In Upper Austria my opportunity to intervene more closely in the internal constitution and to establish there the principle of adjustment presented itself, since that Province, its credit being weak, had often appealed to me for a remission of its Recess quota. I gradually reached the decision to carry through a reform there also, and to reduce the Domestic Fund substantially.
My greatest difficulties were with the Lower Austrian Estates here, which had been particularly spoiled by the Ministers, who were especially well disposed toward them because they had advanced large sums on credit to the Court and in earlier emergencies had been exceedingly generous in every way. The Austrian Provinces knew excellently how to turn this to their own advantage. Nevertheless, I was not to be deterred from reaching my goal here also, and consequently from limiting the domestic expenditure for the benefit of the poor taxpayers, and also from carrying through and regulating equitably the adjustment – more necessary here than anywhere – and the extension of taxation to properties formerly exempt. I hope thereby not only to consolidate the uniform system – since I wish these principles to be observed equally in all Provinces – but also to attract the blessing of God on this my salutary intention.
As to the Tirol and the Vorlande, I had, indeed, had Count von Chotek carry through an enquiry here, but when the new system was introduced, the whole arrangements had to be entirely recast; there, too, however, I succeeded in obtaining the quota allocated to them under the system, which I also achieved in Transylvania and the Banat of Temesvár. Only in the Kingdom of Hungary did I think it better not to introduce any change, because it would have been inadvisable to attempt anything of the sort except at a legally convoked Diet, and special considerations apply in the case of the Hungarians, who are extremely sensitive on such points.
The system established for my German Hereditary Lands in respect of the defense forces, the Camera, and the public debt covers the Hungarian Lands, as well as the Bohemian and Austrian, and makes it possible for me, after deduction of Cameral expenditure and service of the debt, to maintain in them 110,000 men, and also gradually to economize a certain sum each year with which to keep my army ready to march immediately in case of enemy invasion, and thus to avoid a recurrence of the situation which – unfortunately – confronted me at the outset of my reign and was the real origin of all the subsequent trouble.
Twenty-four thousand are to be kept in the Netherlands and at least 26,000 in Italy, so that the grand total amounts to 150,000. My greatest difficulties at present are with Italy, but Count Pallavicini still hopes to get the plan through to my satisfaction.
print version
return to list
previous document