a city of Piedmont, province of Alessandria, near the junction of the Po with the Tanaro. It contains 4000 inhabitants. A celebrated treaty of peace was concluded there in 1361, between Duke Otto of Brunswick and Count Galeazzo.

BASIL THE GREAT, one of the most learned and eloquent doctors of the church, was born at Cesarea in Cappadocia, of a noble Christian family, about the year 328. He went to finish his studies at Athens, where he contracted an intimate friendship with Gregory Nazianzen. He returned in 355 to his native country, and there taught rhetoric for some time. He then travelled into Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, for the purpose of visiting the monasteries of these countries; and finding the monastic life suited to his disposition, he resolved, upon his return, to follow it, and in fact became the first monk and the original founder of monasteries in Pontus and Cappadocia. Upon the death of Eusebius, bishop of Cesarea, in 370, Basil was chosen his successor; but it was with difficulty that he accepted of this dignity; and no sooner had he been raised to it than the Emperor Valens began to persecute him because he refused to embrace the doctrine of the Arians. As soon as this storm had blown over, the new bishop used his utmost endeavours to bring about a re-union between the Eastern and Western Churches, which were then much divided about some points of faith, and also in regard to Meletius and Paulinus, two bishops of Antioch; but all his efforts were ineffectual, and the dispute was not terminated until nine months after his death. Basil had a share in all the controversies of his time regarding the doctrine of the church. He died on the 1st of January 379. The best edition of his works is that of Garnier and Maran, Greek and Latin, 3 vols. fol., Paris, 1721. There is a good recent edition in 4 vols. 8vo., Paris, 1829. Basil's style is pure and elegant, his expressions often reach the sublime, and his thoughts are noble and full of majesty. Erasmus ranks him among the greatest orators of antiquity.

Basil, Ocymum basilicum, a fragrant, aromatic, herbaceous plant, a native of warm climates, and much used to flavour food.