BRESLAU, the capital of the province of Silesia, Prussia, is situated at the confluence of the Ohlau and Oder. Next to Berlin, it is the most populous city in Prussia; its pop. was 207,997 in 1871; and in 1875, 239,0•0, more than the half of whom are Protestants. The Oder divides it into two parts, which are connected by numerous handsome bridges. The fortifications have been converted into beautiful promenades. and the ditch has been transformed into an ornamental sheet of water. The streets of the new nortion of B. are spacious and regular, and the houses stately and handsome, affording a pleasant contrast to the somber, massive structures of the old town. Educational institutions are numerous, including a university founded by the emperor Leopold I. in 1702, and now accommodating from 000 to 1000 students. The library contains 300,000 volumes. B. has many churches, the most remarkable being the Protestant church dedicated to St. Elizabeth, will u steeple 364 ft. in height (the highest in Prussia), and a splendid organ. The position of 13., in the center of the manufacturing districts of the province,
secures it a large trade, which its railway connection with all the important cities on every side, in addition to the facilities of communication which the Oder affords, enables it to turn to the best account. It has manufactures of linen, woolens, cotton, silks, lace, jewelry, machines, earthenware, soap, alum, starch, etc., and upwards of 100 distilleries; and a trade in corn, coal, metals, timber, hemp, and flax. B. is a city of Slavonic ori gin, and was for many centuries occupied alternately by the Poles and the Bohemians. It afterwards passed to Austria, from which it was taken by Frederick II. of Prussia, in 1741. Six years afterwards, it was captured by the Austrians, after a bloody battle, but retaken by Frederick in about a month. From that time until 1814, when its fortifica tions were completely demolished, it was frequently besieged.