he was a man of broad humanitarian sympathies and an especially staunch friend of the jews. when, in the 1740s, maria theresa ordered the expulsion of the jews from prague (to take place before the end of january 1745) and from all bohemia (before the end of june 1745) burmania, at the request of the jewish communities of amsterdam, rotterdam, and the hague, exerted all his influence at the court to have the edict revoked. he was assisted by the english minister, sir thomas robinson. the result of his efforts was the postponement of the date of exile to the last day of february 1745. again the jewish communities of holland appealed to burmania, and again he pleaded, urged, and remonstrated with the austrian reichskanzler (chancellor), that "sovereigns, more than other persons, are responsible to god and man for their deeds." another month of grace was granted, but on 31 march 1745 the jews of prague were exiled. thereupon, burmania, supported by the ambassadors of england, poland, and turkey, directed his energies toward averting the expulsion of the jews from the whole of bohemia, which was to take place in june.