Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-05-17
TIE WIFE OF BENEDICT ARNOLD.
BY JAMES PARTON.


ccant AZ Philadelphia. She was then a beau
tltul glTl Of eightcen-Miss Margaret Shipper
the daughter Of an opulent and ancient
Philadelphia family, end one Of the reIgning
bellies OF that town. Her ancestors were
among the first settlers Of Pennsylvania, and
her great grandfather was the first Mayor Of
Philadelphia. In the course of time the fam
ny had acquired great possessions; and, lay
ing ASIDE the Quaker g1rb, had become mem
hers Of tie church OF England. During the
controversy between the thirteen colonies
and the King, which ended il the European
"ar' Edward Sbippcn, her father, the head
Of the family. was inclined to the King S
side.
It was May 18th, I776. For many months
the British ARMY had been quatered in Phil
adelphia, commanded By Major General Sir
W iiiiam Howe. 1nc General had now been
superseded, and was about % return u
EagAud. The officers of the army, a wealthy
class, who had nothing t. Do, seized the oc-
casl1n ct his retirement t. amuse themselves
by giving grand festival 10 his honor; and
this Was the day upon winch it was TO le
held.
The adlr began with a grand regatta on
the Delaware river: OF rather long procession
gt -ailey= and harges, flied with officers and
ladies'. which were rowed slowly down the
whole .sG-th oi ,be city, in an avenue formed
ty the shore crowded with spectators, and
line Of men.o.-war aud ,ransp1r. ships eaiIv
blessed with llE- AMI -rrcamers. At halt
p-st four IN llc afternoon the bargcs began 20
mIrc,tho oars keeping time to martial music;
"aI when they had arrived opposite Market
r...i .--..5.I' iI'' t'i 80 -. -
.rt.'fl -a,,. 'l7;---..-''' 80" ,'.
,..r.I. -, ,,- , ,.'- - - IN
viewed i.-.t t5e ,i-v yrbera . .-5rd ,.rrna-
/ rleHt ,gss t, rs.o rI1..-. ari DE- WAS in rIfs
portion a the eD-tr-5irvon- raat Niar-a-er
/ Slirr-n ,55ne. A --leious iisld surrounded
! bv .r.ars. had been rrer3rcl f,r the contest.
Jr.u one side were stationed all the bands
of music in the army. There were also two
rlyi.-.us. with rows Of benches are at.re
/ The other. flleI w..a the ul.s- DISTINGUISHED
/ hdie- ol thce.tv.
On the front sest8- these llvii-lns were
. f.seel seven off the most beautiful ysrn-
t ladies PlisIaIfbil e5lld bl..- Tbcy wers
/ dressed in Turkish .1--9u,,- --,grser- tuni..
/ and tlralrs-aud In tteI- t--'.lrs +le, wore
/ tie .av.-. with which they intended e. re-
] ward the KNIGHTS if.3t. were .f, contend In
/ tf.-- Ia-.r Ar,.r, -te-. 1.-.lr ,,eiss,s
sat Miss N1r-src. Simmer One af the
/ knights who figured in lite tournament WAS
Ca,r. Andre. her familiar ac4uaintance
/ littTe c.nId either of tb--n b7y. ft.Y,f- an
] this h-i -ht t5r t..- ft.si- i.--i-i,s wore i--
y8lve5
/ The r~rrre. .s--9af I.. b.~tIl er-
/ r,rraI. The .a,Ir.r-. ve. delivered aria
/ ts, .,Dre.. b,-s- which eeI..l yyi-l,i,- -fs
/ ll-- IF blood. -5 tl. .a---aietf,n or aII c.n-
camcI. At tle conclusion ofthc tournament
the company uas u-Lcrei into q magnificent
/ bah rlHu. decorated we arc t.lI. bv eighty
] five mirrors. AMI I-uttI iv ta.7t--iI.r
/ branches ol wax candles. The nll was
opened ig the fourteen bellies iu Turkish
dies. and tlcir fourteen kui-hr=-ouc Lieut..
/ S.uu-r la.n-tIe sai-ut who led Miss ~ail-
zen out % the dance. ST Ten O'Clock tie
/ windows were thrown a-r.. and sr..1-
+ l.i di-rlly Of fireworks was exhibited
All twelve. h--c folding doors. which had
+ hitherto been concealed. w--c sY5IenIv
/ thrown oren. which revealed q r1r-s,u-
/ saloon two hundred and Ten fset .n-. forty
+ feet WIDE. and tac9ty.rw1 iest hieb. with
tiree aIc5ya= on each side. This s4- t-e sun
rer room. Jr3n tie tables were twelve hun
I drei dishes. IS the quests entered the room
/ o great number of black ~lascs in Oriental
costume ranged in two lines. h1"cl 20 the
ground. This yast apartment was one sp-en-
/ dor oi waz-l-hts, flowers. ribbons flag, mir
rors. and silver plate. One of the regular
/ tla-ts Of the occasion was, Miss SliTVcu and
her knight. After supper the company rc-
turned 20 the bah room and kept uu tac
/ dance till four in the morning. reaching
/ their homes about sunrise.
This festival as MAJOR Andre rcn.rk-
/ was the most 81 .ond.d ever given hy am army
/ @ its chief And little, indeed, bad rhac
/ chief done % deserve il. An old officer 0f the
hIltlsn army. Who perceived the folly oi pay