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[...], the most general is war in the home, war and strife in marriage, then war with the pen, then war with the sword, and so on. Amid these reflections I at last reached my home, weary and exhausted, uncertain as to whether a war-like attack awaited me, because I brought no money home with me. But I asked straight away for a truce." [Voellmy, v 3 pp 87-90]

13th Jan. Bräker writes to Füssli: "You will be so kind as to pardon me, that without first informing my trustee, my dear pastor, I address myself so plainly, direct to you, as to a father ... and again permit myself to ask for some money from you. Trade is very bad, small traders are laying down their arms by dozens - poverty and need reign everywhere in the countryside, credit has almost completely disappeared...You will according to your usual generosity not reject my plea, again advance me something, for which I shall be grateful and will try to work off the debt."

Imhof had made a mistake in his handling of the publisher's advance that Füssli had lodged with him, and the friendship between Bräker and Imhof had cooled as a result. Imhof still has some manuscripts of Bräker which he intends to publish [Chronik, p 361] [These Ms were never published.]

15th-20th Jan. Bräker writes that it has been a mild winter, one can work out of doors in shirt-sleeves and dust lies on the roads as if it was summer. But because the brooks are low, many millers are unable to work "which would cause an increase in prices if there were much use of it - but in all places there is very little use of it - little demand for bread - and most eaters of bread have little means - they live on milk and vegetables as best they can and may." [Chronik, p 361]

26th Jan. Bräker receives a letter and a packet from Füssli. Next day he replies, thanking Füssli for the return of his earlier diaries, and saying that he would rather not see them in print, because his present way of thinking is very different from that when the diaries were written.

28th Jan. Bräker addresses his own countrymen, pointing out that shortages would be less disastrous if people saved food when there was a good supply. He knows of families who do not have provisions even for the next day and cannot eat until they have spun and delivered yarn. He also urges the authorities to establish an institution for poor relief in the Oberamt [Upper Toggenburg], like the one already established in the Unteramt [Lower Toggenburg]. [Chronik, p 362]

25th Feb. Bräker excuses himself for neglecting his diary. "I would give as much as half a dozen thalers - if I could write as quickly and readily as each and every little gentleman - who in a trice has scribbled a quarto page." [Chronik, pp 362-363]

5th Mar. Bräker writes about the death of the Emperor Joseph II [on 20th February] and European politics in general. At home there are also further hostilities concerning the building of the new road. Bräker thinks that "there exists a genius hostile to mankind... perhaps our beloved Toggenburg has one all to itself." On the 14th he continues his appeal to his fellow-countrymen not to quarrel or the Toggenburg will deserve its bad reputation. "We wish that the rulers of our land would come together - and strive in all earnest, to put in place a glorious unity - we wish to send from every commune - loyal and sensible, peace-loving men - and give the full powers to establish peace and unity - cost what it will." [Chronik, p 363]

18th Mar. "[...] So, on Monday evening I set out once more for dear St. Gallen. Not for pleasure, indeed, but for compelling cause, deadly sickness of the poverty-stricken purse, which lay exhausted and at its last gasp. The weather was appalling, dark grey clouds shedding a good deal of snow in whirling eddies, so that I did not expect to cross the mountains without danger, and last year I had been almost smothered by the snow. So I made up my mind to go by the new road through Flohweil

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