dgment. German writers speak with patriotic enthusiasm of the
"_noctes caenaeque deum_"--"_diegoettlichen Abende_," which, with Pozzo di
Borgo and other choice spirits, Stein spent in this important period, when
events no less unexpected than great were knocking at the door. It must
have been a god-like treat, indeed, in these terrible times, when a man in
Germany could hardly draw his breath for fear of Davoust, to have seen
launched from the dark, fiery, Saracenic eyes of Deutschland's political
Luther, those "thundering fulgurations"[19] of indignant German hate,
which were soon to be followed by a tempest of more indignant
cannon-balls; but few and feeble, amid the barrenness of German political
literature, are the voices from those prophetic times that have been
wafted to British ears. The following short notices from Varnhagen von
Ense are all that we have been able to recover.

"Stein lived at Prague in a very retired manner; for though on
familiar terms with the most noble families, by ancient family
connexions, and by social position, he made great demands on those
whom he admitted to his intimacy. German truth and honour, scientific
culture, decision and firmness of character, and, if possible, talent
and wit, were qualities not easily found combined; but such a
combination he required to secure his friendship and respect. He was
often forced, indeed, to content himself with some one of these
qualities separately; and for myself, my principal recommendation to
his notice consisted, I suppose, in my having travelled a good deal
in Germany, in my having been at Paris and seen Napoleon, and, more
than all, in my having fought against the tyrant. When introduced to
him first, I was at once struck by something abrupt in his manner; it
seemed to me he was a person who in every thing he did or said,
asserted his own superiority to the mass of mankind, and was
accustomed to work in all things without respect for time, place, or
person. There was at the same time an unconstrained simplicity about
him, and an utter want of pride and pretence in his manner. In
conversation on public affairs, and matters of social economy, he was
most animated and most instructive; once started on a subject of this
kind, he was carried along irresistibly by his own enthusiasm; and
any ignorance displayed, or doubt expressed, by thos