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Peter Benny was for many years clerk to John Rosewarne of Hall, but on his death quickly fell out with his son Samuel Rosewarne. He was then for five years the steward of Damelioc, the estate of Lady Killiow. His devotion to literature resulted in his sones being named after literary figures, hence Shakespeare Benny.
In Hocken and Hunken, Peter Benny is ‘a white-haired little man who had known many cares in life, but had preserved through them all a passionate devotion to literature and an entirely simple heart’ and who had brought up a long family ‘to fear the Lord and seen fairly started in life.’ (p.138). His dwelling was a cottage with an outhouse or study where he wrote letters for illiterate seamen. His brother, Joshua Benny, was employed in Fleet Street, London. Hocken and Hunken both repair to Benny’s office when requiring letters for Mrs Bosenna.
His son, Shakespeare Benny, had originally been apprenticed to a firm in Exeter before returning to Troy to set up a haberdashery. As a salesman Benny was able to sell Caius Hocken a hat, which was wanted, and a coat, which was not. Benny (and Q) was aware of Troy as a largely Liberal town, thus used the name of Lord Rosebery, one time Liberal Prime Minister, to sell his goods, using labels on his goods such as ‘If you admire Lord Rosebery, Now is Your Chance.’ (p. 41). From the perspective of 1912, the label is satirical, because after leaving the premiership Rosebery was repeatedly called to office – he could probably have been prime minister in 1906 —but repeatedly evaded the call.
Peter Benny was a man of total integrity. He could be seen as an idealisation but such individuals exist. He is religious, important to Q, but not of an aggressive or intolerant type. He is, therefore, a foil to Samuel Rosewarne and to John Rogers, although for different reasons. Material self-interest does not interest him but being guided by Providence does.