C H A P T E R IL
PoxiTrcAL Geography.
'Religion.—E c c le f ia /lic a l Geography.—Government.—Laws.—Population.— Colonies.
— Army.—Navy.i—Revenues. ■—Political Importance and Relations: •
HeuGiov, H pH E ruling religion o f Pruffia isfthe proteftant, under its two chief
* divifions o f L u th eran and Calyiniftic. But a f t e r 'th e recènt- aci-
quifitions in Poland it wouM feem. th a t-th e greater number of the inhabitants
m uft be Roman Catholic. T h e , u n iv e rfa l'itö ïe t^ tiq n 'which
has been wifely embraced by th e Pruffian monarchs,‘has had its oifual
Æveffeâ o f abating theological enmity, and the different feds feem to live ;
in perfect concord. '
Eccleiiaftic The ecclefiaftical geography o f Pruffia would be at once little inte- .!
^Geography. rg£* difficult detail. T h e bifhoprics in Poland and Silefia
- T e ê îïrto retard th e ir ancient limits, while th e p ower of.the prelates. is
confiderably abridged. , %
«Government. • i As nó vettige o f a n y fenate or delegates frorfiT he jpedple is k n ow n
in this kingdom, it muft be pronounced an abfolute government ; but
the fpirit and good fenfe o f the nation unite with the wifdom and mild-
mefs of fucceffive, monarchs, (who have uniformly wifhed to . invite
foreign fettlers by views o f eafe and freedom, inftead of expelling their
own people by rigour,) to render the fovereignty as conciliatory, and
perhaps more beneficent, than if joined with a venal fenate. j& The late
Taws. great monarch reformed many abufes" in the laws ; but it cannot be
difguifed that the tenour o f his government was too military, a fault
inherent in the Praffian fyftem. In fome re fp eû s it is dpubtlefs unavoidable,
as muft ever be the cafe, in eftablilhing a new power. ■ And
when we behold every petty prince in' Germany furrounded by the
I id le parade of a little army, which far from being neceffary at home is
often
•< ?^ten‘ to o th er ftatesy w,e f cannot wonder that the acquifitions ip
Silefia, and in Poland, muft be maintained by armed force, inftead of
ancient attachment and habits o f fubjeffion; efpecialLy when we conf
id e that Pruffia is environed by the great military powers of Ruffia
. and Auftria. , All political plans muft be weighed by the c-ii-cumftances ;
and this dire neceffity muft exift till .the; benignity of tlie government
ftiall have gradually leeurcd the, firm attachment of its new fub-
yedts..
Before the acquifitions in Poland^ this kingdom was fuppofed to
contain, only about five millions and a half o f inhabitants, including
one million and a half in Silefia. But the late great acquifition in
Poland has greatly enlarged; the number of inhabitants, which may be
about erglity to- the fquare mile.* „
No foreign colonies hav e' emigrated from Pruffia ; and it has,been
indeed a chief objeEt with the monarchs to colonize the country itfeif.
The army is fuppofed to amount to about 200,000, including iffipirt
$ £ > ; a o o CfjjaJriy. ;;?The tadti'cS^ p f ’the- -lute afilg.jfegreiM G^ferred,difi
tinguiffied reputation on the Pruffian battalions,- but they 'are now.fup-
pofed not to exceed the ,Auftrian ; and military men cqnfid|l both, as
inferior to thqfe of Ruffia,, who feem to be juftly regarded as the beft
troops in Europe. •
I h,f acquifition of Dantzick,-and fome. other ports in the Baltic, may
in time place Pruffia among the maritime powers , but as little is. ,t;d be
gained or apprehended at fea, it is natural that aim oft the foie attention
Ihould be paid to the land fervice, which can afehe fecure the’ country
againft the exorbitanLpower o f Ruffia ; for Auftria has been fo much
enfeebled by the recent contcft with France, that many years muft elapfe
before Pruffia can have any apprehenfions from-that quarter.
Before the additions of Poliih territory, the revenue was eftimated at
3,88p,o°oi. fterling ; and the expence o f the army at 2,275,000.' Fre-'
deric II laudably expended about half a million fterling yearly, .in the
improvement, of his dominions. The entire revenue o f Poiaftd was
noT computed to exceed 439,5461. fterling. I f we even fuppofe half
of this added to the Pruffian revenue" the refult would not be important;
1 1 *.See the iiote atithe end of thfs chapter. ' *
SB9S
L aw s.
Population.
C o lo ilû » .* ,
Army.
Kavy,
Revenues,
but