Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-12-12
A Traitors Wife-TEaTgslTet Arnold

The following is an extract from Mrs
Ellel's new work, ''The women Of the
Revolution giving some account Of the
wife of the traitor Benedict Arnold. 1t
is very general impression that Arnold
was instigated to the deed which made
him so infamous, by his wife. Mrs. FL
let vndicates her from all active partici-
patton in her husbands crime MO. Rep.
"The wife Of Benedict Arnold was Mar
garet Shipper, Of Philadelphia. One Of
her ancestors, Edward Shipper, who was
Mayor Of the city in the beginning Of the
eighteenth century, suffered severe per-
secuton from tho zealots in authority at
Boston, for his Quakerism; but, success
full in his business, he amassct large
fortune, and according to tradition, was
distinguished for "being the biggest man.,
having the biggest house and the biggest
carriage in Philadelphia" His mansion,
called "the governors house" 'Shippen's
great house, and "lhe famous house and
orchard outside the town. was built on
an erninence, the orchard overlooking
the city; yellow pines shaded the rear, a
green avn extended in front, and the
view was unobstructed to the Delaware
and Jersey shores. A prihccIy place, in
deed, for that day-wth its summer house
and gardens Astounding with tulips, roses
and lilies! 1t is said to 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 Shipper. afterwards Chief JUS
ticc Of Pennsylvania, was the father OF
Margaret. His family distinguished a.
mong the arstocracy Of the day, was
prominent after the commencement oflhe
contest, among those known to cherish
loya'st principles-his daughters were
educated in these, and had their constant
associations with those who were opposed
to American independence. The young
est Of them-onIy eighteen years Of ago
beautiful, brilliant and fascinating, full
r Of spirit and gaiciy, the toast Of the Brit
lSh officers while their army occupied
, Phi'adeI phia-became the OBJ ject Of Ar
$ noid's admiration. She had been zone oil
the brightest Of the bellies Of the Mischi
anza;' aud it is somewhat curious 1ha,
the knight who appeared in her honor or
that occasion, chose for his motto bay
Ieafwith the inscription Interchangeable
This gay and volatile young creature, &C
customcd 10 the display connected viii
"lhe pride Of life," and the homage p,id
= TO beauty in high station, was not one lc
. resist the lure Of ambition. and was cap
c t!va!ed, it is probable, through her girl
) sh fancy, by the splendor Of Arnod's @
q equipments, and his military ostentaticn
" These appear to have had their effect up
a on her relatives; one Of whom, in man
r uscript letter, still eXtant, says: ave TN
derstand that Gen. Arnold, fine gentle
>, man, lays close siege 10 Peggy''-thu
noticing his brilliant. and imposing exte
> rior, without a word Of information or in
r quiry as TO his character and principles
. q A letter from Arnold to Miss Shipper
d which has been pubIishcd-wri,ten from
!, the camp at Raritan, February 9th, III!
not long before their marriage, show
u the discomfort and rancor Of his heart, i,
the illusions to the President and Council
l. Of Pennsylvania. These feelings wer,
J. probably expressed freely to her,as it wa
!; his pleasure to complain Of perjury an
If persecution; while the dark designs, O
If which no one suspected him, till the Who'll
d community were startled by the news O
% his treason, were, doubtless buried in hi
,. own bosom.
Some writer's have taken delight in rep
|, resenlng Mrs. Arnold as another Lad,
n Macbeth--an INSCRIPTIONS and artful sc
- ductrcss, whose inordinate vanity and am
, bition were the cause Of her husband
d crime; but there seems no foundation CIV
en- for a superstition tina: she was acquain
h ted with his purpose Of betraying hi
trust. She was hot the being he woul'
II choose as the sharer of a secret SO peril
:. Gus; nor was the dissimulalicn attributed
i to her, consistent with her character
J. Arnold's marriage, it is true, brought hin
t. more continually into familiar association
with tae enemies Of American liberty
:, and strengthened distrust Of him in tn
: minds Of those who had seen enough t
condemn in his previous conduct; and i
is likely that his propensity for extrava
gance was encouraged by his wle's last
, for luxury and display, while she exerte'
over him no saving influence. In tn
words Of one of his best biographers: "H'
n had no domestic security for doing RICH
II no freside guardianship TO protect hin
$ from the tempter. Rejecting, as we dc
3 utterly, the theory that his wife was the
n instigator Of his crime--all common prn
ciples Of human action being opposed te
, tive still believe that there was moth
ing in her influence or associations t.
k countervail the persuasons to which he
e ultimately yielded. She was young, gay
and frivolous; fond Of display and admir-
alton, and used to luxury; she was utter
ily untitled for the duties and privation:
of poor mans wife. Aloyalisl's daugh
ter, she had been taught 10 mourn ovel
the pageantry Of colonial rank and au
l,kority and IN racol Loot WI m ,looe,r tl,e