The Poor Man of Toggenburg - Autobiography of Ulrich Bräker

artist who lived most of his life in London, but his brother Heinrich Füssli or his son of the same name, both of whom were painters and art dealers.]

5th Oct. Bräker awards himself a day of rest and reflection about his journey. But some time during the next few days he takes some yarn and some "Indian" cloth to St. Gallen. On the 11th he decides to visit several friends in the Rhine valley and writes to Salome to say where he is going. [Chronik, p 410]

12th Oct. Bräker travels via Steinbach, Horn, Rorschach, Staad, the Buchberg and Thal to Rheineck, enjoying the views and the company of some citizens of Arbon and "edifying" conversation. He visits David von Gonzenbach and Johann Ludwig Ambühl, then returns to St. Gallen. [Chronik, p 414]

13th Oct. Bräker dines with Girtanner, their conversation is mainly about Johann Anton Sulzer. Bräker records that "Girtanner is one of my best and most memorable bosom friends in St. Gallen - whose memory is always sacred to me". [Chronik, pp 414-415]

This account is put together by Voellmy from scattered references in the 1794 diary [Voellmy, v 2 p 52] The Chronik [p 408] dates the first reference to it from late March.

"And yet there are so many people that take pleasure in lawsuits and go to law year in, year out. My lawsuit did not amount to much, but it was certainly no pleasure to me. Mind you, a few little journeys that it brought about for me, they gave me pleasure, because it surely isn't otherwise and never can be otherwise, that travel is my life. As soon as I'm in the open air again, I feel good all over. Perhaps that is also the cause by which fate has set me in a place where I cannot get away without strife and argument. The circumstances of my lawsuit were these, which I will relate briefly and with great regard for the truth.

Two of my brother's sons were in Herisau and took service in Piedmont. My brother, who is plagued by a numerous and rather disobedient brood and is even poorer than myself, made no objection and himself went with them to Herisau, so that he might if possible get some of their earnest-money, being the only recompense for what he had lost by them. Well, the officer gave my brother a promise in writing, that as soon as his sons had arrived at the depot and the recruiting-sergeant had returned, he should have twenty guilders together with one new thaler as beer-money. My brother came to me with this writing. He asked me, because I often went to Herisau anyway and he would have to make a special journey for the purpose, to draw this money for him. I promised to do so, and next time I went to Herisau I went to the same lieutenant and showed him the writing. He said that it was all in order. When the recruiting-sergeant came back, if he did not make any complaint about the young fellows, I should have the money. (In January those lads were sent on the transport and in March the recruiting-sergeant returned.)

Next time I went there again. Then I learnt that the young fellows had arrived safe and sound with the regiment and had behaved very well. But one day before this he had taken on another two men from Toggenburg. These, however, had run away straight from the recruiting office, the devil knew whither, and had caused him a loss of just about the same amount that my brother was entitled to. He named their names. Now I should get the money from these little thieves, or deliver them up in Herisau. Then I should get the money. It belonged to my brother. That's strange, said I, it is not in my power to do that. And I'm not doing anything else, said he. I went out and spoke about the matter with men who understood the law. They told me that this would not do, that he should pay me and seek his fugitives in their place of residence. After a few weeks