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The Chronik [p 364] adds that the subject of the speech was beggary in the Toggenburg, also the need for peace and unity, concerning the Wetter controversy [see entry of 26th Aug. 1787] in particular. Bräker had to speak because several members declined to do so. Only about a third of the members were present and no business matters were discussed. Nearly all the members were hostile to the founder, Giezendanner.

[Revolutionary propaganda was already reaching the Toggenburg. Although here Bräker is defending the rulers of his homeland, it may be significant that in the autumn of the previous year he had written of the numbers of "petty despots" in Switzerland, and given examples of over-severe punishments for trivial "crimes" (eating meat in Lent, making a dirty joke about the Landvogt). He also casts blame on the system that makes the officials greedy by compelling them to buy their way into their positions. Actual revolution, however, is still a long way away, in his summary of the year 1789 he writes of "bloody and lamentable scenes" but they are still remote "news of the distant north".

Bräker castigated the beggars for taking to that way of life out of laziness or boredom with work, but he had pity for the genuinely destitute, particularly the children:

"Especially pitiable are the enormous troops of young ungrown children, who stravage about like sheep without a shepherd, and are to be seen growing up begging on the streets without any instruction, like wild animals. It is grievously difficult for the villagers and dalesmen who live beside the main road. The rich man who is continually besieged by such mobs, be he never so compassionate he must in the end become unfeeling and hardhearted. The common man who cannot possibly stand at all times by his door or window and give out to all - for indeed there are days when a single person would be required just to give out the alms - he must at last become vexed and resentful." [Voellmy, v 2 p 79]

28th Apr. Bräker records that his diary has been neglected while he wrote this speech, but also because of business, work in his garden and letter writing. He notes that recent cold weather is endangering the fruit trees this year. [Chronik, p 364] The entries remain sparse for May to July.

At the end of July Bräker writes that the month has been mostly wet and cold, but its end has brought better weather, so that "the sunken spirits of my brothers and sisters of the lowest class of earth's inhabitants - are powerfully raised - and in general that is a good thing - but we live in such times - where he - who has no money, must subject himself to him who has it - that is - men of means - buy up all the good victuals - and sell the same later to the needy for double the price - experience teaches this - Lord, look thou upon this". [Chronik, p 365]

August (no exact date) Pastor Imhof leaves Wattwil to take up another post at Trub, unfortunately too soon after he has taken offence at Bräker for not mentioning his [Imhof's] recent serious illness in his diary:

"He is still in the land of the living - but alas, no longer ours - departed from Wattwil - now no more before us - no more before me - no, I will not hope - with what pleasure I still remember our affectionate association - but how dry was his leavetaking - what disquiet his reproaches brought me - they appear just - and - God knows - they are not - no, I have not deserved them - Ill - he was very ill - and this illness affected me much, but it did not make me anxious for his life - it never entered my head that he might look in my diary - to see what I had mentioned about his illness - and found nothing - absolutely nothing - and - I should never have believed it - concluded from that, that my sincere friendship was not quite genuine - [...] I would be the coarsest and most ungrateful yokel in the world, if I were to forget such a friend - how often I had the pleasure - to see him in my poor hovel. How often I fled away to him in the parsonage - and hours seemed like moments - how often I had the honour of being sent for by him - when curious travellers were eager to see a poor sinner - how often I had the undeserved honour of dining at his table - and

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