The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-07-26

BY JAMES PARTON.

We catch our first view Of this I'M
happy lady on bright May day, in
IT'S, when she took part IN famous
and splendid pageant at PHILADELPHIA.
she was then beautiful girl of eich-
teen = Miss Margaret shippen : the
daughter Of an 0pulent and ancient
Philadelphia family, and one of the
reigning bellies Of that town. Her an
cestors were among the first settlers
in Pennsylvania. and her great grand
father was the first Mayor Of Phila-
delpllia. In the course of time tie
family had acquired great possessions;
and, laying aside the Quaker garb,
had become members of the Church Of
England. During the controversy be-
tween the thirteen colonies and the
King. Which, ended in the Revolution
aFy war; Edward SiIippen. her father,
the head Of the family, was inclined
to the Kings side.
It was May the 18th, IT'S. For
many months the British army had
been quariered in Philadelphia, COM
manded by Maj. Gen. Sir William
Howe. The General had now been
superseded and was about to return
to England. The officers Of the army,
a wealthy class who had nothing to
do, seized the occasion of his retire
ment to amnSe themselves by giving n
grand festival in his honor; and this
was the day OH which it was TO be
held.
The affair began with grand regat-
tn on the Delaware river, or rather Il
1 long procession Of galleys and barges,
filled with officers aud ladies, which
were rowcd slowly down tie whole
length of the city, IN an avenue form
ed by the shore crowded with specta-
tors, and a line of men-of-war and
transport ships, gaily dressed with
flags and stlpamers. At half past
four in the afternoon, the barges be-
gan to move, the oars keeping time
to the martial music, and when they
had arrived opposite Market street,
they all laid upon their oars,
while the band played 'God save
the King" after which the soldiers
gave three cheers. Continuing their
course, the company were conveyed
past the city to where a grand tourna-
ment was to take place; and it was in
this portion of the entertainment that
| Margaret Shippen shone. A spacious
field, surrounded by troops, had been
prepared for the contest. Upon one
side was stationed all the bands of
music in the army. There were two
payilions, with rows of benches, one
above the other, filled with the most
distinguished ladies of the city.
On the front seat of each of these
payilions were placed seven Of the
most beautiful young ladies Pennsyl-
yania could boast. They were dress
ed in Turkish costume-trowsers, tu-
mics and Tmbans, and in their turbans
they wore the favors with which they
intended to reward the knights who
were to contend in their honor.
Among these lovely maidens sat Miss
Margaret Shippen. One Of the knights
who figured in the tournament was
Capt. Andre, her familiar acquaint-
ancc. Little could either of them
have thought, OH this bright day, how
fatally their destinies were involved.
The trumpet sounded. The herald
appeared. The challenge was deliv-
cred, and the contest occurred; which
ended without loss of blood, to the
satisfaction Of all concerned. AT the
conclusion Of the tournament the COM
pany were ushered into a magnificent
ball room, decorated, we are told, by
eighty-five mirrors, and lighted by
thirty-four branches of wax candles.
The ball was opened by the fourteen
bellies in Turkish dress, and their four
teen knights-one Lieutenant Sloper
being the knight who led Miss Slip
pen out to dance. At ten o'clock, the
windows were thrown open, and a
splendid display Of fireworks was ex-
hibited.
At twelve, large folding doors,
which had hitherto been concealed, were
suddenly thrown open, which revealed
a gorgeous saloon, two hundred and ten
feet long, forty feet wide, and twenty |
two feet high, with three alcoyes on
each side. This was the supper room.
Upon The table there were twelve
hundred dishes. As the guests enter
ed the room, great number Of black
slaves in Oriental costume, ranged in
two lines, bowed to the ground. This
vast apartment was one splendor of
wax lights, flowers, ribbons, flags,
mirrors, and silver plate. One of the
regular tcasts Of the occasion was,
"Miss Shipper and her knight" AZ
ter supper the company returned to
the ball room, and kept up the dance
till four III the morning, reaching
their homes about sunrise.
The festival, as Maj. Andre re-
marks, was the most splendid ever
given by an army to Its chief And
little, indeed, had that chief done to
deserve it. An old officer of the Brit
ish army, who perceived the folly OF
paying such extraagant honors to a
General who had won no victories,
said sadly: "What will Washington
think of all this?" II
Exactly month from that day tile
British army evacuated Philadelphia,
and away they sped across jersey,
with Gen. Washington at their heels.
A day or two after a body Of Ameri-
can troops marched in, commanded
by Gen. Benedict Arnold. All was
changed. The red coats had tlisap-
peared-blue coats were In the ascend
ant; aud the new Yankee General
was the foremost man In the city.
Arnold, q vain, weak man, ever fond I
Of display and luxury, appropriated !
one Of the hands0mest houses IN the i
town, where he set up a costly estab- |
Iishtnent, kept 4 great many servants,
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