CANTON OF THE ORISONS.

Before their country was annexed to Switzerland , inthe year 1797, the Grisons were its most important allies.The department which now composes the canton undertheir name, is bounded on the East by the Tyrol, on theSouth by the plains of Lombardy , on the West by Uri,and on the North by St. Gallen .

Coire, the capital , is nearly divided in religious prin-ples, having an equal number of Protestants and Catho-lics . The bishop, who is also a prince, and the deanand chapter, are Catholics, the rest of the inhabitantsProtestants ; but they all live very amicably together.The town, which is large and well built, was founded inthe year 740. Its first bishop, named Asimon, was oneof the fathers who assisted at the council of Chalcedon .It is divided into two parts, the upper and lower. Theupper contains the palace of the bishop, the cathedral,and considerable buildings for the dean and chapter.The cathedral is a large and spacious edifice, in the formof a cross, supported by two hundred and fifty columnsof beautifully carved marble. It contains several tombs