a small duchy of Lower Silesia, in Germany, lying between those of Wolaw, Olifre, Brieg, Schwednitz, and Lignitz. It is everywhere level and flat: is an excellent corn country, yielding also good pasture; abounding also with herds of cattle and flocks of sheep; but destitute of wood, except in one district or circle; and the roads in general are very bad. It is an immediate principality, that is, one of which both the property and jurisdiction belong to the king, forming a part of one of the three bailiwicks into which all the immediate principalities are divided.

the chief town of the duchy of that name, and of all Silesia, is situated at the conflux of the Oder and Ohlau, in E. Long. 17° 5'. N. Lat. 51° 4'. Including the suburbs, it is of great extent; having many large regular squares, broad streets, stately public and private edifices; but the fortifications are of no great importance. Here are in particular a great many churches and convents belonging to the Catholics; of the former are several also belonging to the Lutherans, one to the Calvinists, and another to the Greeks. The Jews have likewise two synagogues, the bishop a stately palace, and the Lutherans two gymnasia. The Polish university is a noble structure, nor is the exchange destitute of magnificence. This city is the seat of all the high colleges; and the third in rank, next to Berlin and Konigberg, in all the Prussian dominions. The magistracy of it is Lutheran, and its trade and manufactures are very considerable. Several of the monasteries and nunneries are very magnificent; and there are also some good public libraries in it, with two armories, a college of physicians, and a mint. Breslau is very populous, and much frequented by Hungarian, Bohemian, Polish, and other merchants, having several yearly fairs. The city was taken by the king of Prussia in 1741, and retaken by the Austrians in 1757; but the king of Prussia took it back again the same year, and gained a signal victory over the Austrians at Leuthen, a village not far from the capital.