| Browse this collection | This entry describes an individual archive record or file. Click here to browse the full catalogue for this collection |
| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D3155/WH/2817 |
| Title | Volume of letters to Sir Robert John Wilmot-Horton (1784-1841) from Baron Charles (Carl) von Hügel (1795-1867), Austrian nobleman and army officer |
| Date | Mar 1833-Apr 1836 |
| Description | These letters were received by Sir Robert John Wilmot-Hortin in his capacity as Governor of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The letters are in French, apart from two English paragraphs in the final letter. The letters are bound in chronological order, except that the end letter appears to be out of sequence.
The author of the letters was Charles (Carl) Baron von Hügel (1795-1867), an Austrian nobleman who as well as serving as an army officer and a diplomat achieved an international reputation as a collector of botanical specimens. Between 1831 and 1836 he travelled extensively to the Near East, India, the Far East, New Zealand and Australia. These letters are largely concerned with some of those travels. The first letter was sent in March 1833 from the Indian port of Quilon (now Kollam). Von Hügel explains his wish to visit Ceylon and asks for information. There follow six letters written in June and July 1833 from a number of locations in Ceylon. Von Hügel describes his travels and his plans, including an intention to visit New Holland (now Australia), and expresses appreciation for the assistance received from the Governor.
Two letters written from Madras, India in August 1833 contain details of further travels, including von Hügel’s arrival at Pondicherry aboard HMS Alligator. There is also a long quotation from a letter written by the Austrian consul general to Egypt relating to the achievement of a peace agreement in the Egyptian Ottoman War. By the time of the next letter, written from Manila, Philippines in December 1834, von Hügel had visited Australia and New Zealand. He refers to these travels and reports that he was about to board the ship Pascoa bound for Canton, China. The two final letters were written in Bombay, India in 1836. Von Hügel describes further travels, including a journey on a steam ship. He suggests that Wilmot-Horton might consider it time to return to Europe after having spent about five years in Ceylon. Von Hügel reports his own imminent departure from India on board the ship Childe Harold.
In every letter the recipient is addressed by his title not by his name. There is an implication in the early letters that replies von Hügel received were written not by Wilmot-Horton himself but by members of his staff. In later letters there are indications of a more personal exchange: von Hügel sends good wishes to Wilmot-Horton’s wife and daughter. |
| Extent | 12 items |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Archive Creator | Sir Robert John Wilmot Horton, baronet (1784-1841), Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1821-1828, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Ceylon 1831-1837 |
| Wilmot-Horton family of Osmaston and Catton, Derbyshire |
| Format | Document |
| Language | French |
| Copies | A digital copy of this item is available on the public computers at the record office. |
| Term | Letters (documents) |
| Acknowledgements | With thanks to Roger Jennens, Cataloguing Volunteer for the additional description provided, April 2021. |
Show related Persons records.
Related Names
Places