a Turkish governor of a province, city, or other district.

A bashaw is made with the solemnity of carrying a flag or banner before him, accompanied with music and songs, by the miriadelm, an officer on purpose for the investiture of bashaws. Bashaw, used absolutely, denotes the prime vizier; the rest of the denomination being distinguished by the addition of the province, city, or the like, which they have the command of; as the bashaw of Egypt, of Palestine, &c. The ba- Basil, the capital of the canton of that name, is the largest city in all Switzerland, having 220 streets, and six market-places or squares. Its environs are exceeding beautiful, consisting of a fine level tract of fields and meadows. The city is divided into two parts by the Rhine, over which there is a handsome bridge. It is thought by some to have risen on the ruins of the old Augusta Rauracorum. For its name of Basilica it is indebted to Julian the Apostle, who would have it so called in honour of his mother Basilina. It is fortified with walls, moats, towers, and battlements, and contains several churches, besides the cathedral, which is an old Gothic structure; a commandery of the order of St John, and another of the Teutonic order; a public granary and arsenal; a flatly town-house, in which is an exquisite piece of the sufferings of Christ, by Holbein, and a statue of Munatius Plancus, a Roman general, who, about 50 years before Christ, built the ancient city of Augusta Rauracorum; an university, which was founded in 1459, and has a curious physic-garden, library, and museum; a gymnasium; a flatly palace, belonging to the margrave of Baden-Durlach; besides a chamber of curiosities, several hospitals, &c. In the arsenal is shown the armour in which Charles the Bald lost his life, with the furniture of his horse, and the kettle-drums and trumpets of his army. On the stair-case of the council-house, is a picture of the last judgment; in which, though drawn before the reformation, popes, cardinals, monks, and priests, are represented in the torments of hell. Over-against the French church, on a long covered wall, is painted the dance of death; where the king of terrors is represented as mixing with all ranks and ages, and complimenting them, in German verses, on their arrival at the grave. St Peter's square, planted with elm and lime-trees, makes a pleasant walk; but a spot regularly planted with trees, close by the river, and near the minster, makes still a finer, as commanding a most beautiful and extensive prospect. The celebrated Erasmus died here, in 1536, in the 70th year of his age, and was buried in the great church. He left his library and cabinet of rarities to one Amberbach, a learned lawyer of this city, of whose heirs they were purchased by the university. Besides this cabinet, there are several other curious private ones. The clocks of this city go an hour faster than elsewhere, except at Constance; a circumstance which some ascribe to the famous councils held there, when it was thought the best expedient to bring the fathers earlier to the assembly, for the quicker dispatch of business; but others say, that, in Basil, it was owing to a conspiracy being defeated by that means. Trade still flourishes here, especially in silk, ribbons, and wines; and the police is under excellent regulations. Most of the offices are bestowed by lot among well qualified persons. No person, without the city, must wear lace of gold or silver. All young women are prohibited from wearing filks; and the nearest relations only are to be invited to a marriage-feast. For the government of the city there are several councils or colleges, and officers. Of the last, the two burgomasters, and two wardens of trades, are the chief. The great council is composed of the representatives of the several companies of the greater and lesser city. Basil was the see of a bishop till the Reformation; but though there is one that still bears the title, he has now no jurisdiction here, and lives at Porentru, near the Upper Alsace.

The two Buxtorfs, father and son, and the famous painter Holbein, were natives of this place. The council held here, in 1431, sat in the vestry of the cathedral.