Whilst he lived this studious life at Hietzing receiving from all quarters, from far and near, visits, proofs of sympathy, and of gratitude, invitations to take up business of all sorts and to engage in occupations foreign to him, he continued, as heretofore, to play an active part in Viennese society. The old relations of his family with the house of Metternich,—relations which, in the case of his brother, had developed into the greatest intimacy,—had their effect with Carl von Hügel also. Years had passed away since the events which had exercised a determining influence upon his fortunes: a friendly relationship began, and continued until the death of the celebrated statesman.
It was towards the end of the public career of the latter that a visit was received at Hietzing which became decisive for the owner of the beautiful villa. General Farquharson, of a Scotch family, brother-in-law of General Sir James Outram, whose name is not unknown in the history of Anglo-Indian policy, came, with his daughter Elizabeth, to visit Hügel, who in the past had been his guest in the distant East. At Verona, in the year 1847, Hügel, then aged fifty-two, engaged himself to the beautiful young girl. But several years had yet to go by before the marriage could take place.
On the 13th of March, 1848, Carl von Hügel brought the fallen Austrian Premier out of the Chancery of State, where it was now dangerous for him to stay, and out of Vienna, which was in a state of tumult characterised by an historian in the euphemistic phrase: "on that day barely fifty persons were killed or wounded." Whilst the mob were sacking the Chancellor's residence—whether its valuable contents were utterly destroyed or appropriated could matter but little to the owner—Hügel got him safely away. His carriage, followed by Prince Liechtenstein on
