$96 PRUSSIA. 



Marienwerder, the seat of the government of West Prussia, stands 

 on the Vistula. The cathedral is the largest church in the kingdom 

 of Prussia, being 320 feet long. It seems by its strong breastworks 

 to have formerly served as a fortress. Here is also a castle and a 

 spacious palace, built in the old Gothic style. 



Elbing and Thorn are cities of considerable trade, and contain, the 

 former about 16,000, and the latter 9,000 inhabitants. Posen, late a 

 Polish city, the seat of the government of South Prussia, is the see 

 of a catholic bishop, has a university, and contains 13 convents and 

 15,000 inhabitants. 



National character, manners, customs. ...The character, man- 

 ners, and customs of the inhabitants of the old kingdom of Prussia, 

 are nearly the same with those of their neighbours in the north of 

 Germany. Those of the Poles have been already described in our 

 account of Gallicia. 



Commerce and manufactures. ...The Prussian manufactures are 

 not inconsiderable : they consist of glass, iron-work ; paper, gunpow- 

 der, copper, and brass mills ; manufactures of cloth, camlet, linen, 

 silk-stockings, and other articles. The inhabitants export a variety 

 of naval stores, amber, linseed, and hemp-seed, oatmeal, fish, mead, 

 tallow, and caviare ; and it is said that 500 ships are loaded every 

 year with those commodities, chiefly from Konigsberg. 



Religion. ...The religion of Prussia is very tolerant. The establish- 

 ed religions are those of the Lutherans and Calvinists, but chiefly 

 the former ; but papists, antiptedobaptists, and almost all other sects, 

 are here tolerated. 



Universities, literature, language. ...The university of Konigs- 

 berg was founded in 1544 ; that of Frankfort on the Oder in 1516, by 

 Joachim, elector of Brandenburg. To these are to be added the 

 Polish university of Posen, which has now become subject to Prussia. 

 There are many schools and seminaries of education in the kingdom 

 of Prussia, but it has produced few men of eminent literary abilities. 



The language of Prussia is the German ; but in the territory lately 

 acquired from Poland, the Polish, as may be expected, prevails. 



Constitution and government. ...His Prussian majesty is abso- 

 lute through all his dominions. The government of this kingdom is 

 by a regency of four chancellors of state : viz. 1. The great master; 

 2. The great burgrave ; 3. The great chancellor ; and, 4. The great 

 marshal. There are also some other councils, and 37 bailiwicks. The 

 states consist, 1. Of counsellors of state; 2. Of deputies from the 

 nobility ; and, 3. From the commons. Besides these institutions, 

 Frederic II, erected a board for commerce and navigation. 



Revenue. ...The revenue of the Prussian monarchy, before the 

 additions made to it by the last division of Poland, and the changes 

 occasioned by carrying into effect the plan of indemnities, was esti- 

 mated at 3,879,000/. sterling, of which 



Prussia contributed 816,600/. 



Brandenburg 1,050,000 



Silesia 937,500 



Pomerania 350,000 



Magdeburg and Halberstadt 241,600 



Westphalia 483,300 



Total 3,879,000 



