The L'Anse sentinel., 1907-09-21
ABODE OF TRAITOR
BENEDICT ARNoLp's MANSION IN
PHILADELPHIA.
ljohse 10 One Of the Few Specimens
Of Colonial Architecture Left In
the country-Now belongs
to the City.

Mount Pleasant, In the East Payk,
near Columbia avenue entrance. which
is almost equally well known to park
visitors as Arnold's mansion, is to be
the headquarters of La Moriganta
Klambo, the newly formed organiza-
ton Of fashioDable women motorists,
says the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Few buildings in the park equal
Mount Pleasant in interest, and none
is older. II is one of the few well pre-
served country mansions built in this
country in Colonial times. AS speci-
men OF architecture modelled upon the
style made popular by Sir Christopher
Wren, 1t is one of the half dozen
or less which remain in this country.
The house, which John Adams
who dined there in N74-declared was
the most elegant in Pennsylvania, was
built for Capt. John Mcpherson in
1862. In 1779 MACPHERSON grew tired
Of the place and sold 1t to Gen. Bene-
dict Arnold, who had married Peggy
Shippen. In its time the mansion has
borne three names. MACPHERSON
called it The Hills and also Clunie,
and subsequently II was known as
Mount Pleasant
Capt Macpherson was one OF the
most original men in the province. IL
he had not been immensely wealthy
he probably would not have been toll
Grated; but as privateersman In
Englands wars with France and
Spain before the revolution he was
lucky and came home with a genuine
gold galleon. He had two sons. One
was an officer in the British army,
but resigned his commission on the
breaking out Of the revolution and be-
came major ID the Continental army,
The other son was with the colonists
from the beginning OF the struggle
and was killed at the attempt to take
Quebec, being the f-st Philadelphian
Of importance to give up his life for
the cause.
Old Capt Macpherson made himself
tiresome to congress, begging for CON-
mand Of ship. but did not gain his
desire. He published the first direc-
tory Of Philadelphia in 1885. This book
is really one of the curiosities Of liter
ature, for the captain canvassed the
city himself and printed the replies
he received at each door in answer
to his request for names. He died in
1892 and lies in st. Paul's churchyard.
When Arnold married Peggy Ship
pen. daughter OF Edward Shippen, sub
sequently chief justice Of Pennsylva-
mia. he bought Mount Pleasant and
settled II on himself for life, with
the remainder of his wife and chill
dren. At the time Arnold was mill
tary governor of Philadelphia. and
Judge Peters, who occupied Belmont,
the seat across the Schuylkill from
Mount Pleasant. accused the general
of having converted $4,000 to his own
use and of having used this toward
the purchase OF Mount Pleasant
Arnold did not long remain at
Mount Pleasant. After his treason he
OF course had to leave the country,
and the state Of Pennsylvania confis-
Gated his life interest in the beautiful
estate. Baron de Steuben became the
next tenant of the place and Arnold's
life interest was sold to Colonel Rich
ard Hampton for $3.50.
In the Shippen correspondence, pub
lished few years ago. there are sew
eral references to Mount Pleasant. In
1875 in a letter from Mrs. Arnold to-.
her father 1t appears that Arnold had
an idea of privately getting title to the
property for his family. He changed
his mind, however, and suggested that
the place be sold at public sale for as
much as it would bring. In 1896