BRESLAU, or BRESLAW, the capital of Prussian Silesia, is one of the largest cities of Germany. Its origin is very uncertain, but it is known to have been a bishop's see in 1033, and to have been burned by the Tartars in 1241. In 1335 it was united to the crown of Bohemia, and its chief magistrates were constituted governors of the whole principality, of which it is the capital. The Emperor Charles IV. shewcd great favour to the city, and, in 134.8 especially, conferred upon its inhabitants many important privileges, which were still farther augmented by his son Vonceslaus. In 1630 its government was surrendered to the Emperor Ferdin and II. and it continued subject to his successors til! the year 1741, when it was united to the Prussian dominions. In 1757, a small Prussian army, under the command of Augustus William, duke of Brunswick Bevern, was driven from the neighbourhood of Breslau, after a vigorous resistance, and the city compelled to surren der to the victorious Austrians ; but, in the space of four weeks, it was recovered by the king of Prussia. and the Austrian garrison, to the amount of 18,000, were made prisoners of war. In this last siege several of its churches were greatly damaged, the library of St Mary Magdalen destroyed by the falling of a bomb, and the greater part of the suburbs burnt to the ground.
Breslau is situated on the south side of the Oder, where that river receives the waters of the Ohlau, and was formerly surrounded by the latter as by a moat. All that part of the town which stands between this stream and the present walls, was added by the Emperor Charles IV. ; but the new town is of a still more recent date, and was not inclosed within the fortifications till the year 1529. The whole town and suburbs occupy an extent of two German miles ; and among the towns of Prussia it holds the third place, ranking next to Ber lin and Konigsberg. According to Kuttner, it is a " dirty, old, and dull town," but contains many spacious streets, the houses of which are three, four, and five stories high, exclusive of the ground floor, several large squares, and a variety of magnificent public edifices, which are much obscured with smoke and dirt. The chief of these are, the church of the Augus tines, of which the great altar is a remarkable piece of workmanship ; the Lutheran church of St Elizabeth, the clock of which is accounted one of the finest in Europe ; the Hotel de Ville, from the front of which one of the finest prospects may be seen ; the Calvinists church of St Mary Magdalen ; the College of the Jesuits; the buildings of the Academy ; the Exchange ; the Custom-house ; the Bishop's Palace ; and a monument, erected by his own family, to General Count Tauenzien, who was governor of Breslau, and commanded during the siege of 1760. There is also in this town a college of physicians, a botanical 'garden, an anatomical theatre, two armouries, a mint, and several public libraries. In the chamber of war and domains is a wooden model of the Giant Mountains, executed by Kahl, who received for it 600 rix- dollars. Among the beauties of the place may also be mentioned the walks to certain gardens in the vicinity, especially to the English garden of Prince Hohenlohe at Scheitin. The inhabitants of Breslau embraced the Protestant faith at an early period ; and both the magistracy and consistory are of the Lutheran persuasion.
Breslau is the centre of the trade of Silesia; has an easy communication with Hamburgh by means of the canal which joins the Oder with the Elbe ; carries on an ext'ensive commerce with the north of Germany and the Baltic ; and supports various important manufactures, for the encouragement of which many useful establish ments have been made. Its merchants instituted, in
1784, a large manufactory for iron wares, which was immediately invested with great privileges by his Prus sian majesty ; permitted to send its goods to every part of his dominions ; to import its raw materials duty free ; and to protect its workmen from military service. The other principal productions of the place, are broad cloths, a mixed stuff made of wool and silk, paper, powder, needles, hats, woollen stockings, leather, calicoes, serge and various figurers. It is filled with tanners, dyers, and furriers, to whose different operations the waters of the Ohlau, which passes through the town, afford the greatest facilities. Its chief exports are, the linens of Silesia, which are so well known in Europe, and which are purchased at the fair of Breslau chiefly by the Dutch traders ; flax, thread, and wool, of which last, however, foreign dealers are permitted to purchase only the sur plus of the market ; fine cloths, some of which are sent as far as Persia ; and madder, which is produced in great abundance in the neighbourhood of the town. On the other hand, it imports, from Bohemia and Moravia, hops, the sale of which is monopolized by the magistrates, who fix the price, and of whom the brewers are obliged to purchase ; from Hungary, antimony, orpiment, prunes, honey, saffron, sulphur, tartar, wine, &c.; from Vienna, saffron, quicksilver, ochre, wine, &c.; from Poland, indigo-plant, wax, honey, cotton, coffee, rhubarb, tea, leather, and peltry; from Stettin, and the other ports of the Baltic, French, German, and Spanish wines, spices, herrings, iron, train-oil, lintseed, Sce. ; from Holland, all kinds of spices, drugs, cloths, sugars, dyeing materials, &c ; from Italy, silks, drugs, spices, dried fruits, and other articles of the Levant trade.
At Breslau there are two great public fairs every year, each of which continues eight days. There are three large market-places ; called the great market ; the salt market, where glass, leather, wax, honey, &c. are also sold ; and the new market, where the wood merchants chiefly transact business. The population exceeds 60,000, of which a great proportion are French, Bohemians, and other foreigners ; and immense num bers of Jews had their residence in the city till the year 1744, when the king of Prussia banished them all from the place, except a few of the best known families, and such as were employed in the mint. The lands round Breslau are extremely level ; and those parts which are nearest the rivers are of a sandy and swampy nature. It is, however, an excellent corn country, yielding rich pasturage, abounding in sheep and cattle, and remarka ble for the large size of its cows. The roads in the im mediate vicinity of the town are in a wretched state, but the canals and dykes arc kept in good repair. Breslau is 35 German miles from Berlin, 44 from Leipsic, 74 from Hamburgh, 40 from Prague, and 54 from Vienna. E. Long. 17° 3, N. Lat. 51° 6'. See Kuttner"s Travels through Denmark, Sweden, ?lustria, and Italy, in 1798 and 1799, letter xvi. Guibert, Journal d'un Voyage en .1llemagne cn 1773, tom. ii p. 123, 1803 ; and Tynna's Almanac-1z du Commerce pour 1811, p. 961. (g)