BASLE, or BASIL, Bishopric of, a province of Germany, in the circle of the Upper Rhine. This province, which forms of the ancient territory -of the Rauraci, is of great extent ; beginning at the lake of Bienne, it crosses Mount Jura, and stretches -almost to the very gates of the town of Basle. It is bounded on the north. by Sundgaw Proper ; on the west by Franche Comte ; and on the east and south by the Swiss cantons of Basle, Berne, and Soleure. -It lies partly in Germany, and partly in Swisserland : to the south of Pierre Pertuis it belongs to the latter country ; to the north of the same boundary it be. longs to the former.. While it remained a separate state, the bishop was a prince of the German empire, and did homage to the emperor for his German ter ritories. He was connected, at the same time, by an :Alliance with the seven Catholic cantons of Swisser land, but was never included in the Helvetic onfe deracy. He was elected by the chapter of 18 ca mons, resident at Arlesheirn,. and confirmed by the
pope. His government was a limited sovereignty ; he was obliged on all occasions to consult his chap ter; Ind his prerogative was extremely confined by the immunities of his subjects. The whole province as now annexed to the dominions of France, and forms the department of Mont Terrible. The inha bitants are Protestants and Roman Catholics. The Protestants reside chiefly in the valley of 111unster, and in the district to the south of Pierre Pertuis, and are in number about 15,000. The Roman Catholics are estimated at 35,000.- This province is remark able for its romantic scenery, and for the variety of its fossils and petrefactions. The only towns of note which it contains, are Porentru, formerly the episcopal residence, and Delmont. See Coxe's Tra vels in Swisserland, lett. 18. ; Dictionnaire de la Suisse ; and Encyc. illethodique. (t.z)