The Poor Man of Toggenburg - Autobiography of Ulrich Bräker

over the fact that Bräker had finally decided to leave his family, turning his house over to creditors, [Chronik p 455].]

"Now I am setting off on my way. I will endeavour to expel care and grief from my bosom. At the end I will seek out hospitable friends to mankind, who speak comfort and courage to me, which is my greatest need on account of my uncertain health. Then I hope that the change of air and way of life will bring their good to strengthen again somewhat my weak vital energies. In spite of the bad weather and my weary limbs I came to my dear St. Gallen and took refuge with my dear friends, always so kind to me, and found them all, as always, tirelessly generous. But at the same time it is painful to me to be a burden on one and the same person. Also it is hard for me to talk away the days without employment. My endeavour is to find some work to do by which I can at least earn my bread." [Voellmy, v 2 pp 319-320]

22nd Mar. "The first step has been taken. With a fearful heart - and feelings of sorrow I look back once more at my home, my little house and garden, which I lived in for almost 40 years, dwelt in and cared for it, which for so long was my defence and shelter." [Böning pp 195-196]

23rd-26th Mar. Bräker stays with Girtanner. On the 27th Girtanner induces him despite bad weather to travel to Konstanz, where he visits Johann Anton Sulzer, on the return journey he stays the night with Dr. Johann Jakob Peyer. On the 30th he is in Arbon visiting the Town Clerk Johann Ulrich Sauter, and Johann Georg Mayr, stepfather of Füssli's daughters-in-law. On the 31st he returns to Girtanner's home. [Chronik, p 455]

[General Brune was replaced on 29th March by General Schauenbourg. A famous cartoon of the time illustrates the traditional saying that when Brune left he took with him so much loot from the city treasury of Bern that the axle of his carriage broke under the weight.]

1st-10th Apr. Bräker spends Easter Week "in hiding, so to speak" with Girtanner. He writes to friends in Zürich, Bern and Trub, to his family and his creditors, to make his intentions known to them. He writes to Füssli that he intends to visit him after Easter. To his family he confesses that he could not bring himself to discuss his bankruptcy face to face with them, but promises to obtain lenient treatment for them from the creditors. He "will not break away from any of my obligations, I will never forget that I am a husband - and a father - but now my duty to myself calls me - to consider once more my own self-preservation". He gives instructions about payment of some of his debts, and the purchase of fuel and other necessities. He is anxious about the financial situation of his youngest daughter Anna Maria, who is soon to be married to Friedrich Lieberherr

[On 11th April Schauenbourg and his civilian colleague Commissioner Lecarlier issued an ultimatum to all the Swiss governments that had not yet accepted the new constitution, saying that if not accepted within twelve days it would be imposed by force. This constitution had been devised by the French with the help of the Swiss revolutionary leader Peter Ochs. He hoped that a highly centralised government would avert the threat of full annexation by France, but at first the constitution met with nearly universal hostility.]

"On the 11th April I made myself ready to depart for Zürich, although my health and my swollen knees and frail legs were little to be depended on, so that I might at least for a while get myself off the backs of my generous hosts. So I took leave of their unforgettable harmony and went by Gossau to Buren.

Son of Bräker's neighbour. The marriage did not take place until November 1799, after Bräker's death.