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Swiss culture, particularly literature, was at a low ebb, it had shown few signs of greatness since the end of the 15 th century. The epics, lyrics and popular drama of the Middle Ages had gone into decline and had not yet been replaced by the modern novel or sophisticated drama. Pastoral poetry, much of it derived from the ancient classics via France, was very popular, so were all kinds of didactic and moralistic writings. The cultural vacuum had been filled by an over-use of French models, even though France itself was regarded with hostility on cultural as well as political grounds. Soldiers and officers returning from French service were blamed for any unpleasant developments in Swiss society. Throughout the century some German-speaking Swiss writers tried to counteract French influence, advocating England and English literature as an alternative model, since England was at that time living under a government which was Protestant and liberal (or at least liberal compared with most other European governments). Even in German-speaking regions, however, the upper classes had adopted French as their own language, though they tended to speak and write it badly. Some scholars were still using the medieval international language: Latin.

     Most of the prominent men in 18 th century Switzerland were founders or members of the Helvetic Society, founded in 1762 at Bad Schinznach in Aargau. One of its aims was to promote Swiss culture and counteract those French influences which were considered as pernicious. Though revolution was not on its agenda, it did advocate a greater degree of co-operation between the different territories, and a rationalisation of rights of citizens to make them more uniform, thus advancing some way towards a national government. It was also, for its time, egalitarian in its organisation, in that it included Catholic and Protestant members, and members of the bourgeoisie as well as the aristocracy.

     By the end of the century and the end of Bräker's life, the political situation of Switzerland had changed completely, whether for the better or not is still a disputed question. There can be no doubt, however, that 18 th century Switzerland was an intensely conservative society at all levels. The upper classes strove to maintain their privileges, but the lower classes also believed that the old ways of life were the best. Nicolai (p 34) reports that in Appenzell, which he visited in 1785, the peasants believed that so long as they abided by the old rules all would go well. "We don't want anything new, we want to stick with the old, like our forefathers who rest in God".

In view of Bräker's fervent patriotism and frequent references to "our Helvetia", I was rather surprised to discover that strictly speaking his homeland was not in fact part of Switzerland, that is, it was not a member of the Confederation. The Toggenburg was ruled by a Prince-Abbot, who besides being head of the large Benedictine monastery of St. Gallen, was also ruler of a large territory to the west of the Toggenburg, often referred to as "die Alte Landschaft" [the Old Estate]. He did not rule over the town of St. Gallen, which was independent, even though the monastery was close to the town and surrounded by its lands. The Alte Landschaft and the town of St. Gallen were not members of the Confederation either, they were Zugewandte, [allied territories], but they did have the same right as cantons to send deputies to the national parliament. They also had the right, in an emergency, to appeal for help to the Schirmorte [protector cantons]. Each allied territory was under the protection of one or more cantons, usually large cities, who would help to defend it from attack. This right was exercised by St. Gallen at the time of the 1798 Revolution, when the Prince-Abbot called on the Schirmorte to mediate between himself and the disaffected peasants who were rioting at his gates. The Toggenburg was an Untertanland [subject territory] of the Prince-Abbot - in fact it would not be inappropriate to translate this word as "colony", since its government showed many features of colonialism.

When the last hereditary Count of the Toggenburg died without an heir in 1436, his lands became a counter in a power-struggle between Zürich and other cities and cantons seeking to limit Zürich's expansion. Eventually the Toggenburg was bought by the abbey of St. Gallen, whose abbots had been princes of the Empire since 1204. St. Gall, the patron saint of the abbey

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