SILESIA. 



SILESIA is situate between 49° 30' and 52° 20' of north latitude, 

 and 15 and 19 degrees of east longitude. It is bounded on the north 

 by the Mark of Brandenburg and Lusatia, on the east by Gallicia and 

 South Prussia, on the south by Hungary and Moravia, and on- the 

 west by Moravia, Bohemia, and Lusatia. It belongs to Prussia, ex» 

 cept a small part of Upper or Southern Silesia. The Prussian part 

 contains 10,960 square miles and 1,896,359 inhabitants. Since the 

 division of Poland in 1795, a part of that country, in extent about 656 

 square miles, has been incorporated with it, and placed under the 

 same government. The Austrian part contains 1296 square miles 

 and 320,000 inhabitants. 



Silesia is divided into Lower and Upper Silesia. The former is 

 again subdivided into the seven principalities of Breslau, Brieg, 

 Schwiednitz, Jauer, Leignitz, Wohlau, and Glogau, immediately sub- 

 ject to the Prussian monarch, besides some other principalities and 

 lordships not immediately subject ; and the latter, into the hree im- 

 mediate principalities of Munsterberg, Or>peln, and Ratiboi, w.-sides 

 some mediate principalities and inferior lordships. The Austrian 

 part of Silesia, at the extremity of Upper Silesia, is divided into the 

 two circles of Jagerndorf and Teschen. 



The Sudetic chain of mountains, a part of which is called the Ries- 

 engebirge, or Giant-mountain, divide this country from Bohemia. 

 The Elbe and the Oder have their sources among these mountains ; 

 the latter of which flows through the country, dividing it nearly into 

 two equal parts. Besides these, the principal rivers are the Vistula, 

 the Niesse, the Bober, the Oppa, the Qules, and the Elsa. In the 

 northern parts are several small lakes ar.d morasses. The moun- 

 tainous parts contain mines of gold and silver, but they are not work- 

 ed ; they also produce copper, lead, and iron, sulphur, salt-petre, 

 alum, and vitriol. The soil in the vicinity of South Prussia and 

 Lusatia is sandy, and not very productive ; Lut this deficiency is com^ 

 pcnsated by the fertility of the other and larger part of Silesia, which 

 produces wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, buck-wheat, linseed, peas, 

 beans, hops, and madder. In the mountains of Upper Silesia, tar, 

 pitch, and resin, are made from the pine and fir; and the larch-trees 

 yield turpentine. The breed of sheep here is said to be very profita- 

 ble on account of the excellency of their wool. The wild animals of 

 this country are lynxes, which frequent only the mountainous parts; 

 a few bears and wolves ; and foxes, weasels, otters, and beavers ; but 

 the latter in no great number. In the Oder are caught salmon arid 

 sturgeon, the latter of which are sometimes extremely large ; as also 

 skate and lampreys. The other rivers, but especially the lakes and 

 ponds, abound in various kinds offish. 



Silesia is said to contain 180 cities and towns, and 4,000 villages. 

 The capital is Breslau, situate at the confluence of the Oder and the 

 small river Ohlau, which last runs through several of the streets. It is 

 a large well-built fortified city, containing 3,200 houses and upwards 



