capital of the canton of that name, is the largest city in all Switzerland, having 220 streets, and five 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 Apostate, who would have it so called in honour of his mother Basilissa. 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 stately townhouse, 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 stately 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 early to the assembly, for the quicker despatch of business; but others say, that, in Basil, it was owing to an assault being defeated by that means. About 400 years ago, according to the story, the city was threatened with an assault by surprise. The enemy was to begin the attack when the large clock of the tower at one end of the bridge should strike one after midnight. The artist who had the care of the clock, being informed that this was the expected signal, caused the clock to be altered, and it struck two instead of one; so the enemy thinking they were an hour too late, gave up the attempt; and in commemoration of this deliverance, all the clocks in Basil have ever since struck two at one o'clock, and so on. In case this account of the matter should not be satisfactory, they throw, by way of confirmation, a head, which is placed near to this patriotic clock, with the face turned to the road by which the enemy was to have entered. This same head lolls out its tongue every minute, in the most insulting manner possible. This was originally a piece of mechanical wit of the famous clockmaker's who saved the town. He framed it in the derision of the enemy, whom he had so dexterously deceived. It has been repaired, renewed, and enabled to thrust out its tongue every minute for these four hundred years, by the care of the magistrates, who think no excellent a joke cannot be too often repeated. 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 silks; 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 Pontreul, 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.

Botany. See Ocymum, Botany Index.

Basil, among joiners, the sloping edge of a chisel, or of the iron of a plane, to work on soft wood: they usually make the basil 12 degrees, and for hard wood 18; it being remarked, that the more acute the basil is, the better the instrument cuts; and the more obtuse, the stronger, and fitter it is for service.

Basileus, Basilea, a title assumed by the emperors of Constantinople, exclusive of all other princes, to whom they give the title rev., "king." The same quality was afterwards given by them to the kings of Bulgaria, and to Charlemagne, from the successors of which last they endeavoured to wrest it back again.

The title basileus has been since assumed by other kings, particularly the kings of England, Ego Edgar totius Angliae Basileus confirmavi. Hence also the queen of England was entitled Basilea and Basilissa.

Basilian monks; religious of the order of St Basil. That saint, having retired into a desert, in the province of Pontus, founded a monastery for the convenience of himself and his numerous followers: and for the better regulation of this new society, he drew up in writing the orders and rules he would have them follow. This new order soon spread all over the east; nor was it long before it passed into the west. The rule of St Basil was approved by Pope Liberius, the same year. year in which it was written and published; and afterwards by several other popes; and, in these last ages, by Pope Gregory XIII, who approved the abridgement made of it by Cardinal Bellarion, in the pontificate of Eugenius IV.—Some authors pretend, that St Basil before he died, saw himself the spiritual father of more than 90,000 monks, in the east only. But this order, which flourished so greatly for more than three centuries, was afterwards considerably diminished by heresy, schism, and a change of empire. The greatest form it felt, was in the reign of Constantine Copronymus; who persecuted the monks of St Basil, imprisoning some, and banishing others; insomuch that the monasteries were abandoned and spoiled of all their goods.

The historians of this order tell us, that it has produced 1805 bishops; and beatified, or acknowledged as saints, 3010 abbots, 11,805 martyrs, and an infinite number of confessors and virgins. They likewise place among the religious of the order of St Basil 14 popes, some cardinals, and a very great number of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops. This order likewise boasts of several emperors and empresses, kings and queens, princes and princesses, who have embraced its rule.

This order was introduced in the west in 1057; and was reformed in 1569, by Pope Gregory XIII, who united the religious of this order in Italy, Spain, and Sicily, into one congregation; of which the monastery of St Saviour at Messina is the chief, and enjoys pre-eminence over the rest. Each community has its particular rule, besides the rule of St Basil, which is very general, and prescribes little more than the common duties of a Christian life.