Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-12-02
WOMEN OF THE REVOLUTION.


ret Shippen; of Philadelphia One Of her
ancestors, Edward Shippen, who was mayor
of the city in the beginning of the eighteenth
century, suffered severe prosecutions from
the zealots in authority at Boston, for his
Quakerism but successful in his business,
he amassed large fortune, and according to
tradition, was distinguished for shaving the
biggest house and the biggest carriage in
Philadelphia" His mansion, called "the
governors house, "Shippen's great house,"
and "famous house and orchard outside the
town." was built on an eminence, the orchard
overlooking the city, yellow pines shaded the
rear, a green lawn extended in front, and the
view was unobsructed 10 the Delaware and
Jersey shores. A princely place, indeed, for
that day-with its summer-house and gar
dens Astounding with tulips, roses, and lilies
1t is said TO have been the residence for a
few weeks of William Penn and his family.
An account of the distinguished persons who
were guests there at different times would
be curious and interesting.
Edward Shippen, afterwards Chief Justice
of Pennsylvania, was the father of Margaret
His family, distinguished among the aristoc-
racy of the day, was prominent after the
commencement of the contest among those
known TO cherish loyalist principles; his
daughters were educated i'll these, and had
their constant associations with those who
were opposed TO American Independence.
The youngest of them-only eighteen years
of age-beautiful, brilliant, and fascinating,
full of spirit and gayety-the toast of the
British officers while their army occupied
Observation-Disclosures the object Of Arnold's S
admiration. She had been Zone of the brigh-
test of the bellies of the Mischianza )" and
it is somewhat curious that the knight who
appeared in her honor OH that occasion chose
for his motto a bay leaf with the motto, ''un-
changeable." This gay and volatile young
creature, accustomed TO the display connec-
ted with ''the pride of life" and the homage
paid to beauty in high station, was not one to
resist the lure of ambition, and was captiva-
ted, it is probable, through her girlsh fancy,
by the splendor. of Arnolds equipments, and
his military ostentation. These appear
to have had their effect upon her relatives,
one of whom, in a manuscript letter, still ex-
tant, says: 1--WE understand that Gen. Ar.
mold, a fine gentleman, lays close siege to
Peggy" thus noticing his brilliant and inn
posing EXTERIOR without word Of informa-
ton or inquiry as to his character and princi-
pies
A letter from Arnold to Miss Shippen,
which has been publshed-written from the
camp at Rarlan February sth, 1873, not loug
before their marriage, shows the discomfort
and rancor of his heart, in the illusions TO the
President and Council of Pennsylvania. These
feelings were probably to her, as it was his
pleasure to complain ofinjury and persecution
while the darker designs, of which no one
suspected him till the whole community
were startled by the news of treason, were
doubtless buried in his own bosom.
Some writer have taken delight in repre-
senting Mrs. Arnold as another Lady Mac
beth-au INSCRIPTIONS and artful seductress
whose nordinate vanity and ambition were
the cause of her husbands crime, but there
seems no foundation even for a suppositior
that she was acquainted with his purpose o
betraying his trust. She was not the being
he would choose as the sharer of a secret 81
perilous nor was the dissimulaiion attribu
ted TO her consistent with her character. Ar
nolds marriage, it is true, brought him more
continually into familiar association with IN,
enemies of American liberty, and strengthen
ed distrust of him in the minds of those wh
had seen enough TO condemn in his previou
conduct; and it is likely that his propensit.
for extravaganza was encouraged by hi
wfe's taste for luxury and display, while sh
exerled over him no saving influence.
In the words of one of his best biographer
''he had no domestic security for doing righ
no freside guardianship to protect hin
from the tempter, Rejecting as we do ul
terly, the theory that the wife was the inst
gator of his crime-all common principles c
human action being opposed to tive sti
believe that there was nothing in her iniiu
ence or associations 10 countervail the persu
asions to which he un,imely yielded. Sh
was young, gay, and frivolous fond OF dis
play and admiration, and used to luxury; sh
was utterly untitled for the duties and priva
tions of poor mans wife. A loyalisl's daugt
ter, she had been taught to mourn over the p;
geantry OF colonial rank and authority, and
recolect with pleasure the pomp of those bri'
days of enjoyment, when military men of th
noble station were her admirers. Arnold ha
no counsellor on his pillow to urge him
the imitation of homely republican virtue,
stimulate him to follow the rugged path OF
revolutionary patriot, He fell; and thous
his wife did not tempt or counsel him to ru
there is no reason 10 think she ever uttered
word or made sign 10 deter him."
Her instrumentality in the intercourse ca
ried on while the iniquitous plan was mat
ring, according TO all probability, was an u
conscious one. Major Andre, who had bee
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