Anatole von Hügel

“ A sovereign, full of ripe experience of the world and of knowledge of men, who, amidst the most ominous circumstances, had built up an orderly system on treacherous ground, had consolidated young institutions, had reconciled, or at least controlled, old antagonisms; a future Queen born of the Imperial house; a Catholic people in the midst of which lingered many a Hapsburg tradition—all this both strengthened the position of Baron von Hügel and harmonised with his tastes and views. ”

“ In spite of this intense activity, Hügel cultivated society, and, owing to his large experience, his gracious manners, and his lovable personality, was beloved and respected in all circles. He was as faithful as his brother Clemens to the powerful Chancellor of State, Prince Metternich, though he did not yield to him so blind a devotion. On Metternich's fall, Charles took him, at the peril of his own life, through Vienna, across the Austrian frontier, and accompanied him to England. ”

“ In the gardens of his beautiful villa on the road from Hietzing to St Veit, which from 1837 onwards became his chief residence, he cultivated a large number of exotic flowers and plants, and gathered about him those rich collections of every kind which he retained as souvenirs of the years spent in the East. He was a man of delicate and refined taste, who, whilst giving their full value to scientific interests, and dedicating a large portion of his time to serious labours, loved to be surrounded by that noble luxury which, in his case and for him, was no mere external. ”

“ Events which no loyal-hearted man or true patriot, whatever his line of politics might be, could witness unmoved, determined the Baron von Hügel to abandon the studious pursuits and pleasant leisure of his beloved villa, and to throw himself again into the business and turmoil of the world. He accordingly took up his residence at Vienna, and entered with energy and zeal into all the agitating political affairs of that eventful period. ”

“ He would rather have died a thousand times than done the things which he forbore to judge severely in another. There was in his soul a sweetness, a serenity, a calm imperturbable dignity, and an absolute inability to accustom itself to the rough, base, deceitful ways of earth, which makes those who most keenly mourn his loss thankful to think of him at home in the free air of heaven: where all things else have passed away, Charity remaineth for ever! ”

“ Then, quite apart from this, there is the great service which Hügel rendered in Zoology, Botany, and Ethnography, as well as in sciences auxiliary to history, by his systematically conceived and truly magnificent collections, which not only adorn our museums, and form a not inconsiderable portion of their treasures, but also in the hands of prominent specialists have rendered lasting service to science. Their writings shew what a large number of species of animals as well as of plants were discovered by Hügel. ”

“ Regarding these distinctions, I will only add that all prominent Horticultural Societies of the world conferred on Hügel their Honorary Fellowship, or, in other ways distinguished him in the highest manner possible, and that numerous species of plants and animals were named after him [42] .
If the rare gifts of such a man fascinate the mind, so does his noble personality completely captivate the heart. Everyone who knew Hügel personally speaks of his kindness, of his gentleness, his winning manner, and his consideration—a quality which he shewed in his demeanour even to the least. ”

“ For years, and in all parts of the globe, the guest of Englishmen, of that mighty people whose grand views of life actuate each of its members, I feel myself deeply indebted to them for friendly reception and help, without which a part of my travels would have taken double the time, and a part would have been impossible, and I seize this opportunity, as I have done on all previous opportunities, to give expression to my warmest and heartiest thanks. ”

“ Diplomacy had been one of the traditions of his family, both his father, Baron Aloys von Hügel a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Stephen, and his brother, Baron Clemens von Hügel having rendered distinguished services in that line to the Austrian Empire. As to Baron Charles von Hügel in whatever capacity he acted, or whatever position he occupied, devotion to the Sovereign and the country he loved, and a constant desire to promote everything that could tend to benefit humanity, were the ruling motives and objects of his life. ”

“ The foregoing sketch of a life so rich, fruitful, many-sided, and eventful, is no more than a slight outline, but it may perhaps have succeeded in giving an idea of the bearing and character of an admirable and lovable man, who manifested a very rare combination of qualities. In him the man of the world was combined with the man of science; mature experience of life with profound knowledge in many fields ”

“ But I must here conclude, and omit alluding to any other portion of Baron Hügel's adventurous travels through China, Singapore, and Australia. His work on Cashmere and the Punjab is alone sufficient to place him in the foremost rank of the distinguished travellers of the age. ”

“ In the department of horticulture, Hügel has carried the torch of progress as no one else has done within the limits of our fatherland. Though in the course of time the strongest impulses seem to pass away, so that it is only the retrospect of the historian which keeps before the memory of a new generation the forces which moved its predecessor, yet traces of Hügel's activity remain in evidence to the present day. Numerous sub-tropical plants, introduced by him, adorn the gardens of the world ”

“ With his easily enkindled intellectual curiosity he soon interested himself in other branches of natural science, and made a profound study of them without ever renouncing his horticultural proclivities. These pursuits awoke in him the desire to become acquainted with the richest organic life of the earth, and so, little by little, the plan was matured of a great journey through all parts of the old world, with India for its goal. ”

“ During the years which he spent in England after his retirement from public life, years marked by the severest bodily sufferings entailing privations of the heaviest sort on one whose mind and heart were as alive as ever to the interests and pursuits which had filled his existence, he evinced a patience, sweetness of temper, and calm resignation which touched and edified all who approached him. ”

“ No one can survey Hügel's life-work without astonishment at the great diversity of his interests and occupations, at the energy with which he applied himself, often simultaneously, to subjects remote from one another, and at the rich harvest which his untiring labour brought to maturity. ”

“ Not only were lovely and rare tropical plants now grown in conservatories, for instance in those of the Schwartzenberg gardens in the Rennweg, but the love of particular species which could be cultivated on small means was developing in many circles, and as we have to-day our chrysanthemum exhibitions, so there were then special exhibitions of pelargoniums, of pinks, and of other flowers [19] .
Hügel, more than anyone, strove to promote horticulture among us in its most diverse branches. ”

“ He acted up to the words of the Apostle, "Charity beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things." It was not only that no unkindly word ever passed his lips, but no harsh, suspicious, or uncharitable thought ever embittered his soul. He believed in the goodness of others with the faith of a large and generous heart, and when actual proofs of baseness, falsehood, or ingratitude were forced upon him, he still hoped on with patient trust in the existence of redeeming points hidden for a time, but which would some day come to light. ”

“ As he loved the world of flowers, so he loved budding humanity: after arduous labour he found refreshment in the child's world; and the little ones would cling lovingly and admiringly to one who delighted them by planning games, or telling fanciful fairy stories [43] . Reumont in his description of Hügel's diplomatic career, gives a picture of him as he was when they were both at Florence. He says: "Hügel's bearing is always conciliatory, his behaviour considerate, his judgment just, and his personal charm was in harmony with these qualities. ”

“ Rare collections of foreign birds and insects, works of art, ingenious devices, graceful fountains, and flowers of every land, formed a scene of beauty, fairy-like in its loveliness, and bearing in all its details the impress of a mind that took pleasure in all the beautiful creations of God, and loved to impart those enjoyments to others. ”

“ With Hügel's name is indissolubly connected the name of a man who is yet a living memory with all of us, whose energy and aptitude have contributed not a little to raise horticulture among us. I mean Daniel Hoibrenk [26] . Hügel recognised the talents of this man, and offered him, under very favourable conditions, the post of head—gardener. Hoibrenk, whose education as a gardener had been received in Holland, left the post he then held at Paris and entered Hügel's service. He was principally active in that part of the Hietzing property which served as a nursery. ”

“ No Austrian hortologist has done more than Hügel for the introduction of new plants into general garden culture. Next to him must be placed Roezl, on whose career Hügel had no slight influence. Roezl learnt gardening at Vienna under Ludwig Abel, who, after Heller, acted for a long time as chief in the Hügel gardens. Roezl went later to the celebrated gardens of Van Houtte at Ghent. Later still, he travelled in South and Central America, and founded in Mexico a nursery from which he enriched European gardens with many beautiful novelties. ”

“ Dependence upon religion is a characteristic of the Hügel family. In Charles, deep religious feeling blended with charity of heart and purity of mind, to form the basis from which sprang his unswerving sense of duty, his unselfishness and his love of his fellow-creatures. ”

“ The bust of Charles von Hügel which has just been unveiled will remind numberless visitors of a great promoter of horticulture; but he who has studied more closely the abundant activity of this remarkable man, and has come to know the core of his personality, will see in him, as well, an ardent enquirer, a model of the noblest manhood and of the deepest patriotism. ”

“ When Hügel left Vienna in 1849 to take up his residence as Ambassador in Florence, his nursery passed into the hands of Hoibrenk, and the pleasure-grounds were purchased by Princess Wrede. The latter were subsequently taken over by the Duke of Brunswick, and, on account of their beauty, continued to enjoy a great renown. After his death the gardens came into the possession of the Duke of Cumberland, who, however, immediately sold them. Of the Hügel Gardens but one portion, the property of Doctor Ehrenfeld, is still preserved, a considerable part of the estate having been covered with houses. ”

“ Surrounded by countless curiosities and works of art of all kinds,—in part inherited, as for instance, the great collection of miniature portraits bequeathed by his brother, who, crushed by the revolution, had died in August 1849 [1] , in part the outcome of his travels,—full of lively feeling for the beauties of nature, and the most active interest in the wonders of botany, Hügel spent ten years at Florence, years replete with manifold activity and enjoyment. ”

“ Hügel was elected the first President of the newly-established k. k. Gartenbaugesellschaft, and, as long as he lived in Vienna, that is to say, till the year 1848, he continued to hold this dignity. The society throve under his guidance: he not only shaped its future by his personal exertions, but also knew how to enlist supporters of exceptional force. Thus, for example, he succeeded in persuading Stephan Endlicher, the most celebrated botanist then working in Vienna, to accept the secretaryship of the society. ”

“ We have, Sir, in truth, done honour to ourselves in thus recompensing an enlightened and enterprising foreign nobleman, who has so freely devoted years of toil, and a competent fortune, to the advancement of our science ”

“ Baron Hügel of Vienna, well known as an eminent naturalist, having just returned to this country, after an absence from Europe of six years, chiefly spent in India, has communicated the following account of a journey from the river Sutlej at Bilaspúr, through the lower range of the Himmáleh to Kashmir, from thence to the highest part of the Tibet Panjáhl, then to the Attock and back through the Panjáb to Lud'yana, recrossing the Sutlej; accompanied by a letter, tracing his route during his five years' travels, from which a slight extract is subjoined. ”

“ When we recollect the difficulties of travelling in Eastern countries, and particularly in the then less known portions of Runjeet Singh's dominions, unassisted by a single companion, as was the case with Baron Hügel, we can well appreciate the energy with which he carried out his plans, and the perseverance which enabled him so faithfully to record what he had seen. ”

“ As was to be expected, the Hügel gardens, with their innumerable novelties, rapidly attained a high reputation. There were, of course, some among the plants brought home from abroad, which proved unsuitable for home cultivation; but not a few have won for themselves a lasting place in the gardens of the world. ”

“ It is principally concerned with matter of the sort which it is hardest to deal with scientifically, that is to say, the description of coins, natural products, etc., brought home by the traveller.
To judge rightly Hügel’s work on Cashmere, we must take for our standard the knowledge of his days and not that of our own, for which last we have chiefly to thank English men of science. ”

“ Among the animals and plants brought home by Hügel numerous new species were found. Most of the new animals and many of the newly discovered species of plants were described by specialists. He himself described some of the most remarkable animals, for instance, the goat from Cashmere, Capra falconeri, and not a few of the plants which found their way into the annals of science under names which he gave. ”