NEISSE, a town of Prussia, province of Silesia, on both sides of a river of the same name, 47 miles S.S.E. of Breslau. It is well built, surrounded by walls, and strongly fortified. There are three gates; and the town contains several fine public buildings. The episcopal palace is an ancient edifice, and is memorable for the meeting between Frederic II. and the Emperor Joseph II., which took place here in 1769. There are also two Protestant and several Roman Catholic churches, a grammar school, an industrial school, two hospitals, an establishment for superannuated
Roman Catholic priests, large powder-mills, barracks, and arsenals. Cotton is manufactured here, and a considerable trade is carried on in yarn and building stone. A weekly market for yarn, and an annual fair, are held here. Pop. (1849), 17,164.