````But so God shares the gifts of head and heart,
````And crowns blest woman with a hero's part."=
|The wife of Benedict Arnold was Margaret Ship-pen, of Philadelphia. One of her ancestors--Edward Shippen, who was Mayor of the city in the beginning of the eighteenth century, suffered severe persecution from the zealots in authority at Boston for his Quakerism; but, successful in business, amassed a large fortune, and according to tradition, was distinguished for "being the biggest man, having the biggest house, and the biggest carriage in Philadelphia."
* See Watson's Annals of Philadelphia. It is singular that this "zealous chronicler" should have been led into the mistake of stating that Mrs. Arnold's name was Sarah, and that she died in Massachusetts in 1836, at the age of eighty-three!
His mansion, called "the governor's house "Shippen's great house "--and "the famous house and orchard outside the town,"--was built on an eminence, the orchard overlooking the city; yellow pines shaded the rear, a green lawn extended in front, and the view was unobstructed to the Delaware and Jersey shores;--a princely place, indeed, for that day--with its summer-house, and gardens abounding with tulips, roses and lilies! It is said to have been the residence, for a few weeks, of William Penn and his family. An account of the distinguished persons who were guests there at different times, would be curious and interesting.
Edward Shippen, afterwards Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, was the father of Margaret. His family, distinguished among the aristocracy of the day, was prominent after the commencement of the contest, among those known to cherish loyalist principles--his daughters being educated in these, and having their constant associations and sympathies with those who were opposed to American independence. The youngest of them--only eighteen years of age--beautiful, brilliant and fascinating, full of spirit and gaiety--the toast of the British officers while their army occupied Philadelphia--became the object of Arnold's admiration. She had been "one of the brightest of the belles of the Mischianza;" and it is somewhat curious that the knight who appeared in her honor on that occasion, chose for his device a bay-leaf--with the motto--"Unchangeable." This gay and volatile young creature, accustomed to the display connected with "the pride of life"--and the homage paid to beauty in high station, was not one to resist the lure of ambition, and was captivated, it is probable, through her girlish fancy, by the splendor of Arnold's equipments, and his military ostentation. These appear to have had their effect upon her relatives; one of whom, in a manuscript letter still extant, says: "We understand that General Arnold, a fine gentleman, lays close siege to Peggy;"--thus noticing his brilliant and imposing exterior, without a word of information or inquiry as to his character or principles.