Cattle are raised in considerable numbers throughout all the provinces. Sheep are also common; but the country does not seem favourable for them, and their wool is not only different in quality in the different districts, but none of it is good except in Silesia. The breed has of late been much improved by the introduction of the Merino and Paduan rams, and the manufacturers are now supplied at home with the same species of wool which was formerly imported, particularly from Spain. Nor is the rearing of horses neglected, though the breed has not hitherto been brought to great perfection, as horses for the Prussian light infantry are imported from the Ukraine, and those for the heavy cavalry from Holstein. The marmot, a species of castor, and the lynx, may be seen in the uncultivated pro vinces of the east; but the bear and the elk arc unknown.
The level and marshy nature of the country is ex tremely unfavourable to the production of minerals. Iron ore, which makes a considerable object of manufacture, is found in many of the marshes; but little or nothing else of a mineral description can be said to occur, except in the mountainous districts of the Hartz, in Westphalia, and the mountains in the south of Silesia. In these districts there are mines of copper and lead; and there were for merly mines of gold and silver, but they are not now wrought, as the produce does not defray the expense. Chrysoprase, agates, jaspers, clear crystals of quartz, com monly called diamonds, calamine, cobalt, sulphur, saltpetre, alum, and vitriol, are also found. Salt from brine springs is common in some parts of Saxony. Coal occurs in several parts, chiefly at Schweidnitz, in Lower Silesia, as also in some parts of Saxony and Westphalia ; but as wood is very abundant, and the conveyance of coal expensive, the latter is not very extensively used as common fuel. There are no mineral waters, if we except one at Warm brun, in the south of Silesia.
But Prussia, though not otherwise eminent for mineral wealth, is possessed of one mineral production almost peculiar to itself, namely, amber, a substance of great value in ancient times, but now sold in Prussia for a few shillings the hundred weight. It is chiefly found on the Samland shore of the Baltic, on a neck of land formed by the Frisch Haff, extending 25 miles from Pillau to Pal maixen. It is thrown on the coast by the waves, or fished like coral. It is also found in the interior of the kingdom, particularly in Polish Prussia, at the depth of about 100 feet, imbedded in strata of coal, in lumps of various sizes, some five pounds in weight, and is dug like the produce of other mines. By friction amber becomes electric ; and the Greek name (nAcpTeov) has been applied to designate the doctrines and philosophy of electricity. It is used to
make trinkets, scented powder, a spirituous acid, and a fine oil used in varnishing, manufactures of it for these purposes being established at IJantzick, Konigsburg, and Stolpe, in Pomerania. It belongs to the crown, and being let to farm, adds 80001. to the royal revenue.
This country has attained considerable distinction in several departments of manufactures, chiefly in that of linen, the raw material of which is produced at home. " The rendering Prussia as much as possible independent of foreign countries, for various species of manufactures," says an able writer, " was a leading object in the domestic policy of Frederick the Great. In order to accomplish this, he loaded many foreign commodities with heavy duties, and established monopolies in several branches of commerce."—(Vide M'Culloch's Essay on the Reduction of the National Debt, page 107.) Thus one company had the sole right of manufacturing and selling tobacco, another were the sole importers of salt, while a third enjoyed an extensive contract to supply Potsdam with wood. The principle of restriction is radically objectionable; but it not unfrequently, as in the present instance, promotes the cultivation and success of some particular branches of manufactures at home. The linen manufacture of Silesia, famous for ages, increased prodigiously after that province fell into the hands of Prussia, and partly perhaps in conse quence of the policy, though otherwise objectionable, of Frederick. "The value of the linen," says the same author, " exported in 1740, did not exceed three millions of rixdollars, (about 500,0001. of English money.) In 1796, 26,456 looms, and 40,603 workmen, were employed in this branch of industry, whose manufactured produce was valued at 8,852,678 rixdollars, the exports amounting to 6,748,029. The neutrality enjoyed by Prussia during a great part of the late war was extremely favourable to this manufacture ; and in 1805, previous to the unfortunate campaigns with the French, the value of the exported linen had increased to between 16 and 20 millions of rixdollars." (lb. p. 108.) The disasters which Prussia experienced in 1806, and the subsequent hostilities in which she was engaged, greatly retarded the progress of the manufacture in question ; but, as she is now availing herself more than ever of the advantages of peace, there is every reason to conclude that, in this species of industry as well as in others, she is making rapid improvement. For much accurate and valuable information on this subject, the reader may consult An Essay on the Reduction of the National Debt, by J. R. M'Culloch, Esq. section third, which con tains an elaborate and curious account of the progress of manufactures throughout Europe since 1775.