SILESIA

SILESIA (Germ. Schlesien), a province of the Prussian monarchy, lying between N. Lat. 49. 40. and 52. 8.; E.

Long. 14. 25. and 19. 15.; bounded on the N. by the provinces of Brandenburg and Posen, E. by Polish Russia, S. by Austrian Silesia, S.W. and W. by Bohemia and Saxony. Length from N.W. to S.E. 210 miles, breadth from 70 to 80; area, 15,720 square miles. Along the south-west frontier runs a range of mountains, called the Sudetes, which here divide the Prussian from the Austrian dominions. From these the country descends in a gradual slope towards the north-east; and the Oder divides it lengthwise into two nearly equal parts; that on its left bank, called the German side, being more mountainous; and that to the right, or the Polish side, more flat. The Sudetes present for the most part a very uniform appearance, consisting of long ridges, covered with forests, and having here and there isolated peaks, of a rounded or dome-like appearance. There are many pleasant valleys among these mountains; and several passes across them. The two principal groups of the Sudetes are the Riesen Geberge, near the north-west; and the Glatz Mountains, towards the south-east extremity of the chain. Of the former, the highest point is the Riesen Koppe, 5060 feet high; the latter is divided into several distinct ridges, and reaches the elevation of 4354 feet in the Schneeberg, its highest summit. Besides these there is an isolated mountain called the Zobten, 2246 feet high, at the foot of the latter group. There are no hills of any size on the other side of the Oder; but the land, though flatter, is not by any means so fertile as that which lies among the mountains on the south-west, and the land which slopes down from them to the river. The Oder, the only great stream in Silesia, enters the province from Moravia, in the south-east, and is navigable for small boats as far as Ratibor. Its banks are in general low and uniform; but in the upper part of its course it is bordered by mountains and oak-forests; while at various points lower there are hills covered with vines. The principal affluents of the Oder in Silesia are, on the right, the Klodnitz, Malapame, Stober, Weida, and Bartsch; and on the left, the Silesian Neisse, Ohlau, Weistritz, Katzbach, and Bober. A small portion in the extreme south-east of the province sends its waters to the Vistula; but with this exception, the whole waters of the province flow by the Oder into the Baltic. There are few lakes, and these not of any great size. Silesia is not, on the whole, so well cultivated as some other parts of Prussia, and does not produce a sufficiency of corn for the domestic consumption. The extent of arable land in the province, in 1852, was 4,418,522 acres; of gardens and vineyards, 133,028 acres; of meadows and pasture land, 785,531 acres; of forests, 2,313,402 acres; and of waste land, 2,976,383 acres. Wheat is extensively grown here, especially on the land to the east of the Oder. This crop is more cultivated in this than in any other province of Prussia. Oats, barley, rye, pulse, and potatoes, are also raised. Flax, hemp, rape, and madder, are produced here more largely than in any other province. Vines are cultivated only in a few places. Considerable attention is paid to pastoral pursuits; and large numbers of live stock are reared. In the year 1855, there were in Silesia 190,647 horses, 7586 mules and asses, 965,643 horned cattle, 2,431,687 sheep, 48,867 goats, and 127,058 pigs. The mineral productions of Silesia are of considerable importance. Gold and silver are found here to a small extent; but the principal wealth of the land consists of the more useful, though less valuable, metals. Iron is found in considerable abundance; zinc comes next in point of amount, while smaller quantities of copper, lead, &c., are also obtained. The province contains mines of coal, quarries of marble, granite, and sandstone. The minerals of the country are found chiefly in the upper portion; while it is in its middle and lower parts that manufacturing industry is most actively carried on. In 1852 there were in the province 10 establishments for spinning flax and hemp, 51

linen manufactories, 8 cotton factories, 170 woollen factories, 56 paper mills, 40 tanneries, 58 tobacco factories, 49 sugar-houses, 1501 breweries, 1517 distilleries, 227 iron-works, 21 machine factories, 27 glass-houses, and 39 manufactories of earthenware and porcelain. The inhabitants are very industrious, especially those of German origin (for a large number of the people are of Polish extraction), and most of the men are employed in weaving, and the women in spinning. Besides the river, there are additional means of communication furnished by many good roads, and by several railways; the chief of which are the Lower Silesian Railway, from Berlin to Breslau, and the Upper Silesian Railway, from Breslau to the Austrian frontier, with other smaller lines and branches. In respect of religion, the population belongs, in nearly equal numbers, to the Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths; the latter numbering, in 1855, 1,617,943, and the former 1,528,300 adherents. Besides these, there were in the same year 36,217 Jews, and a small number of Greeks and Mennonites. The provision made for popular education is considerable, and the proportion of the inhabitants sufficiently educated is somewhat above the average of the provinces of the kingdom. There is a university at Breslau, with 49 professors, and 842 students, in 1852. The province has also 21 gymnasiums and 1 progymnasium, 6 normal seminaries, 46 middle schools, and 3847 public elementary schools, with 497,697 scholars. The history of Silesia contains no events of any interest until we come down to the middle of the last century. In the tenth century it came under the dominion of the Polish sovereigns; and in 1163 was divided into three parts, under three independent dukes or princes. Subsequently the country was split into many smaller portions, and thus reduced to such a state of weakness that the several princes were by degrees induced to put themselves under the protection of the king of Bohemia. Thus, in 1526, Silesia became a part of the inheritance of the house of Austria, and remained such till the time of Maria Theresa. By the treaties of 1742, 1745, and 1763, Silesia was ceded to Prussia, having been conquered by Frederick the Great in the Seven Years' War. It is at present divided into the three governments of Oppeln, Breslau, and Liegnitz, nearly corresponding to the divisions of Upper, Middle, and Lower Silesia. Its population, in 1855, was the following:—