ELBING  , a seaport

town of Germany, in the kingdom of Prussia, 49 M. by rail E.S.E. of Danzig, on the Elbing, a small river which flows into the Frische Haff about 5 m. from the town, and is united with the Nogat or eastern arm of the Vistula by means of the Kraffohl canal . Pop . (1905) 55,627 . By the Elbing-Oberlandischer canal, fro m. long, constructed in 1845-186o, Lakes Geserich and Drewenz are connected with Lake Drausen, and consequently with the port of Elbing . The old town was formerly surrounded by fortifications, but of these only a few fragments remain . There are several churches, among them the Marienkirche (dating from the 15th century and restored in 1887), a classical school (Gymnasium) founded in 1536, a modern school (Realschule), a public library of over 28,000 volumes, and several charitable institutions . The town-hall (1894) contains a historical museum . Elbing is a place of rapidly growing industries . At the great Schichau iron-works, which employ thousands of workmen, are built most of the torpedo-boats and destroyers for the German navy, as well as larger craft, locomotives and machinery . In addition to this there are at Elbing important iron foundries, and manufactories of machinery, cigars, lacquer and metal ware, flax and hemp yarn, cotton, linen, organs, &c . There is a considerable trade also in agricultural produce . The origin of Elbing was a colony of traders from Lubeck and Bremen, which established itself under the protection of a castle of the Teutonic Knights, built in 1237 .

In 1246 the town acquired " Lubeck rights," i.e. the full

autonomy conceded by the charter of the emperor Frederick II. in 1226 (see LPBECK), and it was early admitted to the Hanseatic League . In 1454 the town repudiated the overlordship of the Teutonic Order, and placed itself under the protection of the king of Poland, becoming the seat of a Polish voivode . From this event dates a decline in its prosperity, a decline hastened by the wars of the early 18th century . In 1698, and again in 1703, it was seized by the elector of Brandenburg as security for a debt due to him by the Polish king . It was taken and held to ransom by Charles XII. of Sweden, and in 1710 was captured by the Russians . In 1772, when it fell to Prussia through the first partition of Poland, it was •itterly decayed . See Fuchs, Gesch. der Stadt Elbing (Elbing, 1818–1852) ; Rhode, Der Elbinger Kreis in topographischer, historischer, and statistischer Hinsicht (Danzig, 1871); Wernick, Elbing (Elbing, 1888) .