HAWTHORNE * S "MY KINSMAN, MAJOR MOLINEUX"
by Joseph R. ^ooke
A thesis submitted in partial Eulfillatent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of English Fresno State College November, 1971
nn bud mu dolll d L I L; U A K V TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page INTRODUCTION 1
Section
1 4 II - 6 III 9 IV 14 V 17 VI 21 VII . . 23 VIII 26 IX 28 X 29 CONCLUSION 35 BIBLIOGRAPHY 36
iii INTRODUCTION
Until Mrs. Q. D, Leavis published "Hawthorne As Poet" in 1951, "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" had received only minor critical attention. Mrs. Leavls* reading identifies Robin with the American Colonies in the period before the revolution. She suggests this tale might better be understood if it was subtitled "America Comes of Age."1 Hawthorne's introduction to **My Ki nsman, Major Moli neux" indicates it is based upon historical events by recounting incidents from the annals of Massachusetts-Bay Colony and by then saying: These remarks may serve as a preface to the following adventures, which chanced upon a summer night, not far from a hundred years ago. The reader, in order to avoid a long and dry detail of colonial affairs, is requested to dispense with an account of the train of circumstances that had caused much temporary inflammation of the popular mind.2 Attempts to identify a historical source for this tale have met with limited success. Roy Harvey Pearce has con jectured that Robin may be derived fro© one General Willis®
1Q. V. Leavis, "Hawthorne as Poet," Sewanee Review. 59 (1951), 179-205. ^Nathaniel Hawthorn., Tha Comnl.ta Wrltlnga Nathaniel Hawthorn. (Boaton and New tort: Houghton, and Co., 1W, 111. 326. 1 2 Molineux, a wealthy Boston radical and member of the Committee of Correspondence,3 According to Pearce, William Molineux was a mob leader who helped drive the British out of America, paralleling Robin who "finds his kinsman and helps hurt him and drive him away" (p. 329). Pearce also identifies William Molineux with Major Molineux in that what Robin "helps destroy and drive away is himself, or part of himself" (p. 329), and that "through William Molineux whose name they share, Robin and his kinsman are one" (p. 333). John Russell, in The Hew England Quarterly, offers a view almost the opposite of those given above. Russell contrasts Robin with the rough, uncouth Americans Robin sees in the tavern. These are the men who later disgrace Major Molineux end remind the reader of the raw character of early America. According to Russell, Robin clearly does not belong among them. He claims instead "Robin represents the six governors of Massachusetts-Bay Colony between 1686 and 1729."4 A reading by Julian Smith identifies Robin as Young Ban Franklin at his first arrival in Philadelphia.D Smith
3Roy Harvey Pearce, "Hawthorne and the sense of the past; or The immortality of Major Molineux," £££, 21 (1954), 327-49.
r ni sm 550-8. 3 believes the events in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" occur between 1720 and 1730, while the arrival of Franklin in Philadelphia was in 1723 (p. 552), Smith points up a number of parallels:
Ben and Robin are shrewd, manly youths who are the same age. Each leaves his father's house to go to a strange city in search of advancement, each arrives in this strange city by boat} each is in danger of being arrested for having run away from his master. Both encounter and resist strumpets, and both fall asleep or "dream" in or near places of worship, (p. 551) Smith admits these adventures could befall a number of people, but shows the temporal order in which they occur to both is almost the same, and that there are many other "superficial correspondences" (p, 551), I
A number of parallels between "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" and events portrayed in historical narratives available to Hawthorne suggest that the above theories regarding the sources for "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" are incorrect. There is much evidence to support another hypo thesis, i.e., the character Robin is actually derived from the person of one Spencer Phips, a nephew and later adopted son of Sir William Phips, the first governor of Massachusetts- Bay Colony under the restored royal charter of 1691. Hie abrupt decline of Sir William from political power was a consequence of colonial discontent and popular political action and his political demise set the pattern for relations between New England and the Crown, a pattern cul minating in the American Revolution. Spencer Phips rose to become Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts-Bay Colony and was the chief officer of that colony following the recall of Governor Shirley in 1755. Spencer Phips continued in that capacity until his death in 1757, as no new governor had been appointed. Further evidence indicates Major Molineux is derived from Sir William Phips and that the arrival of Robin from the country, his search for the dwelling of his kinsman, and 4 5 the public disgrace undergone by the Major, parallel histori cal events. There are indications that Robin arrives in Boston from the region near the mouth of the Kennebec River, that his search is for Province House, the official residence of the royal governors, and that the evening in which the story takes place is midsummer-eve, June 22, 1694. II
In 1757 a funeral oration was published as Mr. Apple ton'a Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Honorable Spencer Phlps Esq.6 This sermon was delivered before the Massachusetts-Bay Colony General Assembly on April 12, 1757, five days after the death of Spencer Phips.7 The brief biography found in this sermon and events in MMy Kinsman, Major Molineux," make evident many parallels between Robin and Spencer Phlps. There are indications this funeral sermon may have been read by Hawthorne shortly before he wrote "My Kinsman, Major Molineux." Elizebeth L. Chandler has established that Hawthorne wrote this story within the years 1828 and 1829.8 Marion L. Kesserling has established that Hawthorne borrowed a miscellaneous collection of funeral sermons on 9 March 24, 1828 from the Atheneum Library in Salem.
^Nathaniel Applet on. Mr. • — b-t-, - ^ tral rmon on the Death of the Honourable Spencer Phips Esq on: j7 Draper, 7Appleton title page* 8Eli2ebeth L. Chandler, "A Study of the Tales and Romances Written by Nathaniel hawthorne before 13, Smith College Studiee In Modern Languages, 7 (1926;, 55. 9Marion L. Kasserli 'Wh0T5? 7 Kes.ierli.ng 3 -d5ntIficatlon of these funeral sermons Is curt and affords no further means by which the sermons within this collection can be further identified, but as they are pub lished sermons it is possible that the above sermon by Appleton was in this collection, for Spencer Phips was a man relatively prominent in Massachusetts history. In this sermon, Appleton compares Spencer Phips to King David, for King David was a shepherd in his youth, he came from a "low station" and a "remote land," rose to high office (pp. 8-9). Appleton says further, By the sovereign Disposals of divine Providence He, who was born of Parents in private Life, was in his early Days adoptad, and taken into the Family, and made Heir of his late Excellency Sir WILLIAM PHIPS, (first Governor of this Province tinder the present Charter) whereby he was favoured with the advantage of a liberal and publick Education: And he was very early brought into publick Services; advancing Step to Step, till at length he received a commission from the KING, for Lieutenant Governor of this Province• (pp. 38-9) Biographical information pertaining to the life Spencer Phips is limited, but George E. Ellis in Justin Winsor's The Memorial History of Boston does say that Spencer Phips was a nephew to Sir William Phips and that Sir William, who was childless, adopted Spencer.10 This information
10George E. Ellis, "The Soyal Governors," In The
wlrfaTua* of the ^spSScr
STE SiKn6^ sir William war. blood relations. II§ 538. 8 coincides well with the fact that "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" was titled "My Uncle Molineux" when it was first published in The Token in 1832,11
The points of correspondence between Robin and Spencer Phips are clear, Robin is a poor boy from the country, lie s eeks the dwelling of his influential and child less relative in Boston in a story originally titled HMy Uncle Molineux." Spencer Fhlps comes from a "remote land" and a "low station," and is adopted % an uncle who is childless and who, as governor, resides in the governor's mansion in Boston. Robin is told he may "rise in the world" without the help of his kinsman following the removal of Major Molineux in disgrace. Spencer Fhlps rises to political power following, it will be shown, the untimely death of his uncle following his fall in disgrace from power.
11Naal F. Double day, "Hawthorne * seat imate of his early works," Literature, 37 (1956), 403. Ill
On June 19, 1827 and again on April 19, 1828 Hawthorne borrowed from the Atheneum Library Cotton Mather's Magnalia Christ! Americana in which appears Mather's biography of Sir 1.2 William Phips. This second borrowing of the Magnalia is within ® weeks of his borrowing of the funeral sermons. In this biography of Sir William, Mather calls Phips a Gideon "who ventured his life more than once to save his country."13 Sir William was bora at Woolwich, Maine near the mouth of the Kennebec River, one of twenty-six children. A shepherd until he was eighteen, he left home to become a ship's carpenter. The story of his rise to royal governor Is an early example of social mobility in America, for Phips in turn became the Captain of a ship, the first native American knighted, a militia general, and finally governor. One Mather anecdote follows another as Phips is shown struggling against poverty, overcoming mutineers with a firm yet forgiving hand, leading armies into battle as a master strategist and hero, and as a pious Congregational is t seeking
l3Ke8serling, pp. 55-71. 13Cotton Mather, Th. Life of Sir William Phip. (New York: Covice-Friede Ince, 1929), pp. 126-i# 9 10 to serve faithfully this Church to which he had converted, .ether says 1-hips was kind, brave, generous, pious, and forgiving, and in a blaze of rhetoric titles him Fhippius Maximus and the Glory of Heaven (p. 170). Mather's description of Sir William and Hawthorne's description of Major Molineux bear similarities. Major Molineux is described as "an elderly man, of large and majestic person, and strong square features, betokening a steady soul" (III, 322). Mather ascribes heroic dimensions to Sir William. Know then, that for his Exterior, he was one Tall, beyond the common Set of Men, and Thick as well as IfJJj, and Strong as well as Thickt He was# in all respects, exceedingly Robust, and able to Conquer such Difficul ties of Diet and of Travel, as would have kill d most Men aliveTT .. He was Weil-Set, and he was therewithal of a very Comely, though a very Manly Countenances A Countenance where any true skill in Physiognomy won have read the Characters of a Generous Majd. (p. 16J) In May of 1692 Sir William arrived in Boston as governor to begin a n.w political era. Ihe charter of 1691 reduced the power of the Colonists In favor of the Crown. According to Mather this era began inauspiciously. He says.
But Sir William JiftJlSjftuh« Commonwealth ^f.aS ai any th^t havelon. before him, General an Acceptance as y Helm in a time had the Disadvantageofbeing setat and th„ as full of Storm as ever tha 1Ximult by the people having their in^ Varicty of Disasters, discomposing and the fcime calamitous, it which had long as 'tis for all Men £h£2- to be was natural for «uhb, Rulers must in
aegSK."£5 J * chi#t 11 K5* Mather says Governor Phips was ruined politically because "there was a little Party of Men, who thought they nust not sleep till thev caused him to fall" (p. 185), Viola F, Barnes in a modern biography attributes the rapid decline of Sir William to several points of friction which existed between British and Colonial interests, and to the ineptitude of Sir William at resolving or containing these divisive 14 forces. Sir William s greatest error however, according to the Barnes biography, was his attempt to restore the old theocracy by re-enacting laws requiring tax support of ortho dox Congregational Churches. After a year of these policies the voters demonstrated their displeasure with Sir William by retiring those councillors nominated by him to office, as evidence of their dislike of these Mather inspired statutes (p. 533). Elected in place of the governor's nominees were several candidates the governor had opposed, ihe election of one councillor, Elisha Cooke Sr., Sir William vetoed and thereby caused a "great wrath" (pp. 333-4). Disputes between the governor and the representatives of the electorate grew until June of 1694 when Sir Willies. decided to end effective opposition in the Assembly by the expedient of refusing to allow the election of several 14Viola F. Barnes, "Phlpplus Maxlmus," Mew England Quarterly. 1 (1928), 032-53. 12 members .rom Boston, the seat of popular discontent. There are indications that the psychological pressures of this dispute had become too great for Sir William's capacities, for at one point in June of 1694 Sir William became so enraged with the Assembly, over the issue of seating members from Boston, that he ran out of his office, without pausing lor his hat, stormed into the House, and began berating its taembers in a fit of rage. To complete his own rout, he then learned his anger was based on a faulty understanding and he apologized (pp. 547-8). Soon letters and formal complaints alleging Sir William's incompetence and dishonesty "poured" into England, and within a few months he was recalled (pp. 548-50). He died in London in February of 1695 while awaiting a hearing to answer these complaints (p. 551). No actual tar and feathering of Sir William took place, as far as can be determined, but Cotton Mather s choice of metaphors describing the attacks on Phips and his political demise, suggest a connection between these politi cal events and rituals as ancient and as primitive as a tar and feathering. Mather sayss Sir Willi®, was very hardly Handigd (or J* LlSSrtv which People took to moke most unbecoming in the Lioercy * . * ,mon His Conduct, and Clamour end injurious which were not against him, even fo highly Beneficial unto only Necessary to be done , DUt 0fdlLflly mill at their r.SS'IWl,y« f "» sometimes 13 it: with uneasiness| he seemed unto himself sometimes almost as bad as Rolled about in Regulus's &arreiJL» \p« 184) Mather berates New England, America, and the whole Continent for the "unaccountable ingratitude" accorded unto "that Brave Man" (pp. 195-6). He justifies his biography saying: The old Persians indeed, according to the Report of Agathlas. exposed their Dead Friends to be Torn in Pieces by Wild Beasts, believing that if they lay long unworried. they have been unworthy Persons; but all attempts of surviving Malice to demonstrate in that way the worth of this Dead Gentleman, give me leave to Rate off with Indignation, (p. 195) The Major in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" is carried away when "the procession resumed its march. On they went, like fiends that throng in mockery around some dead potentate, mighty no more, but majestic still in his agony* On they went in counterfeited pomp, in senseless uproar, in frenzied mflrrlm.nCt trampling all on an old man's heart" (XXI, 325). Near the end of this biography Mather titles Sir William "Phippius Maximo.," and adds the testimony, "This Province is Beheaded. A G0VE8N0UK is taken away, who was a merciful man" (pa 168). IV External and internal evidence indicates that the 'remote land from which Robin came is the region near the mouth of the Kennebec River, Sir William's place of birth and home until he was eighteen. There are four principal reasons for believing this to be the case. First, the amount of time taken by Robin to complete his journey from home corresponds with the probable travel time from Woolwich to Boston. Hawthorne says Robin's journey took five days (III, 317). On the last day of his journey he travelled thirty miles (III, 295). Woolwich, the birthplace of Sir William, is approximately one hundred and twenty miles from Boston. The distance by road is somewhat greater. At a rate of thirty miles a day, the distance covered by Robin on his last day, a journey from Woolwich to Boston should take approximately five days, the tie® actually taken by Robin for his pilgrimage. Second, Mather says the region where the Kennebec empties into the sea was valuable for its lumber (p. 155). Robin's recollection of home where stood "the great old tree, which had been spared for its huge twisted trunk and venerable shade, when a thousand leafy brethren fell," connects his homeland with lumbering (III, 313-4), Both Sir William and Spencer Bhips are said to have 14 15 been shepherds in youth and the Woolwich suggests a region engaged in wool production. There are no clear references co Robin as a shepherd discernible in the story; however at one point he does feel a brotherly inclination toward some fellow rustics in a tavern, who are described as his "sheepish countrymen," but this association is too slight to carry much weight (III, 300). Finally, the strongest evidence supporting the hypo thesis that Robin has journeyed from the region near the mouth of the Kennebec River is found in the assertion that Mejor Molineux had visited Robin's home "in great pomp, a year or two before" (III, 316). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography states Sir William Phips sailed with an army from Boston in August of 1692 to build a fort near the 15 mouth of the Kennebec, the place of his youth. Mather describes this visit by saying Governor Phips travelled in person with an array to erect a strong fort at Pemaquid (pp. 155-6). The dates in the Mather narrative and the dates in Hawthorne's story correspond, identifying the visit of Major Molineux to Robin's father, with this visit of Sir William to his homeland. If. as later evidence will suggest, the events In "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" occur on June 22, 1694, Robin's statement that Major Molineux visited his [JTh. wxtiopal cyclopaedia of (1929), pp. 97-8. 16 father one or two years before the evening in question, means that this visit occurred between June 1692 and June 1693. The Mather biography does not state directly the date of the excursion of Sir William to Femaquid, but dates in the narrative bracket this visit. Mather says Sir William arrived in Boston from England commissioned as governor on May 14, 1692 (p. 121). He also states that on August 11, 1693 Indians in the Kenne bec region signed a peace treaty at the fort built by Sir William (pp. 156-7). It is clear from the narrative that the signing of this treaty takes place after the departure of Sir William from the region. Robin's statement that Major Molineux had visited "one or two years before," brackets the visit of Major Molineux between June 1692 and June 1693, while the Mather narrative brackets the visit between May 14, 1692 and August 11, 1693. As Sir William had twenty-five brothers and sisters, he had probably gained several minor relations since he had quit this place some thirty years before. The implication present in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" is that Robin is one of these minor relations. V Events in the story which associate with midsuramer- eve, as well as illusions to and parallels with Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, imply that the evening on which Major Molineux is tarred and feathered is a midsummer-eve. The costuming, scapegoating, torchlight parade, and overall atmosphere of misrule in the story suggest a midsummer-eve festiveness, as does Robin's cos tun® and accoutrements# Sir Edmund K# Chambers says that in England the fool, with his stick and bladder, was one of the most persistently appearing personages at summer festivals.1 Robin wears leather cloth ing and carries a nearly empty wallet and a cudgel# These resemble the animal skins worn, and the stick and bladder 17 carried by the conventional fool of antiquity. Bonfires and torchlight parades were the custom throughout Europe on midsummer-eve.18 Scapegoating and the carrying of death out 19 of town were also widely observed midsummer rituals in Europe. _';£:"Esyi sgea.r.Wi^sa' Reginald J. Tiddy, Maker's Play. (Oxford, Eng.. Oxford University Press, 1323}» P* 18Sir James (1922; rpt. New York: MacMillan Co., 1" ' ^Arne Runeberg, pitches f nlca. 194 / )# PP< (Helsingforst Societies Scientiarum tB1a>ica, 18 It is widely accepted that Hawthorne was a student of folk culture* According to Randall Stewart in the New England Quarterly. Hawthorne even considered writing a history of 20 witchcraft* Therefore is it not likely that the folk rituals and customs in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux," such as Robin's costume, the torchlight parade, and the scapegoating of M ajor Molineux, appear with am awareness on the part of the author of the traditional association of these customs with midsummer-eve festivals? If we couple the above proba bility with the several allusions in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" to Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, such a probability becomes high. Both Robin and Shakespeare's fool Bottom are trans formed by events each believes he must have dreamed. In both esses their transformations take plates near oak trees, imply ing the magical powers of these trees and their connections with religious ceremonies of rebirth. The trans format ion of Bottom occurs in a hawthorns bower near Theseus* large oak (I, II, 113), (III, I, 6). »"» <"*• *• ">• whlle Bobin believes he is Simultaneously beneath the large oak near his home and. .before „ the church when hnee asks "An I here or there?" (III, 315) The movement of Bottom is from the city to the wood 20Bandall Stewart, "Two Uncollected Kevlews by Quarterly. 9 (1936), 504-5. Nathaniel Hawthorne, 19 to be transformed by Titania, the Universal Mother. The movement of Robin is from the country to the city to be transformed by his confrontation with a figure of the father. Robin is muscular, carries a cudgel, and wears animal skins, calling to mind the emerging Hercules. Bottom, who is weak, wishes to play Hercules (I, II, 30-1). The moon and its light are prominent in both Midsummer Night's Dream and "My Kinsman, Major Molineux." Snout asks Bottom if the moon will shine on the night of Theseus* wedding and be present for their drama, to which Bottom replies "A calender, a calender! look in the almanac; find out moonshine, find out moonshine" (III, I, 53-4). The moon is s een through most of "My Kinsman, Major Molineux and near the end it even speaks a part i "T he Man in the Moon heard the far bellow. *0ho' quoth he, 'the old earth is frolicsome to-night!'" (Ill, 325) There should be little doubt as to the parallels between Mifiht's Dreagl and thi® story* If th* reader has failed to see the connections between these two works there is one reference to this play of Shakespeare s in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" which leave. no room for doubt. In M^.,nrnnar Night's Pr«as th« mechanics perform a play based on Ovid's "Pyramus and Thisbe." Out of their literal mindadnass they give one player a lantern and call him Moonshine. As Robin is with the woman in acarlat who tempts him from his quest, a watchman approaches bearing a lantern whom Hawthorne says was like "the Moonshine of Pyramus and Thisbe" (III, 307). VI If the evening of Robin's quest is a midsummer-eve, the year in which the story takes place can be determined. Hawthorne says this story concerns events within "the space of about forty years from the surrender of the old charter" (111i 293). A time of moonrise and condition of the moon is given in the story. As the range of years is given, an examination of the moon tables for Boston for these years will make clear which of the forty years is the year in question. When Robin ferries to the city. It is near nine o'clock of a moonlight evening" (III, 294). The "ferryman lifted a lantern, by the aid of which, and the newly risen moon, he took a very accurate survey of the stranger's figure" (III, 294). This places the time of moonrise between eight and nine o'clock in the evening. If this story takes piece on. midsurcser-eve in Boston In 1694. then the time of moonrise in Boston should coincide with the tine of moonris. in the narrative, and in fact it does. — •n.n.v Almanac states that on Friday. Jun. 22. 1694, midsutnnar-eva, the moon rose at 8,32 F.M." Ihi. moon 21john Tuiley, Mmanac 1694 (Boston: Itilley, 1694), n.p. 21 22 reached full phase on June 26th. This means the moon over Boston on June 22nd was approximately three fourths bright, ihe s everal references in "My Kinsman, Major Molirieux," further coincide with the moon tables for this date.22 The probability of a moon rising in a given hour on a given date of any year is one chance in twenty-four. The probability of a moon brighter than half rising in such a period is one chance in forty-eight. As the introduction places the events in the story between 1636 and 1723, the probability that the midsummer-eve in question is that of 1694 is rather high, for such an event will occur only •lightly more than twice in a century. 22Tulley, June» eni^gdRobiniistin frSS Alice Morse E arle in her gays these wigs did (New York: MacMillan Co.j v but Hawthorne may not not come into fashion until after j./ have known this. VII Evidence suggests that Robin's quest for the dwelling of his kinsman is a search for Province House, the official residence of the royal governors. Province House was con structed in 1676 and was directly opposite Old South Church which stood at the corner of Marlborough and Milk Streets in Colonial times, facing Province House to the West North West.2 3 Hawthorne, in his "Howe * s Masquerade^' provides a description of Province House which matches his description of the dwelling Robin sees directly across from the church at which he waits for the appearance of Major Molineux. In "Howe's Masquerade" opposite Old South Church one discovers "the square front of Province House, three stories high, . . . constructed of brick, which seems recently to have been overlaid with a coat of light-colored paint. A flight of rad free.ton. steps, fenced in by a balustrade of curiously wrought iron, ascends from the courtyard to the spacious porch, over which is a balcony, with an iron balustrade similar to that beneath" (II, «• ®olns UpStal" l° i ta P "-alter ^ ^^ ^;rFunivirsity t5e»s, i Jo8) , fWa£~«X<^"veral maps in this work. 23 24 thl. first person narrative, Hawthorne says he "stepped forth from the great front window into the balcony, where in old tiroes it was doubtless the custom of the king's represents- tive to show himself to a loyal populace" (II, S-6). At the end of his pilgrimage in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux," Robin finds himself "passing beneath the walls of a church, which formed the comer of two streets" (III, 30t). The object of his quest is the building he sees opposite as he sits on the front steps of the church awaiting the appear ance of Major Molineux in an hour. He took a minute survey of an edifice which stood on the opposite side of the street, directly in front of the church door, where he was stationed. It was a large, square mansion, distinguished from its neighbors by a balcony, which rested on tall pillars, and by an elaborate Gothic window, communicating therewith. (Ill, 312) Hawthorne's description of Province House in "Howe's Masquerade" and the independent sources cited above provide evidence that this structure is Province House. As we have seen, Province House was directly across from Old South Church which faced it from a corner formed by the intersection of two streets. The structure Robin sees is across from the church where he waits. This church is also at a corner formed by the intersection of two streets. The dwelling Robin sees end Province House in "Howe's Masquerade" are both described as square, as having large balconies above the fee. with large coorainicating windows, and as overlooking a wide and onen area. It will be seen that the man Robin challenge. 25 in front of t he church is probably derived from a man who lived on School S treet, the next intersecting street to the North, and would have travelled past Province House and Old South Church if he were returning from home to the maritime district where he was seen by Robin earlier in the evening. Robin is seated on the steps of the church and he looks across to the structure in question and thinks, "Perhaps this is the very house I have been seeking** (111, 312). As he is a "shrewd youth," and as he is at the end of his journey it is in keeping with the ironic tone of the tale for this to actually be the dwelling he seeks* VIII In Howe s M asquerade" Hawthorne has a parade and pageant occur before Province House* In '*My Kinsman, Major Molineux" the parade stops in front of the structure Robin is fac ing, an indication that this building was of importance. At one point Robin looks up to the balcony of this building and, "he could have sworn that a visage—one that he seemed to remember, yet could not absolutely name as his kinsman's —was looking toward him from the Gothic window** (ill, 315). Between this suggested appearance of Major Molineux and his later a ppearance tarred and feathered, Robin's vision of the mansion had been obscured by the brightness of the torches of the halted parade, "which formed a veil which he could not penetrate" (III, 322). The implication present is that Major Molineux has been removed from this structure in the interim In which Robin's vision was obscurad, and thsn tarred and feathered. Hawthorne possibly made the removal of Major Molineux from thi. structure Implicit rather than explicit for a good reason. Sir William Phips never actually occupied Province House. Although it was built in 1676 the royal governor, did not begin living in it until 1716.24 Any suggestion that 24Whitehill» P* 17• 26 27 Major Molineux, as a derivation of Sir William Phips, occupied Province House cannot be understood as an accurate reflection of the historical facts, Hawthorne has the specters of former governors of Massachusetts "return" to Province House as grim reminders to General Howe of the fates of former occupants in "Howe's Masquerade." Hawthorne includes Sir William Phips among these returning specters along with other early governors who did no t actually occupy this structure. Their suggested occupancy is clearly figurative. The uncertainty of Robin when he sees Major Molineux in the Gothic window and his conditional, "Perhaps this is the very house I ha ve been seekingare consistent with the figurative nature of any assertion that the dwelling of Major Molineux is Prov ince House. X Cotton Mather says the fall of Sir William was like the fall of Fabius Maximus, the Roman emperor, because Minutus, the Master of the Horse, and next person to him in Dignity did traduce him (p. 169)• According to modern historical judgment, Elisha Cooke Sr. was the man next to Fhips in power, and he used that power to undermine Fhips* control of the As sembly and the military.2"* There are similarities between the man on horseback who leads the procession which tars and feathers Major Moiineux and Cooke. Cooke is the man whose election to the Governor's council Sir William negativited and whose election 26 as speaker of the Assembly he vetoed. Raymond A. McCarthy in The Dictionary of American Biography reports that Cooke was one of the wealthiest men of Boston, held the highest social standing, and wielded a great political influence. He was a member of the anti clerical and anti-royal Council of Safety and his home on ^ School Street was th e recognized meeting place ox this party. 23 d u—h™. Boston 1689-1776 (Bostons .LittIs, »• 5«"I: Brown and 26Raymond G. McCarthy, Biography. ed. Allen Johnson ana 22Ibid. 29 X Cotton Mather says the fall of Sir William was like the fall of : abius Haximus, the Roman emperor, because 'Minutus, the Master of the Horse, and next person to him in Dignity did traduce hira" (p. 169). According to modern historical judgment, Elisha Cooke Sr. was the man next to Fhips in p ower, and he used that power to undermine Phips1 control of t he Assembly and the military. There are similarities between the man on horseback who leads the procession which tars and feathers Major Molineux and Cooke. Cooke is the man whose election to the Governor's council Sir William negativited and whose election 26 as speaker of the Assembly he vetoed. Raymond A. McCarthy in The Dictionary of American Biography reports that Cooke was one of the wealthiest men of B oston, held the highest social standing, and wielded a great political influence. He was a member of the anti clerical and anti-royal Council of Safety and his home on School Street was the recognized meeting place of this party. 25Gerard B. Warden, 1689-1776 (Bostons Little, own end Co!? 19?0), pp. 40-7. ^ee also Wznes, pp. 532-53. 26Raymond G. McCarthy, TmJ0)!V 380. >graphv. ed. Allen Johnson and Dumas Matone v 27Ibl 28Ibisi. "John Ad-s. (Boston: Ch c. Little end James Brown, lew, II, i**. 30A New EostiahDlctlSBSn:. Ja"»s A" "* *'rr*y (1893), p. 191. 30 Cooke's opposition to the Mathers was determined. He played a significant role in forcing the resignation of Increase Mather as president of Harvard and in blocking ncrease s ei*-ort-s to obtain a new charter for that college.28 Cooke'8 son Elisha Jr. continued his father's anti clerical and anti-royal tradition. He is noted as the founder of the Boston Caucus, an association comprized of representa tives from organizations of tradesmen and small merchants. John Adams states that the Caucus decided who the winners would be, well in advance, in every election for public office in Boston.29 The word caucus is of unknown New England origin. Two theories as to its origin are advanced by the O.E.D. One theory proposes the word is fro® caulkers and means "a nesting of caulkers." The second theory proposes the word is from the Algonkin cau-cau-asu meaning, "to talk to, to give counsel," "to advise," and "to encourage." It is further noted by this work that Indian words were commonly , , 30 used by secret societies in Colonial New England. The Indian costumes and the strange language of the men who accost Robin suggest these men belong to some secret 29John Adams, Kor*so£j°to Mas* C. Little and James Brown, l^)$ iJ-» rf ed, James A. H. t&rray (1893), 31 society. By tar and feathering Major Molineux they commit an act of rebellion similar to that later found at the Boston Tea Party. Noel P. Gist, in his study of secret societies in America, reports that Indian dress, ritual, and language were adopted by associations of laboring men in early New England as a means of ridiculing the formal and pretentious affectations of the men of the Tory class who had their St. George and St. Andrew societies.^ Evidence in the narrative supports the conclusion that the man who leads these men in the story is derived from Elisha Cooke Sr. Robin enters the tavern and announces he seeks the dwelling of his kinsman, Major Molineux (III, 301). There is a "sudden and general movement in the room, which Robin interpreted as expressing the eagerness of each individual to become his guide" (XIX, 301-2). The tavern is in an area where the "masts of vessells are visible above the surrounding buildings," and where "the smell of tar was obvious" (III, 298-300). The tavern is frequented by persons "the larger part of whom appeared to be mariners, or m some way connected with the sea" (III, 299). Robin first sees the leader of the procession In this tavern In "whispered conversation with ill-dressed associates" (111, 300). Robin next sees thi. man hurrying in "earnest business" in front 32 of the church In an area populated by large homes (III, 309-11). At this point the man's face is painted and he is wearing a military costume under a cape, an indication he has changed garb and is now returning to again meet his associ ates. The implication present is that this man lives in this sore northerly part of the city and is returning to the maritime district which was to the southwest (III, 309-10). Robin last sees this man leading the parade of fantastically costumed men (III, 321). It was noted above that the home of Eiisha Cooke Sr. was on School Street. The John Bonner map of 1722 shows 32 School Street to have been two blocks in length. Robin encounters the le ader of the torchlight parade in front of a structure which suggests Old South Church, at tine corner of whet were called Marlborough and Milk Streets in Colonial times. Marlborough Street, later called Washington Street, ran roughly in a North-South direction. Travelling north on Marlborough Straat from Old South Church, the next street tncountered is School Street, which began at Marl borough 33 Street and ran wast. As Eiisha Cooke Sr., a man of the Tory class, lived on School Street, a street of only two blocks in length, end as the "double faced fellow" (III. 322) has painted his face 32Whitehill» P* 23. 33Ibid. 33 and pu t cm a costume when Robin encounters him in front of the churchy it f ollows that this man say be derived from Llisha Cooke Sr., travelling south after changing his costume at home, for Marlborough Street as it goes past Old South Church was tha most direct line of travel between School Street and tha shipping district.34 Robin is forced to withdraw from the tavern under threat from the innkeeper and "a strange hostility in every countenance" (III, 302). He continues his search. After an encounter with the woman in scarlet, Robin is stopped by two separate groups of st rangely dressed men who speak a language he does not understand and who curse him in "plain English" when he does not respond (III, 309). Some of the persons who tar and feather the Major axe in Indian costume while others wear dress without a model (III, 321). It is not unlikely that he is stopped because his leather garments beneath his great coat resemble an Indian costume and he is therefore taken to be a fellow member or initiate by the men who question him. The general stir Robin causes as he announces the nam. Major Molineux, and the hostile manner In which he le forced to leave the tavern, indicate that the "whispered conversation" concern, the evening's plans for Major Molineux From Hawthorne's description most of the men in the tavern 34Ibid. 34 would be seamen, l ongshoremen, ship's carpenters, and caulkers. A man of the Tory class, who is later called the double faced fellow" (XXX, 322), confers with and leads these men in an act of rebellion* The instrument of this action is a society or societies of men of the maritime trades who wear the costumes of their organizations* CONCLUSION The evidence in this paper supports the hypothesis that Robin and Major Molineux are derived from Spencer Sir W illiam Phips. The perspective afforded by this hypo* thssis makes it clearer that Robin's projected "rise in the world," at the end of the story, alludes to the eventual replacement of Sir William by Spencer Phips as chief officer of the province. This perspective also makes it clearer that Robin's search is for Province House. A knowledge of these aspects of the sto ry allows the thematic pattern underlying the tale to be more easily seen. 35 BIBLIOGRAPHY A Nsw English Dicti onary, ed. James A. H, Murray. II vols. Oxfords Clarendon Press, 1893. Adams, John. The Works of John Adams. 10 vols. 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