Kaiser Josephs II. „Vorschlag wegen der gleichen Ausmaß der Schuldigkeiten der Unterthanen“ (1774).

This is an edition of a memorandum on the duties of peasants presented by Emperor Joseph II to Maria Theresia in February 1774. It is entitled „Proposal for the Delimitation of Duties of Subjects“ and it was meant as a contribution by the co-regent to the issue of urbarial reform. It was drafted at a time when the radical reformer Franz Anton von Blanc was proposing a general rule, whereas the Bohemian Estates argued that there should be only local regulations. Emperor Joseph II supported the view of the Bohemian Estates. He drew on the theory of the utility of luxury and argued that the nobility needed to make a profit in order to be able to make some contribution to the circulation of money. This circulation was beneficial even for artisans and journeymen. Even within the frameworks of taxation, the interests of nobility, burghers and peasants were interconnected because the financial inability of one of these classes would pull down all the others. In his opinion it was impossible to issue a „general Cynossur“ (i.e. a general rule), and the Hofkanzlei, which sought to prove the impracticability of the Estates’ plan, proved only that it would be difficult to carry out. Emperor Joseph II believed that the destinies of the landlords and the subjects were interconnected, and that the regulation should bring about something positive for both of them. Based on these reflections, he preferred to support the Estates’ plan. The memorandum was addressed to his mother, Maria Theresia, who then issued the Instruction for new Urbaria, entitled Unterricht. This followed the opinions of Joseph II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]