GEISONS. 295 GBISWOLD. in force. The Constitution of the canton dates from 1S92. There are fourteen administrative districts. The cantonal finances are on a safe and self-adjusting basis, owing to the rather unique fact that the land tax nuist each year cover any dehcit. Population, in 1888, 'J4.810; in lilOO. 104.510, about equally divided between Protestants and Catholics. German is spoUcn by about lialf of the popuhition. and al>out one- third speak Rhaeto-Romanic (Rumansh). The emigration is very light. The liiglier educational institutions include a 'real' scliool, a gymna- sium, a technical and a commercial school, and a priests' seminary. The capital and chief town is Chur ( q.v. ) . The canton constituted a part of the ancient Rhaptia, which was subdued by the Romans in the reign of Augustus. From the Goths, who overran the country about a.d. 490, it passed into the power of the Frankish kings, and by the Treaty of Verdun (843) was included in the portion of Louis the German, forming a part of the Duchy of Alemannia. During the early Jliddle Ages the peasantry suffered cruelly from the oppression of their feudal nobles, whose perpetual strife often brought devastation upon the country. With the rise of free towns some atteni])t was made to check the feudal anarchy by associations of burghers, acting in alliance with the great ecclesiastical lords, chief of whom was the Bishop of Chiir, or Coire. In 1307 the league known as the Gottesliausbund was estab- lished, and in 1395 the Upper or Gray League {German Grcnicr Bioid) was organized. A third league, the Zehngerichtenbund (League of the Ten Jurisdictions), was formed in 1436, out of the possessions of the House of Toggenburg. About the middle of the titteenth century these leagues formed a loose federal union, and be- tween 1497 and 15(57 all three had entered into alliance with the Swiss Confederation. In the early part of the sixteenth century the inhab- itants of Grisons succeeded in conquering Bonnio, Chiavcnna, and the Valtellina, in Northern Italy. The Reformation early made its way into Grisons. The bulk of the inhabitants included in the Gray League, however, adhered to the Catholic Church, and religious strifes long distracted the region. The claims of Austria to certain territories were bought off in 1052. From that time to the end nearly of the eighteenth century the history of the country is one of petty strife between fac- tions. In 1797 its Italian possessions were an- nexed to the Cisalpine Republic, and during the next two years it was the battlefield of the Russians, the Austrians, and the French. In 1803 it was constituted by Napoleon a member of the Swiss Confederation. Its history during the nineteenth century was principally one of constitutional reform, marked by progress in the direction of a closely centralized form of government. GKIST-MILL. See Flotjb. GBIS'WOLD, griz'wold, Alexander Viets (1700-1.^43). An American clergyman, bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, born in Sims- bury, Conn. He at first studied law : but in 1705 he was ordained to the ministry, and began preaching in three different towns, besides teach- ing school. In 1804 he became rector of Saint Michael's Church. Bristol. R. I., and in 1811 was consecrated first Bishop of the 'Eastern Diocese,' in which were included the States of ]Iaine, 'er- mont. New Hampshire, Massachu.setts, and Rhode Island. In 1830 he left Saint Alichael's to ac- cept the rectorship of Saint Peter's in .Salem. His last public act was the consecration oi liis successor, Dr. ilanton Eastburn. He published many sermons, and The licforDiufioii and the Aimstolic Office (1843). Consult Stone, Life of Bishop (Jrisicold (Philadelpliia, 1844). GBIS'WOLD, John Augustus ( 1822-72 ) . An American manufacturer and politician. He was born in Nassau, Rensselaer Co., N. V., and when seventeen years old went to Troj*, where lie en- tered the hardwai'e business. After engaging for a number of j'cars in the wholesale and retail drug trade, he became a partner in the Rensse- laer Iron Company, and was very successful. In ilarcli, 1875, he consolidated his works with the Albany Iron Works, to form the Albany and Rensselaer Iron and Steel Company. He was associated with C. H. Delamatcr in building the Monitor, which defeated the Merriiiwc in Hamp- ton Roads, and in conjunction with two other citizens of Troy introduced the manufacture of Bessemer steel into the United States. Gris- wold was elected jMayor of Troy in 1855. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he aided in rais- ing a number of infantry and cavalry regiments, one of which, the Griswold Light Cavalry, took his name. He was elected to Congress by the Democrats in 1863, but soon after changed his political creed, and was twice reelected by the Republicans. In the House he supported the war measures of the Government. lie ^^•as nom- inated for CJovenior of New York in 1868, but ■was defeated by the Democratic candidate, ,Tohn T. Hoffman. GBIS'WOLD, Matthew (1714-99). An American jurist. He was born at Lyme, New London Co., Conn., the son of .John fJriswold, one of the wealthiest men in New England. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1743. In 1751 he was elected to the General As- sembly, and in 1759 was chosen a member of the Governor's Council, in which he appeared as a champion of the rights of the colonics, and op- posed the Stamp Act. He was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Connecticut in 1766. became Chief Justice in 1709, and served until his election as Governor in 1784. He was Depnt3- Governor from 1771 to 1784, and was chairman of the Connecticut Committee of Safety in 1775. As Governor from 1784 to 1786 he did what he could to foster the national spirit in Connecticut, and was president of the convention that ratified the Constitution of the LTnlted States in .Tnnuary. 1788. GBIS'WOLD, RoGEE (1762-1812). An Ameri- can politician, born at Lyme, Conn., the son of Matthew Griswold. He graduated at Yale Col- lege in 1780. studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1783. He was a member of Congi'ess from 1795 to 1805. In 1801 President Adams appointed him Secretary of War: but he declined the office, and afterwards was appointed judge of the Siipreme Court of Connecticut, a position which he held until elected Lieutenant-Governor in 1809. At the expiration of his term in 1811 he was elected Governor, and served until his death, in 1812. GBIS'WOLD, RtTFUs Wilmot (1815-57). An American critic and compiler, born at Benson,
