more than suspicious; and the most
famous recent German speculators he declared plainly MAD. But of all
the writers of the time, his sympathies drew him most strongly
towards Arndt. When the second part of this writer's _Spirit of the
Age_ appeared, I found him continually (on the eve of the Russian
expedition) in a state of the most violent irritation and excitement.
He would seize the sheets as they were lying beside him, and read out
the most violent passages to me, always with increasing vehemence.
But seldom could he finish a whole page continuously, so strongly did
the fit of mingled indignation and exultation seize him, so necessary
was it for him to give vent to his own boiling feelings by irregular
interjections. 'Since Burke,' said he 'no such genuine political
eloquence has appeared, no truth that so cuts its way to the heart!'
He then recommended Arndt's style to my imitation.' In this way you
may attempt something--facts!--facts!--and not speculative phrases!
Do you understand me, Herr Metaphysics?'

"It is worthy of remark how intimately Stein's impetuousness and
violence of disposition were connected with his bodily organization.
He asked me once what was the number of my pulses; and, on hearing my
answer, held out his hand to me, and with a smile requested that I
would count his. There were about a hundred in the minute. This
number, he assured me, was the common rate of his pulse when in
perfect health: and it seemed to me that he looked on this gallop of
his blood as a sort of charter from nature, entitling him to be more
passionate and violent, without offence, than other men."

This is a most characteristic passage, and introduces us into the inner
nature of the man more than a whole chapter of dissertation. Verily, a
Luther in every line!--a fitful, impulsive, and tempestuous--a glowing
and a volcanic spirit--a most decided, despotic, and iron-willed German--a
man altogether worthy to hate Napoleon with a perfect hatred, as Luther
did the Pope, and to march to Paris as the true heart's brother of that
hot old septuagenarian hussar, Marshal Bluecher. One thing we have omitted
in the above extract for the sake of brevity, and yet we must allude to it
with a passing word. During the three ears of his residence at Prague,
Stein employed himself assiduously in the study of the French Rev