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not know themselves what they want and often speechify over the most nonsensical and unreasonable matters."

[The Landvogt, Karl Müller-Friedberg, who spent a large part of his life trying to hold the Prince-Abbot's domains together, but who none the less realised that some changes were necessary, persuaded the Prince-Abbot to accept the list of grievances from Gossau, now extended from six to sixty-one points, on June 3rd. Nothing resulted except another proclamation, in August.]

June (no exact date) The weather is cold and wet, more people are unemployed and resort to begging, those who are ashamed to beg are suffering from hunger. Food prices are even higher than in the 70s. Bräker's family have had to make economies but are better off than some. [Chronik, p 422]

July 1st-5th Bräker is summonsed to appear before the court of appeal in Lichtensteig, but it is six o'clock at night before his case comes up. The court confirms that Bräker should be repaid for his daughter's effects, valued at 140 guilders. Next day Bräker records that his lawyer Schlumpf

20th July "As a memorial to posterity I should like to set down some record of the present uncertain times and continual degeneration of the same. Not the continual war in France, already generally well known for so long, whose course and history has been described by a hundred more skilful hands than mine - no, I wish to describe only the evil consequences that this war, this perdition of humanity, has spread over our dear Helvetia (though whether in time good consequences may also come of it, as some believe, remains to be seen).

Firstly, it has made all our victuals very dear: the corn which was destined for us has been snatched from under our noses by all kinds of tricks and at a high price, our cattle are driven out of the country in spite of all our thrift and self-denial, the meat and everything that comes from cattle and indeed all victuals are indescribably increased in price. Also clothing, the shoes on our feet, all leather goods are at high prices. The poor man that has no property can only with great difficulty obtain the most essential means of living [...] And above that is the fact that in this year a very dry and horribly cold winter set in, followed by a cold spring. Spring frosts spoilt most of the fruit, many vineyards and garden fruits. Then a cool and very wet summer set in, so that people could hardly make hay or bring in their corn. Even now much of the hay is still uncut in the mountain districts, the everlasting rain is very damaging to all vegetables and field crops, and also contributes much to the fact that all victuals are rising in price rather than falling, while the earnings from the cotton trade decrease more and more from one day to the next. There is as yet little prospect of a general peace. Heaven have mercy upon us!

227

This refers to the crushing of the revolutionary movement at Stäfa.

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