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3rd May "Never before was the theatre of war so near us in the centre of Switzerland, where fighting men are hardly an hour away from the frontier of the Toggenburg. French troops have reached Zürich. They are marching up both sides of the lake to the small cantons which have refused to accept the constitution, to compel them to it by force of arms. In the Zürich district they are said to have behaved peacefully; except in the commune of Ruti, where they were fired on, and there they sacked the village. In Wädensweil too they plundered some houses, which had been pointed out to them as homes of the former aristocracy. That's the way of it if one has good neighbours!

4th May They have already moved forward past Rappersweil on the other side towards Glarus. At Wollerau it is said that about 600

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5th May "Almost every day curious people hasten from here over to the frontier or into Uznerland. And some have already been taken prisoner. And those who return? One chatters of this, another of that, so that one is none the wiser for hearing them. In canton Schwyss, however, the French are said to have suffered the loss of about another 500 men. On the other hand the men of Glarus have consented to surrender. Even the outer communes. In Appenzell and Gossau one after another gives in and unites in acceptance.

6th May Meanwhile, the French have moved on to Einsiedeln, where once more I hear it has been to the cost of many people. If only the poor cowherds could have seen that it was a sheer impossibility, with a handful of men, determined though they were, to resist a nation which several years ago defied most of the powers of Europe, and beat them. It is sheer blindness to sacrifice so many men needlessly, when it is only a matter of accepting a constitution which has nothing so very terrible about it. But now no-one will allow himself to be ordered about. Yet nations ten times larger must put up with it. The strong man gives the orders. A time will still come when they do not give orders any more - "[Voellmy, v 2 pp 326-328]

7th May O glorious May, most beautiful of the year's seasons! Every year I have sung of your charms and wondered at them, and delighted myself with your manifold beauties. Now once again, God knows, perhaps for the last time, I delight in your wonders. Alas, why must wild hordes of war disfigure your meadows, dear Helvetia, why, in the loveliest time of the year must the blood of your sons manure your fields? And what, then, will this nation who is victorious everywhere do with peaceful Helvetia? Do just what it wishes? Bring peace to us, to us common folk, says this magnanimous nation, as they like to call themselves. But from all appearances one has to conclude that it was more a matter of the Swiss money that the state authorities had collected. And also to maintain and enrich their troops for a while at our expense. And of course also to give Switzerland a general national government. And so far that has not been lacking. Although a few cantons strive ferociously against it. For the government in Switzerland was indeed very mixed and manifold. Well, matters will soon come to a conclusion. One little state after another bows beneath the yoke of the constitution. Already troops are marching along our frontiers into the eastern districts, which are the last to offer resistance, they will soon subdue them to their purpose, unless it is a matter of exacting payment first. Alas, dear Helvetia, you were never so especially rich, but happy in your poverty. Now you must make yourself poor indeed.

8th May Be comforted, my dear fatherland! Heaven goes unhindered about its business, as for a thousand years or more. Gentle May smiles upon you, as upon your forefathers. He can and will

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This was an overestimate, the actual number was about 250 killed and 200 wounded. The losses on the French side may have been greater. [Chronik, p 459]

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