] During his peregrinations, Cagnazzi managed to receive money from his brother through a Jewish merchant with the intermediation of Marquis Giuseppe de Turris.

[32] With the return of the Bourbons, Cagnazzi found himself in a state of extreme agitation, "seeing many ominous preparations by the mob similar to those of the Parthenopean Republic" and was openly threatened.

Much space is given in the last part of his autobiography to the hostility of minister Nicola Santangelo towards him, whom Cagnazzi considered extremely ignorant and dishonest.

Also of historical interest is the spread of satire, of which Cagnazzi speaks in his autobiography, directed particularly against Count Giuseppe Zurlo, stemming from the promulgation of the constitution and greater freedom of the press.

[37] After recovering from an illness, Cagnazzi set out to build with his own hands an instrument for measuring the tones of the human voice, which he called the tonograph.

Cagnazzi also had the opportunity to attend subsequent meetings of scientists, and in his autobiography, he provides very detailed accounts (even of the food consumed during dinners), of high historical value.

[39] In 1847, some riots occurred in Naples, and King Ferdinand II, pressured by the population, promised a constitution on 12 January 1847, "under the illusion that by recalling the German, or rather Austrian, army, as in 1821, they would later restore [the absolute monarchy]".

I then reminded my colleagues to imitate the Roman Senate [and] bravely await the Gauls in their placeLate at night, after sunset, two officers, one Swiss and one Neapolitan, informed them that they were free to leave.

[43] In those moments, Cagnazzi vowed to publish a new edition of his work The Precepts of Evangelical Morality if he were freed, and immediately tasked Don Vito Buonvento with it.

[44] Two or three days after 15 May 1848, a trial was initiated against Cagnazzi; shortly after, he learned that an "insulting sheet [...] was found in which it was mentioned the deposition of King Ferdinand from the crown for having used an attack against the Parliament".

In the last moments of his life, he reread the meditations contained in The Precepts of Evangelical Morality, a book written by himself that had made him quite famous among his contemporaries.

Only relatives attended, as even friends and those who had benefited from Cagnazzi were afraid of compromising themselves by participating in the funeral of a person who had been put on trial and "kept under close watch by a ferocious [authority]."

[57] After 1860, below the commemorative plaque inside the Cathedral of Altamura,[58] the following text was added: Worn out by severe political vexationsAt Naples on the 6th day before the Kalends of October in the year of the Lord 1852at the age of seventy-eighthe breathed his last[82][83][84]