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Our acquaintance is of only a few years' duration. Before that we were quite unknown to each other. He is of a good family, of rich parents, from one of the most respected families and one of the most flourishing cities of Helvetia. He received a good education suitable to his situation in life, has travelled, has learnt his business, studied languages and other matters of knowledge. After this he chose a helpmeet for himself like Sarah and Rebekah, and is himself now one of the most respected and richest citizens, father of lovely and promising children, twenty years or more younger than I, a man of noble character.

I on the other hand was from poor parents, thrown down into a wild remote corner of the earth, reared half wild and without an education. I never had any property nor the opportunity to learn a trade or anything else. What I have learnt on my own is mere botchery. I could not expect a single farthing from my parents or from any of my relations. I have indeed travelled somewhat, or rather was thrown around in the world, and so have taken on a very ordinary character." [Voellmy, v 2 pp 341-342]

29th June "If I have received a little more polish than others of my class, it is from the reading of good books, from frequenting better men, who have helped me to my juvenile sort of authorship. And also from my own thoughts. For the rest, all my days I was a man rat-poor and therefore despised, stricken with difficult circumstances and partly with setbacks of misfortune. Also because of ill-judged business affairs I was constantly smothered by debts, I had to struggle with care for my bread, for my living, oppressed by a family that ate up my money, so that I was often at my wits' end. And in the midst of desperate circumstances Providence bestowed this noble man to be my friend. How is that possible? What a contrast between him and myself in birth, in age, in education, in respect and property! Even if I did not see the hand of Providence in other matters, I should have to believe in it in this, with all conviction. That is no true friendship, one might object, where one loves another only for his good deeds to oneself. God knows that without them he would still have been a man after my own heart and wishes. Our ways of thinking are as like as two peas, and even if he should think differently in some matter or other, yet I should, I must love him dearly.

2nd July It is not only for the enjoyment of his gifts. His amiable comfort, his reassurances and good advice, his instructive and amiable company, have brought a spice to the last days of my life, so that with them I forget all my bodily pains. He is my soul, my life, my first thought every morning and my last at night. To save a man's life is indeed a noble and generous deed, especially when it is done at the risk of one's own. But to preserve a man's life, to make it free of care, seems to me to be a yet more noble and generous deed. O may heaven bless you for it, my good angel! All your descendants must enjoy the fruit of your good works." [Voellmy, v 2 pp 342-344]

5th July Bräker records feeling very ill, he is afflicted by a constant anxiety and the medicines he takes make him sick. [Chronik, p 464]

6th July "I would gladly live for a few more short years, yet I will not strive against my death. For long enough have I been a spectator of this world's stage, and from time to time I too have played an insignificant role on it. Concerning political business and affairs I have troubled myself but little all my days. And in this respect not so much of importance has happened in all the sixty years of my life, but only in this one half year since New Year 1798. Yes, one could say that otherwise for several hundred years not so many political changes have happened. [Almost certainly an understatement.] All the old governments and authorities in the whole of Switzerland are swept away. In their place a brand-new government on the French model has sometimes been accepted voluntarily, and sometimes forced on us by force of arms."

10th July "The common man is bewildered and cannot make any sense of all the divisions of cantons and districts, all the new titles and nominations to offices. He is bewildered, he is quiet and satisfied so long as he does not have to pay any taxes. But as soon as it's a question of paying, then he will indeed complain and bare his teeth a while. The chests, the treasuries, the

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