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The order for contributions from the French generals caused great dismay and perplexity here. For Bern is to pay 6 million livres, Zürich 3, Luzern 2, Freiburg 2 and Solothurn 2. Without doubt this will cause equal dismay in all these places. From Bern and Solothurn hostages have already been taken away to Strasburg and Huningen, until these sums shall be paid in five instalments. All these payments are to be made by members of the old government out of their own pockets, without drawing upon the public funds, which the French are withholding separately to invest for themselves.

On 17th April things went the same way. The weather is still wonderfully fine. But we should like to see some rain. O, Heaven always does its business so well, the whole of Nature works away so tranquilly and irresistibly, just as if nothing untoward was happening on the round world. And yet there is such chaos, such confusion, [...] It grieves my very soul when I see men of the old government, men of many merits and great talents, thus abased and stripped of honour and property. When I observe so many people laughing up their sleeves at them, wholeheartedly approving of their fate and sparing no effort to complete their ruin, without remembering their former good deeds, their endeavours for the public good and charitable acts. Only their harsh dealings and all their mistakes are now taken into account, for them, in their opinion, no punishment can be too severe, for those in whose hearts burns an implacable cause, which cannot be reconciled by any sacrifice, however great. When on the other hand I see the motley crew destined for the new government trot in by the dozen, holding their heads so high, on whose faces one feels incapable of reading any sign of talent or good nature, and one sees men raised to the highest seats of honour, whom one has long been personally acquainted with and for whom one has never been able to entertain a good opinion - God, how my heart swells with indignation! Must one not fear that things are beginning to go here in Helvetia as they did in France, the last betrayal will be worse than the first! Heaven grant that I am mistaken. Well, time will make everything clear." [Voellmy, v 2 pp 322-324]

18th-21st Apr. Bräker is prevented by the first thunderstorm of the year from going to the baths at the Sihlbrücke. "I was very content - I thought - Ha - God still lives - as of old, let the people rage and storm as they will - yet it will always be said - thus far and no further." On the 19th he visits the baths and feels refreshed. On the 20th, in spite of rain, he goes to Zürich to look for letters. They include one from Anna Maria asking him to come home. He stays on for another day at the Riedtli, thinking over his plans, and feels that his life is drawing to an end. [Chronik, p 458]

[20th April The new constitution was accepted by the Protestants of the Toggenburg and by the Catholics two days later. The Upper Toggenburg became Canton Linth and the Lower Toggenburg became Canton Säntis [Chronik, p 457]. On the 21st , however, armed resistance to the new constitution broke out, led by Alois Reding, in some of the Catholic cantons.]

22nd Apr. "After rain follows the sunshine. So it is today. The cool east wind makes for a clear sky. So it is with all human life. However threatening, gloomy and black the clouds are now on the political sky, and showers of hail fall here and there, so one day the sun of peace will sometime break through.

23rd. Apr. The east is clearing. And now to the beautiful city of Zürich, to take leave of my kind acquaintances in the Obmannamt

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