The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-02
Miscellaneous.
Margaret Arnold.

We give an cxtrct from Mrs ElIet's new
work, "The Women of the Revolution" MS
sured that it will interest those Of our render
who have not the work at command Pre-
Stunning that they are already familiar will
tie history ofmany ofthe ladies' whose hi
ographies Mrs Ellet has given, we have &c
leCted that of one whose name has been as
sociOted with trenchery and unpatriotic sen
timents. IL is pleasure TO find our country
women thus vindicated and by one of he
own sex Mrs Ellei has here displayed tru,
generous and womanly feeling, and the rec
n ord Oftbe unhappy life and lonely death of
Mrs Arnold cannot but move our d,epes
sympathy:
The wife ofBenedict Arnold was Margn.
rel Shipper OF Phindelphin. One of her an
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Shipper, who WIS mayor
ofthe city in the beginning ofthe eighteenth
century suffering seUere persecution from the
zeulos in authority at Boston for his Qua-
kerism; but successlul,in business, he nmass-
ed large fortune, and according to tradition
was distinguished for''hoing the biggest man,
having the biggest house and the biggest cnr-
rnge IN Philadelphia" His mansion, called
"ihe governors house," 'Shippen's great
house," aud the famous house and orchnrJ
outside tia town, was built on M enInence.
the orchard overlooking the city; yellow pines
shaded The rear, n green lawn extended in
D front, aud The view was unobstrucled to the
N Delaware aud Jersey shores A princely
' place, indeed for thnt day-with its summer
w honSG and gardens Astounding with tulips.
roses and lilies 1t is said to hive been The
residence OF William Penn aud his tnmiIy.-
An account Of the distinguished persons who
We're guests there ut different times, would
be curious and interesting.
Edward Shipper, afterwards Chief Justice
OF Pennsylvania, was the father of Margaret.
His family, distinguished among the nris,oc-
Tacy oil the city, was prominent after the com
hencehlent OF Tue contest, among those
known 10 cher'Sh ioyallst principles; his
daughters were educated in these and had
their constant associations aud summarizes
with those who we're opposed to American
Independence. The youngest oftheIn, only
4 eNghteen years Of age, beautiful, brilliant and
N .GscnaIing, full of spirit and gniety, the toast
\ Ofthe British officers while their army orcu-
pied Philadelphia, became the object Of Ar
rloIds admiration. She had hrEI one oc the
brightest of the heles of the Mischinnza :.
ma II is somewhat curious that the knight
who appeared in her honor on that occasion
chose, for his device q hay leaf with the mot
to- Unchongeable.' This gay and volatile
young creature, accustomed 10 the display
connected with the pride of life,' aud the
homage paid to beauty in high station, was
not one to resist the lure of ambition, and
was captiVatcd, it is probable through her
,gIrIISh fancy by the splendor of ArnoId's e.
G,pmFments, and his military ostentation.-
lhese appear TO hive their effect upon her
re'"'lVes; one Of whom in manuscript letter
stIl exlant, says 1--WE Understand that Cen
Arnold, fine gentleman, laws close seice 70
Peggy; thus nc:icing his brilliant and impos
ing exterior, without n word of information
Or inquiry as to his character or principles.
a letter from Arnold to Miss Shippen,
which has been pubiishGd==written from the
camp at Rartan, Fehrnaa; 81! 1899 80: .jng
before their marriage. shows the discomfort
and rancor of his heart,in his illusions to the
president aud Council of PENNSYLVANIA
These feelings were probably expressed free
" to her, as it was pleasure to complain of
INJURY and persecution; while the darker de-
signs, OF which no one suspected him till the
Whole community was startled by the news
OF his treason, were doubtless buried in his
own BOSOM
Some writers have taken delight in rep
fesentngfMrs Arnold MS Lady MacbetI,-an
lnordlnate vanity and ambition were the
cause of her husbands crime; but there
seems no foundation even for the supposi
'aon that she was acquainted with his purpose
OF oetraying his trust. She is not the being
me would have chosen as the sharcr of a Sc
vfst SO pefllous, nor wns the DISSEMINATION at
W'ouled to her MS consistent with her charac-
YER Arnold's marriage II is true, brought
MN more continually into familiar associa-
tlon WIN me enemies of American liberty.
Anu s'reuS!hened distrust of him i'm the minds
OF those who had seen enough to condep,n
IN his previous conduct--and it is likelv ,bot
his propensity to extravaganza was cnconr.
aged by his wife's tuste for luxury and dis
play, while age eXerted over him no saving
influence In the words of one ofthe best
~siographers: He had no domestic securi-
~ tor doing right-no Preside guardianship
TO project him from the tempter. Rejecting
as we do utterly, the theory that his wife was
me 'nsti.ator of his crrne--all common prin-
'cipn ct human action being opposed to it
we still believe there was nothing in her in
n"ence or dissertations to coun.ervai! the per-
S,'aslons to which he ultimately Welded
one was yonng, gny aud frivolous; fond Of
Hispiny and admiration, and used TO luxury;
sne was utterly untitled for the duties and
priVa,lons of n poor mans wife. A lovalst's
laughter, she had been taught to mourn over
wen Inc poor pageanlry of colonial rank and
Su'''ority. and to recoIlect with pleasure the
pomp OF those brief days of enjoyment. when
military men of noble station were her nd
II ,,, Arnold had no counsellor on his
prov, to urge him to the imitation of home
~ republican virtue, to stimulate him to fol-
.ow 'he rugged path ola Revolutionary pat
TOT tie fell, and though his wife did not
m" or counsel him TO ruin, there is no rea-
son to think she ever uttered a word or n,nHe
sign to deter him.
-. ner instrumentali,y i'm the intercourse cor.