agricultural and industrial development of Hungary, stifled by the customs regulations of Maria Theresa and Joseph II. Many cities, towns, and guilds compiled proof and wrote explanations of why the existing system was unjust and unsustainable, asking for a more equal treatment of all parts of the Habsburg monarchy in terms of economic regulations. Deputies were selected to present this material, including , a member of the governing council and , főispán of Zagreb County. Skerlecz stated that the main goal of Austrian customs regulations was to prevent the foundation of factories in Hungary and to almost entirely exclude Hungarian merchants from international trade. Another economist supporting a major reform was Gergely Berzeviczy. He wrote a detailed argument endorsing the deputies' goals and recommendations, including rebuttals against accusations made by the Viennese government which claimed that it was the laziness and primitiveness of Hungarians that kept the country from being as useful in the Habsburg monarchy as possible. In summary, the Hungarians wanted a more independent economy, free from the 'shackles' put on it by previous sovereigns. Despite their efforts, the Austrians were dismissive, and Emperor-King Francis had already committed himself to the old regulations. Another problem raised at the diet was that of banknotes, which had been used since 1762. The acceptance of banknotes as a form of payment by all was made compulsory in 1800. As a result of government debt, inflation was also concerning. Already before the diet, the palatine had alerted the king that the Hungarian nobles would bring up these issues. Given how serious the monarchy's troubles were and how distrusftul the Viennese legislation and the Hungarian nobility were of each other, the prospects's of the diet seemed bleak. One likely possibility was that the more enlightened proposals would cause the Austrian party to become antagonistic in defence, strengthening the reactionary and absolutist factions in Vienna. This would have made all necessary reforms impossible. Despite these signs of probable failure, the young palatine worked hard, studying previous negotiations between the two parties. When he learned that the főispáns of each county were commanded to submit the instructions given to their respective envoys to the Austrian chancellery, he was deeply concerned that this would cause distrust among Hungarians. He also gave frequent descriptions of public sentiment to the emperor-king, telling him that while most people deemed the royal demands just and necessary, opinions differed on methods