Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-11
BENEDICT ARNOLD'S HOME.
The Expensive style in Which the
Traitor Lived.

The Expensive style in Which the
Traitor Lived.
From the New York Evening Post
Mount Pleasant, the home at one time of
Benedict Arnold. is one of the few historic
mansions in Paramount PARK, Philadelphia.
and through some strange faulty it has
not been allowed either to fall into hopeless
decay or to have such radical modern i'm
provements made to ii as effectually to
obliterate its old-time Quaintness and SIM
plicity of architecture. "Lansdowne." the
colonial country seat Of John Penn, grand
son of William Penn. caught fire en- July 4,
1854. and was entirely consumed. The
walls were left standing. but were RACED.
Belmont the home of Judge Richard
Peters, is completely changed in appear
ance. The Solitude" where John Penn
the son of William Penn, once lived, is row
the snake house" in the Geological Gar
den. 1t is scarcely conceivable that the
Philadelphia park commissioners should
have allowed these landmarks, AS closely
woven in the web and Wool OF early colonial
history as Independence Hall itself, to have
been thus vandaliZed. 1t is only when these
reminders of the past have entirely disap-
peared that We begin to regret our supine-
ness in not hinderIng their decay.
John Mcpherson of the McPhersons of
Clunie was the builder of Mount Pleasant
This fearless Scotchman was mighty
fighter in his day. He commanded the pri-
vateer ship Britannia in 1IJI. when war
was raging with France In 1873 Benedict
Arnold bought the property and made it
ever as wedding present to his wife, Miss
Peggy Shippen Arnold at this time held
no public office. His birth had been OBJ
scure and his early education very defec-
tive. Mr.. Edward Shippen. the father
never fancied Arnold, according to some
authorities, although his letters are neutral
but the daughter seems to have fully re-
turned Arnold's love. She was the beauti-
full Margaret Shipper, one of the ladies of
the Mis- chianza,' in whose honor the
British officers of the Philadelphia army of
occupation tilted Among the participants
in one OF these carnivals was Capt. John
Andre.
Costly Style of Living.
From a letter written by Edward Shipper
to his father at this time, IT'S, it seems
that the fashionable requirements of his
daughter were running his yearly expenses
up to $4,000. On February 3. 1T19, the
charges to the Continental Congress against
Arnold were made public, rejecting on his
character as an oIticer and a gentleman,
but the Preparations for his marriage went
on in spite OF this contretemps. In March.
1873, ne borrowed money from a member
OF the French nobility, and purchased the
Mcpherson estate and settled il on himself
for life with reyersion after mis- death to
his wife and children. 1t looked like & rich
dover, bUt there had been a very large en-
cumbrance placed upon the property 10y its
first owner and this, when il was sold out
later by the sheriff, cut Mrs. Arnold off
without Il penny. Arnold and Miss Shipper
were married on April of the same year.
She was Arnolds second wife So hat
Peggy Shipper became a stepmother to
some grown-up children.
After his marriage, except when attend
ing the court-martial, Arnold lived raainly
for fourteen months at his estate. Mount
Pleasant" He was also part of the time i'm
his Philadelphia house. In July, 1870. he
left for West Point, for whose command he
had made application. During this time
his child, Edward Shipper Arnold. was
born. Mother and child both went With
him TO West Point when he assumed COM
mand. Gen. Arnold now fell into great
financial straits and made applicat ton to
the French king, through lie Chevalier de
Iu2erne, ostensibiy for loan, but actually
for a grant of money. This was in 1850
NJ de Narbois, the secretary of Luzerne.
represented to Arnold that the service re-
qdested was Of such character as TO de-
grade them both, and declined the desired
loan.
The Treason Planned.
Failing in this plan. Arnold began his
REASONABLE nesotia tons with the officers Of
the British army. Major Andre was one of
Arnold's correspondents. Some writers ac-
cuse Mrs. Arncld of completely in the
tre1cterous correspondence, and others de-
fend her against these charges. AS soon as
ne wa; safely ON board the Nuiture, Ar
mold wrote eXculpating his wife. Mrs.
Arnold, when given the choice by Washing
ton Of returning TO her family in Pniladel-
paIa or joining her husband, elected the
former alternative. But the Continental
Council, STING in Philadelphia, served a
notice upon her compelling her 20 leave the
state in fourteen days from that date
Though strenuous efforts were made in her
behalf, she was forced to leave and lived
with Arnold for eleven years. part OF the
time in England. -Four other children were
corn. she paid a visit TO her father and
family IL lf>J but was very -coldly re-
ceived, and stayed only a short time with
them.
The Baron Won Steuben was The next oc-
cupant OF Mount Pleasant" lie was a
member of the council who tried ana con-
demned Andre. In Isl the property, having
been conIiScated, wsS conveyed to Col.
Richard Hampton for Arnold's life estate
lie held il for two years, when it passed in
to the possession of Blair McClenachan
who sold the place in 1851 to Edward Ship
pen, CHIEF justice Of Pennsylvania father
Of Mrs. Arnold. 1t was retained by him
until 1892, when he conveyed it to Gen
Jonathan Williams. The sheriff made title
to Williams, and the title thus became
firmly vested in the family of Gen. Williams
until 1888. In 1866 il was sold 10 the city
Of Philadelphia by his son, Henry Williams