want of more elevated impressions. The old-fashioned turn of his
understanding, in spite of the many advantages with which it was
accompanied, formed an unpleasing contrast with the current ideas of
society; his ignorance of the commonest things frequently exposed him to
ridicule, than which he dreaded nothing more. The unfortunate prejudice
which attached to his native country appeared to him a challenge to
overcome it in his own person. Besides this, there was a peculiarity in
his character; he was offended with every attention that he thought was
paid him on account of his rank rather than his personal qualities. He
felt this humiliation principally in the company of persons who shone by
their abilities, and triumphed, as it were, over their birth by their
merit. To perceive himself distinguished as a prince, in such a
society, was always a deep humiliation to him, because he unfortunately
fancied himself excluded by his rank from all competition. These
circumstances convinced him of the necessity of cultivating his mind,
in order to raise it to a level with the thinking part of the world,
from which he had hitherto been so separated; and for that purpose he
chose the most modern books, and applied himself to them with all the
ardor with which he was accustomed to pursue every object to which he
devoted himself. But the unskilful hand that directed his choice always
prompted him to select such as were little calculated to improve either
his heart or his reason; besides that, he was influenced by a propensity
which rendered everything irresistible which was incomprehensible. He
had neither attention nor memory for anything that was not of that
character, and both his reason and his heart remained untouched, while
he was filling the vacuities of his brain with confused ideas. The
dazzling style of some writers captivated his imagination, while the
subtlety of others ensnared his reason. Together, they easily took
possession of a mind which became the prey of whatever was obtruded upon
it with a certain degree of dogmatism. A course of reading, which had