In the civil administration Leopold favoured the independence and self-administration of the communes, suppressed feudal rights, re strained the power of creating fidei-commissa, abolished the right of common pasture, by which many proprietors were prevented from inclosing their lands, equalised the land tax, abolished the monopolies of tobacco, brandy, and other articles, and in alrrespects favoured liberty of commerce. Meantime he drained the Val di Chiaua and part of the Maremme, and fixed colonists in the reclaimed grounds, founded schools and houses for the poor, reformed the universities of Pisa and Siena, opened roads and canals, redeemed great part of the public debt, and lastly ordered the publication of the national budget.
By the death of his brother Joseph If. on the 20th of February 179U, Leopold succeeded to his vast dominions as well as to the impe rial crown, whilst his son Ferdinand succeeded him as grand duke of Tuscany. On assuming the administration of the hereditary dominions of the House of Austria, Leopold found discontent everywhere, owing in a great measure to the rash innovations of his brother ; the Nether lands in open revolt ; Hungary preparing to follow the example; Bohemia disaffected ; the clergy and the court of Rome at variance with the government ; Prussia hostile; England estranged; France herself convulsed, and likely to become an enemy ; and Russia, the only ally of his predecessor, engaged as well as himself in war against the Turks. Leopold had not only abilities but judgment and honest
feelings also. He showed an earnest desire to please his subjects, and ho succeeded. He abolished the more obnoxious innovations Of his brother ; he concluded a peace with the Porte ; he pacified Hungary by restoring such of the ancient privileges of its aristocracy as had been lately disregarded, and at the same time marching troops to restrain the more rebellious nobles. The next step of Leopold was to endeavour to pacify the revolted states of the Netherlands, by offering to re-establish their ancient constitutions. The insurgents having obstinately refused to listen to his offers, he sent troops against them, and the leaders being divided among themselves, Leopold recovered without much difficulty those fine provinces. Then came fresh anxieties concerning the fate of his sister Antoinette and her husband, the convention of Reichenbach, and that of Pilnitz in August 179], between Austria and Prussia for the purpose of checking the progress of French revolutionary proselytism. In the midst of all these cares Leopold died on the 1st of March 1792, aged forty-four years. He was generally regretted for his affability, hie strict justice, his kindness towards the poor, whom he admitted freely into his presence, and his sound judgment. He was succeeded by his eldest son. [Fitexcis