islet about a mile in circumference, situated on the coast of East Lothian, near the entrance of the Firth of Forth, and at a short distance from the town of North Berwick. It is steep and inaccessible on all sides, except to the south; and even there it is with some difficulty that a single person can ascend. In ancient times it belonged to the Launders; and although long solicited by royalty, it was not acquired till 1671, when Charles II purchased it. Its insulated situation and inaccessible nature soon suggested the idea of a state prison, which was accordingly erected in the reign of Charles, or in that of his brother James, together with some trifling fortifications. It was here that some of the Covenanters were confined, who had been found in arms against the king. At the revolution a party of King James's adherents got possession of the Bass. There being a fountain sufficient to supply water on its summit, with pasturage for the maintenance of a few sheep, and a small rabbit-warren, they were enabled to hold possession, carrying on their piratical operations by means of a boat, which they hoisted upon the rock, out of the reach of attack, and let down at pleasure. This party captured a great many vessels, and held out for King James long after the whole of Great Britain had submitted. Their boat, however, was at last seized or lost, upon which they were obliged to surrender for want of provisions. After this the island was dismantled of its fortifications. It is now the property of Sir Hew Dalrymple Hamilton of North Berwick. There is a cavern which runs quite through the rock, and is accessible at low water, affording refuge for a multitude of wild pigeons. The sea-fowl, which resort to this spot during the breeding season, nearly cover its sides and a large portion of its surface. Of these the gannet or solan goose is the principal; with puffins, cormorants, and kittiwakes. The island is farmed at a considerable rent for the sake of the birds and eggs, which are brought to market. The rock consists of greenstone and trap tuffa. Long. 2° 37'. W. Lat. 56° 4'. N. (See The Bass Rock, its Civic and Ecclesiastical History, Edin. 1848.)

Bass's Straits, the channel which separates New Holland from Van Diemen's Land. It is nearly fifty leagues in length from E. to W., and about the same breadth from N. to S. The navigation of this strait is rendered dangerous in some parts by groups of barren and unproductive islands, scattered through it. Van Diemen's Land was supposed by all the earlier navigators to form a part of New Holland; until Mr Bass, the surgeon of a man-of-war, conceived that there were indications of a channel. This conjecture was found to be correct; and the channel has since borne his name.

Bass-Viol, a large old instrument of the violin family, with six strings and a fretted finger-board; long since superseded by the violoncello.