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spend it in congenial conversation - then to go with him into a very pleasant newly founded reading group - to make the acquaintance of worthy, respected benefactors of mankind - to smoke a good pipeful of tobacco amid all kinds of congenial exchanges - and after that to finish off the evening at The Lion inn over a jug of Buxheimer beer and a cheerful good-humoured company of strangers, sensible traders and merchants, come here for the fair. On this occasion I paid only a flying visit to the house of Squire Gonzenbach (in St. Gallen), because he had a large and noisy company of womenfolk there. So I set myself on my homeward way and again visited my dear ones in St. Gallen and Herisau." [Voellmy, v 3 pp 56-57]

The Literarische Gesellschaft or Lesegesellschaft [Literary Society or Reading Society] of St. Gallen, was founded the previous January by citizens influenced by the Enlightenment, including Daniel Girtanner. Lectures, discussion, and newspaper-reading enabled the members to exchange views on cultural and political subjects. [Chronik, p 479]. [Its aims were not precisely the same as that of the Moral Society of Lichtensteig. This may be the day of the first meeting between Bräker and Daniel Girtanner, a friendship later of great importance to him.]

22nd May "Today - my little story arrived here from Zürich - on fine paper and well printed... twelve copies for me and our pastor - to be shared - two on post paper [higher quality paper]." Imhof gives Bräker only one copy and wants to sell the others for Bräker's benefit. Bräker reads his copy and is particularly pleased with "the fine improvements and notes of my good editor -who so kindly and condescendingly paved the way - for my scrawls - by means of a flattering and well-expressed preface." [Chronik, p 348]

In this preface Füssli said that he had had considerable difficulty in persuading Bräker to agree to publication of his diaries and "scattered literary exercises", even though the publication of his autobiography in the Schweizer-Musaeum had attracted much favourable attention. He also mentions in rather vague terms that literary productions were all the more welcome coming from a part of the world not noted for such things, and that Bräker had attracted unwelcome expressions of envy from his neighbours. The edition on "post-paper" cost double the edition on "print-paper" because it was illustrated by engravings by Johann Rudolf Schellenburg (1740-1806). Copies of it are now very rare, but the engravings are reproduced in Schiel's edition.

[Bräker's account of his visit to Zürich in the following month reads very much as if it were written for publication, even to the extent of writing of himself in the third person, and it is hard to avoid the thought that some of the flattering words about Füssli and his family were included with publication in mind].

July 21st-26th Journey to Zürich: first visit to Councillor Füssli:
     "The Poor Man of Toggenburg, he sets out on a little journey, partly for purposes of business, partly also to catch some fresh air for a few days, to see new people and new places, observe the wonderful works of God, and devote some time to enjoyment and freedom from care. On the 21st of July, at the break of day as is his wont, he set out on the road to Weil. It was a bright summer's morning, a rare thing this year. The welcome sun came gradually peeping forth from the Swabian lands, and already the amiable songsters of hedgerow and forest had struck up their music-lessons, yet the nightingale, the warbler and the robin were making themselves most pleasantly heard, they made a delightful morning-song, which the poor wanderer also heartily joined in.

Forgetting all else, free from care, he trotted on alone, all eyes and ears, down the fine new roads to Weil. He thought, murmuring under his breath: you would never have thought, old

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