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with those of the city in such matters as trade and industry, higher education and military service. These demands were based on alleged ancient rights that had been ignored. (This was a common tactic of the revolutionary movement, ancient documents were ferreted out from the archives, dusted off and used to justify a form of government completely new to Switzerland.) In November 1794 the Zürich authorities countered this by suppressing publication of the "Memorial" and arresting some of those responsible for it. This led to popular assemblies in other communes near Zürich, which were regarded by the authorities as seditious and made illegal. In early 1795 severe sentences were passed on the more prominent of those who were arrested earlier, and proclamations issued to deter further revolutionary activity.

Next spring, however, further conflicts broke out, and on 22nd March 1795 a Tree of Liberty was erected in Stäfa. (A Tree of Liberty was sometimes a real tree but more often a totem-pole symbolising revolution, rather in the way that a Christmas tree symbolises Christmas, decorated with gaily coloured flags, garlands, printed slogans, etc. In France it was usually topped by a Cap of Liberty, a red cap like those worn by workmen, to show that it was the common people who had taken control.) After an illegal popular assembly, at which some ancient documents were read aloud publicly, the government demanded that representatives from Stäfa should be sent to Zürich to give an account of themselves, but this demand was refused. The result of this was that Stäfa was occupied for nine weeks by soldiers from Zürich. In fact the authorities had some difficulty in recruiting soldiers for this occupation, because by this time their harsh treatment of Stäfa had aroused sympathy for the revolutionaries. Even in Zürich itself some prominent people such as Füssli, Lavater and Pestalozzi had used their influence to reduce the sentences passed on the revolutionary leaders of Stäfa, who might otherwise have suffered the death penalty.

In April 1795 there was rioting in Lichtensteig, in Bräker's own neighbourhood and with a cause close to his heart: profiteering in foodstuffs during a shortage. But Bräker does not describe this or even mention it, presumably because his attention was wholly occupied with trying to keep his eldest daughter out of jail.

On 10th May 1795 an assembly in Oberglatt of the communes of the Lower Toggenburg resolved to compile a list of grievances, and the Landrat granted that each commune might do so through a freely elected committee. The final compilation was carried out in the house of the landlord of The Lion inn in Wattwil. Besides the usual complaints about feudal dues, the demands included the election of some officials every two years. The power to raise militia and the selection of the Bannerherr (military commander) were to be transferred to the local government. There were also complaints concerning licensing of inns. Bräker wrote a summary of these grievances into his diary in 1798. The grievances were submitted to the Landrat, but the Catholic members boycotted the meeting, and there was some disagreement among the Protestants as to whether the complaints were justifiable. Many pamphlets were circulated to express views for and against.

On 19th May 1796 the Prince-Abbot died and was replaced by Pankraz Vorster, who was even less likely than his predecessor to make concessions to those who sought political change in his domains. He could not legally repeal the "Gütliche Vertrag", but he delayed carrying it out, increasing discontent and impatience among those who wanted change.

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