BASLE, BASIL, or BALE, one of the cantons of Swisserland, situated on the banks of the Rhine, and bounded on the north by Alsace and Brisgaw ; by the Frickthal, or the territory of the forest•towns, and the canton of Soleure, on the east ; on the south by the canton of Soleure ; and on the west by the bi shopric of Basle. It extends about 20 miles in length from north to south, and about 18 in its greatest breadth from east to west.
The climate of this canton is temperate and sa lubrious, and the country is delightful. Though mountainous, it has many vilifies and plains extreme ly fertile and well cultivated, while the varied as pect of the mountains themselves render the scenery at once beautiful and grand. Many of the smaller hills are covered with vineyards, or clothed to the summits with luxuriant herbage ; beyond which its mountains, forming part of the chain of Jura, tower in Alpine majesty, and seem to form an in superable barrier around the country. The Rhine, too, which flows through this canton, greatly height ens the sublimity of the scenery. In no part of its course does it fill an ampler channel, or roll its mighty stream with such an impetuous rapidity. Few places in Europe are blessed with a greater profusion of comforts, and even of delicacies, than the canton of Basle. Plentiful crops of grain, fruits, and grapes, are the productions of its genial soil ; its forests har bour great 'variety of game ; and the noble river, which enriches its fields, teems with different species of excellent fish.
The bounty of nature is here seconded by the industry of the inhabitants. Agriculture, manufac tures, and their attendant arts, fostered by a discern ing government, are pursued in this country with the ardour naturally inspired by the certainty of a rich return. The principal branches of manufactures, are ribbons, of which, so far back as the year 1777, there were no fewer than twenty factories in the ca pital, which distribute annually upwards of 300,000 florins, as wages to the workmen ; silken stuffs ; figured cottons ; bonnets ; gloves ; paper-making ; bleaching, and dyeing. These manufactures, sup
ported by agriculture, in their turn contribute essen tially to its improvement, by increasing both the con sumption, and the means of enriching the soil.
The population of the canton is estimated at 40,000 persons, and its extent is about 160 square miles.
Previous to its subjugation by the French, the government of Basle was aristodcmocratical. The supreme power was vested in two assemblies, cal led the Great and Little Council. The great coun-, cil was composed of 216 members taken from the, 18 tribes of the large and small town ; the little, council consisted of GO members, 4 being elected from each of the 15 tribes of the great town. To these we must add two burgomasters, and two grand tribunes,. who were the four chiefs of the canton. The supreme council, composed of these 280 persons, decided on all the great political and economical in terests of the state ; exercised legislative power ; an disposed of all the principal offices, which could be held by none but burghers.
Once a year the people assembled, to receive pub. liely, an oath, made by the magistrates, that they would maintain the laws in their integrity, and pre serve the public rights and immunities inviolate. A reciprocal oath of allegiance to the magistrates was taken by the people in their respective tribes. .No where was the conduct of magistrates more strictly scrutinised, or more freely censured than at Basle. In the exercise of their right of scrutiny, the people, al ways ready to mistake turbulence for freedom, have frequently become tumultuous and disorderly ; yet it cannot be denied, that the effects of this privilege were, in general, salutary. While it deterred the magistrates from every species of injustice, it enlight ened the other members of the community with re gard to those laws of which they were the vigilant guardians, and fostered in them a spirit of independ ence which was the best security for the integrity of their constitution.