Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-11
MARGARET ARNOLD.

We give below an extract from Mrs. Ellet's work,
"The Women Of the Revolution, assured that will nte-
those Of readers who have not the volumes
mand Presumng that they already familiar with the
history OF many the ladies whose biographies Mrs. Eet
has given, have selected that of whose name has
been wrongfuy persuaded associated with reachery
ami unpatrotic sentiments. It's pleasure find our
ywoman thus vindicated and by of her Mrs.
Ellie has here displayed true generous, and womany feeling
and the record of the unhappy life and lonely death of Mrs.
Arnold canno; bu; deepest sympathy
The wife Of Benedict Arnold Margaret Shipper, of
Phade pha One of her ancestors, Edward Ship.en, who
mayor of the city in the beginning OF the eighteenth
ny, suffered prosecutions from the zeaots in authority
Boston, for his Qdakerism but successful in his business
he aassfd large fortune, ard, according to traditions
distinguished for being the biggest man, having the biggest
house and the biggest carriage in Phladsphia His man
sion, called the governors house," "Shippens great
house, and the famous house and orchard outside the
town., built emnence, the orchard overlooking the
cty yellow pines shaded the rear, green lawn extended in
'front.' and the view unrestricted to the Delaware and
Jersey shores. pracey place, indeed for that daywith
its sumnerhouse and gardens Astounding with tulips, roses
and lilies 1t said have been the residence for 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 Shipren afterwards Chief Justice OF Pennsylvania,
the father Of Margaret His family, distinguished among
the arsocacy Of the day, prominent after The commence
men Of the contest among those known to cherish oya
principles his daughters educated these, and had
American independence The youngest Of tem-only egh
teen yeas OF age-beautfu Brilliant and fascinating full Of
spirit anu gayeythe toast of the British officers while their
amy occupied epha-became the ubjec. Of Arnold 5
admiration She had been one Of the ghtes Of the tees
Of the Michianza y and il is somewhat curious that the
knight who appeared her honor that occasion chose for
his motto bay lea, with the motto, "Unchingeable This
gay and volatile young creature, accustomed the dspay
with he nj md maid
beauty high station, resist The lure Of
bion, and captvaed il is probable through her girsh
fame, by tbs spendor of Anods equipments, and his mill
try osentaon These appear have had their eject upon
her relatives, Of whom, manuscript letter. sill
tant says "We understand that Gen. Arnold, fine gen.
teman, lays close siege to Peggy-hus noticing his brilliant
and lrposng exterior, without word Of information in
quiry as to his character end principles
A letter from Arnold to Miss Shipper, which has been
published-wrten from the camp Rarian Febiay 9Th,
l779, not long before their marriage shows the discomfort
and racor Of his heart In the illusions TO the President and
Council Of Pennsylvania These feelings probably
pressed freely 10 her, his pleasure TO complain Of in
jury and persecution while the darker designs Of which
suspected him till the whole community startled
by the Of his treason doubtless buried in his
bosom.
Some writer's have taken delight in representing Mrs Ar
mold another Lady Macbethan INSCRIPTIONS and afu
sedLctress, whose inordnae vanity and ambition the
Of her husbands crime but there foundation
Tor suggestion that she acquainted with his pur-
choose the sharer Of Perlous the dis
stimulation attributed to her consistent with her character.
Arnods marriage II is true brought him continually
into familiar association with the enemies OF American liberty,
and strengthened dslrust Of him the minds Of those who
had enough condemn in his previous conduct and
Is likely that his propensity for exaysgance encouraged
by bis wes taste for luxury and display, while she
over him saving influence In the words Of OF his
best bogruphers, "he had domestic security for doing
rghno freside guardianship protect him from the tempt
or. Rejecting, do utterly, the theory that the wife was
the ins,gaor OF has crimcal principles of human
action being opposed TO tive still believe that there
thing in her influence associations TO counerva the persua-
sons to which be ultimately yielded She young gay
and frivolous fond Of display and admiration and used TO
luxury she utterly untitled for the duties and pvationy
Of poor mans wife. loyaists daughter she had been
taught to mourn over the Pasean'ry Of colonial rank and
hoiy and to recoect with pleasure the pcmp Of those brief
days Of enjoyment, when military OF the noble station
were her admirers Arnold had counsellor on his pillow
to urge him TO The imitation Of homey republican virtue,
stimulate him to follow the rugged path OF revolutionary pa
tre He fell and though his wife did not tempt counsel
him to ruin there reason to think she uttered
word made sign TO deter him."
He fundamentally in The intercourse carried on while the
inquous plan was maturing, according to all probability
unconscious Major Andre, who had been init
in her fathers family while General Howe in pol-
session II Philadelphia her from New York. in Au
gust 1879, TO solicit remembrance, and offering his
vices in procuring supplies, should she require any, the
millinery department. which he says payully the Mis-
chanza lad given him skill and experience The period az
which this nissive was sen-moe than year after Andre
had Parted with the "r circle for which he PROCESSES such
lively rcgaaaDd the singuary Of the letter ITSELF justified
the suspicion which became general after ia seizure by the
Council Of Pennsy,snahst its offer OF service in the detail
Of capwe needles, md sauze, covered meaning deep and
dangerous This view taken by many writers OF the sy
but admitting that the letter intended to convey myse
rious meaning still is not conclusive evidence Of Mrs Ar
nods participation in tie design knowledge Of the treason
the contamination OF which yet distant more than year.
The suggestion Of Mr. Reed seems pro5ablcthai the
gully correspondence between the officers under scgnsd
having been commenced in March or April the letter
Mrs Arnold may have been intended by Andre inform
her husband Of the AMI rank Of his New York CORE
spondeu and hus encourage fuller measure Of confidence
and regard The judgnen Of Mr.. Reed, Mr. Sparks add
Others who have closely investigated the subject is in favor Of
Mrs. Arpod's innocence IN the matter.
II was after the plot far advanced towards its denore
nent and only two days before General Washington com
mcncsd bis to Hsdo in the Of which he made
visit 10 Yves; Point that Mrs. Arnold came lhher with
her infant 10 join her husband travelling BY short stages 10
Der cage. She passed The last night house.
where SIZE o ns. y the Gcoen and proceeded up the river