“Whereas, Marcus C Monsarrat, a naturalized subject of this Kingdom, is guilty of having perpetuated a grievous injury to Ourselves and to Our Royal family”.
“(We) do hereby order that the said Marcus C Monsarrat be forthwith expelled from this Kingdom; and he is hereby strictly prohibited, forever, from returning to any part of Our Dominions, under the penalty of Death.” King Kamehameha IV and Kuhina Nui Victoria Kamāmalu (May 20, 1857)
Whoa … let’s look back.
Marcus Cumming Monsarrat was born in Dublin Ireland on April 15, 1828. He is a descendant of Nicholas Monsarrat of Dublin, who went to Ireland from France in 1755.
Marcus made his home in Canada before coming to Hawaiʻi and was admitted as a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, June 18, 1844, at Osgoode Hall, Toronto.
He came to the Islands in 1850.
He was deputy collector of customs and later entered the lumber firm of Dowsett & Co, which was eventually absorbed by SG Wilder & Co.
Marcus married Elizabeth Jane Dowsett; their children were, James Melville Monsarrat (1854-1943,) Marcus John Monsarrat (1857-1922,) Julian Monsarrat (1861-1929,) Kathleen Isabell Monsarrat (1863-1868,) William Thorne Monsarrat (1865-1924) and Samuel Archibald Monsarrat (1868-1956.)
Prince Lot had invited Marcus Monsarrat, who lived nearby, as a guest at a dinner party on January 15, 1857. Two weeks before, Monsarrat led a group of merchants in presenting a new carriage to Queen Emma on her 21st-birthday.
When dinner was over, Monsarrat bid his goodbye and left.
So far, so good – so, why the expulsion? … It’s what happened next ….
Soon after, one of Lot’s servants said the tall, handsome Monsarrat was in Victoria Kamāmalu’s bedroom. (Kanahele)
Prince Lot burst into Victoria Kamāmalu’s quarters and discovered her in compromising circumstances with his guest Marcus Monsarrat (he was ‘arranging his pantaloons.’) (KSBE)
Lot ordered him to leave and threatened to kill him. Later, the King blamed Lot for not ‘shooting Monsarrat like a dog.’ (Kanahele)
The king then “commanded (Marshal WC Parke,) in pursuance of Our Royal order, hereto annexed, forthwith to take the body of MC Monsarrat, and him safely convey on board of any vessel which may be bound from the port of Honolulu to San Francisco, in the State of California”. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, May 28, 1857)
On Wednesday, May 20, Mr. Monsarrat was led to believe he would be allowed to remain in Honolulu long enough to settle up his affairs, and would for that purpose be granted his liberty on parole – this was declined. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, May 27, 1857)
“At half past three o'clock, Thursday morning, Mr Monsarrat was conducted by the Marshal and Sheriff and a guard of forty soldiers to the steamer, which had her steam up and ready for sea.”
“On leaving the palace, Mr M was told that resistance on his part would be of no use, that the orders issued in regard to him were peremptory, and if any attempt to escape was made, he would have to be treated as a culprit. He assured those having charge of him that he had no idea of resisting, and would yield to the superior force placed over him.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, May 28, 1857)
Monsarrat refused to pay for his passage; whereupon Parke paid the captain $80. The King sent over $100 to be given to Monsarrat, that he might not say he was sent off without means. This he declined. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, May 27, 1857)
The incident was embarrassing to the court because efforts were underway to arrange a marriage between Victoria Kamāmalu and Kalākaua; these plans were quickly aborted. (Kanahele)
Two years later (May 20, 1859,) the King reduced the sentence to seven years (the King “Being … moved by a feeling of deep sympathy” for the Monsarrat family.)
However, he was “strictly enjoined and prohibited from returning to any part of Our Domains, before the expiration of the period of banishment.” (Forbes) (When he later returned, the King had him arrested and banished, again. (Kanahele)
Monsarrat returned; he died in Honolulu on October 18, 1871. Some suggest Monsarrat Street near Lēʻahi (Diamond Head) is named for Monsarrat; others say it is for his son, James Melville Monsarrat, an attorney and Judge.
The photo shows Victoria Kamāmalu. (1865) In addition, I have included other images in a folder of like name in the Photos section on my Facebook and Google+ pages.
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