[Breslau] (335), the capital of Silesia, second city in Prussia; an important commercial and manufacturing centre, and has a first-class fortress; is on the Oder, 150 m. by rail SE. of Frankfort; it stands in the centre of the Baltic, North Sea, and Danube trade, and has a large woollen industry and grain market; there are a cathedral, university, and library.
[Bressay], one of the Shetland Isles, near Lerwick, with one of the best natural harbours in the world.
[Brest] (76), a strongly-fortified naval station in the extreme NW. of France; one of the chief naval stations in France, with a magnificent harbour, and one of the safest, first made a marine arsenal by Richelieu; has large shipbuilding yards and arsenal; its industries are chiefly related to naval equipment, with leather, waxcloth, and paper manufactures.
[Bréton, Jules Adolphe], a French genre and landscape painter, born at Courrières, in Pas-de-Calais, 1827.
[Breton de los Herreros], Spanish poet and dramatist; wrote comedies and satires in an easy, flowing style (1800-1873).
[Breteuil, Baron de], an ex-secretary of Louis XVI. (1733-1807).
[Brethren of the Common Life], a Dutch branch of the "Friends of God," founded at Deventer by Gerard Groote.
[Bretschneider, Henry Gottfried von], a German satirical writer, born at Gera; led a bohemian life; served in the army; held political posts; composed, besides satirical writings, "Almanach der Heiligen auf das Jahr, 1788," "Wallers Leben und Sitten," and the comic epic, "Graf Esau" (1739-1810).
[Bretschneider, Karl Gottlieb], a German rationalistic theologian; much regarded for his sound judgment in critical matters; his theological writings are of permanent value; his chief works, "Handbuch der Dogmatik," and an edition of Melanchthon's works.