500 PRUSSIA. 



been blind. Prussia, totally unprepared, was suddenly engaged in a 

 war with France, while the latter, at peace with all the other powers 

 of the continent, was enabled to direct the whole of her immense re- 

 sources to the same point. The event of the war was as every one 

 expected. The battle of Jena, which was fought oh the 11th of Oc- 

 tober 1806, was one of the most decisive victories Bonaparte ever 

 gained. It had been preceded by several slight affairs, all of which 

 terminated in favour of the French. The battle of Auerstadt was 

 fought, by a different army, on the same day with that of Jena ; and 

 was equally disgraceful to the Prussian; arms. The few troops that 

 were rallied, fled to Prenziau, whither the French pursued them, and 

 obliged them to surrender. The king fled to Memel, where he re- 

 mained, till invited to Tilsit, by the emperor of Russia and Bonaparte. 

 By the treaty then concluded, Prussia lost all her Polish possessions, 

 the important city of Dantzic, and all her territory on the left of the 

 Elbe. The former were given to Saxony, and the latter formed part 

 of the new kingdom of Westphalia. 



These accumulated misfortunes, determined the king to submit to 

 any thing, rather than again resort to arms. The subsequent demands 

 of Bonaparte, were quietly acquiesced in, and Prussia became little 

 more than a province of France. Even when, after the repeated dis- 

 asters of the French, in 1812, the Russians had advanced into the heart 

 of Germany ; and when the greater part of the Prussian people had 

 taken up arms against the French ; this timid monarch, was so fearful 

 of ultimate success, as to delay for some time a declaration of war. 

 When, however, he had once joined 4iis fortunes with those of Russia, 

 he entered into all her measures with spirit, and Prussia, by the result, 

 has regained her importance as a nation. 



Frederic -William III, born August 3, 1770, married December 24, 

 1793, to Louisa-Augusta- Wilhelmina-Amelia, daughter of Charles- 

 .Louis-Frederic, duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz, by whom he has issue ; 



Frederic-William, born October 15, 1795. 

 " Frederic-William-Louis, born March 22, 1797. 



Frederica-Louisa-Charlotte-Wilhelmina, born July 13, 1798. 



Charles-Frederic- Alexander, born June 29, 1801. 



Queen Dowager, Frederica- Louisa, daughter of the landgrave Louis 

 IX, of Hesse Darmstadt ; born Oct. 16, 1751. 



