PRUSSIA, properly so called, formerly designated by the name of the Kingdom of Prussia, and afterwards divided into the two provinces of East and West Prussia, is situated between 52° 54' and 55' 53' N. lat., 10'42' and 22' 45' E. long. It is bounded N. by the Baltic, E. by Russia, S. by Poland and the province of Posen, and W. by Brandenburg and Pomerania. The area and population of East and West Prussia are given in the statistical table in the preceding article. Of the area 800 square miles are covered with waters. The climate is temperate in summer, very cold in winter, very changeable on the coast, and generally rather damp. The face of the country is level, broken here and there by low ranges of hills. The forests which cover the sandy plains are estimated at 2,000,000 of acres. The principal rivers are the Vistula, the Pregel, and the Memel, or Niemen. There are several hundreds of small lakes, namely, 300 in East and 150 in West Prussia ; but no large ones, unless we reckon as such the two Haifa, which communicate with the sea only by canals, and have fresh water. (K.tnusaues Rae, ; FRISCIIES HAFFJ The two largest are the Mauer Lake, 40 square miles, and the Spirding Lake, 70 square miles in extent. With regard to the natural pro ductions, the province produces corn, pulse, flax of excellent quality, hemp, tobacco, hops, madder, potatoes, and timber. There are good breeds of the usual domestic animals, abundance both of fresh-water and sea fish, and bees. The mineral kingdom is very poor; iron how
ever in various forms is abundant, and amber is more plentiful in this province than in any other part of the world. It is thrown up chiefly on the Baltic coast between Memel and the western extremity of the Golf of Danzig. Its collection was formerly under the direction of persons appointed by the government, and the cause of much annoy ance to the coast population who could not enjoy an aquatic excursion without subjecting themselves to a strict search on their return; and they could put to sea from certain places only. The collection of the amber has been farmed by the government since, we believe, 1809. The manufactures of the province are confined to the towns, of which the principal are Danzig, Memel, Elbing, and Konigsberg. From Danzig and Memel large quantities of Russian produce, corn, tallow, hides, flax, hemp, timber, &c. are shipped. The province of East Prussia is divided into two governments, Konigsberg and Clumbituren ; and West Prussia also into two governments, Danzig and Marien werder. Under the beade Datum, GU/WINNE; KoNIGSBERO, and MARIENWERDER, further particulars are given respecting the provinces in question, including notices of the less importaet towns. The chief town', DANZIO, ELBINO, and KiSNIOSBERG are noticed separately.