- this body of
soldiery--which still sustains a corporate existence
...sl22.html#g02
- In 1649 this was still known as the "Military Company of
Massachusetts," but today as well in 1850 it has the name of
the "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of
Massachusetts." We cannot find another reference to it
elsewhere in Hawthorne's writings, but he must have seen its
parades while he lived in Boston. You can visit its museum on
your trip to Boston--it is in the top floor of Faneuil
Hall--and you can see it parade on such days as Evacuation
Day. Today it is mostly a ceremonial and honorary fraternal
organization.
- Knights
Templars ...sl22.html#g02
- Hawthorne would certainly not approve of a College of Arms,
which serves hereditary aristocracy by authorizing titles and
coats of arms. The reference to Knights Templar might indicate
that the Military Company had some sort of secret religious
level, as for example perhaps Freemasonry or the group of
Cincinnati at the time of the Revolution. But, if so, the
religious significance is lost, and this sort of military
adventurism as by the Templars would not be something of which
Hawthorne would approve.
- the Low
Countries ...sl22.html#g02
- Fighting in Holland and Flanders continued through this
period of European wars, and English mercenaries were engaged in
the battles as Protestants against Catholics. Perhaps there they
would have become experts in the new field of artillery and so
would have contributed their skills to Boston.
- the mother country
need not have been ashamed ...sl22.html#g03
- Hawthorne in his writings frequently referred back to these
early governors and leaders. Here he puts forward the
interesting idea they they are at the same time "foremost
men of an actual democracy" and also might well have been
counselors to the King. Of course, in this year King Charles was
deposed by the Puritans in England, so that would have been an
odd idea. Still, he is saying that these sturdy early leaders
were worthy of respect and reverence, even if all they did was
get the colony started, since their traits of character were
precisely what was needed at the time. The Puritans in England
(a few of the ministers from Boston joined them, but not many)
did not carry through their revolution successfully, and
democracy did not prevail there.
- the sea-fire, that
flashes ...sl22.html#g22
- Phosphorescence, the cold, flashing light given off by blooms of
micro-organisms in sea water at night. The implication is that
it is somewhat mysterious yet beautiful.
- self same
...sl22.html#g29
- Our copy-text has "self same," but the Library of
America text (following the Centenary Edition) has the word
hypenated as "self-same." Most likely it should either
be hyphenated or one word, since the two separate words do not
seem to be found in Hawthorne's writings, while the other
two forms are used several times each. They all mean the same,
and are alternate, correct spellings.
Summary. From here until the end of the book
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