The Representative. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 22, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 4, 1872 Page: 1 of 4
four pages : ill. ; page 13 x 9 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
r, > /< % 4 rC , . '
//
rA<a-;. ^ i/. (_<$>. Up./8'30^
"EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW."
VOL. 1.
GALVESTON, TEXAS, SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1872.
NO. 22.
C|e ^ramMk
RICHARD KELSON,
EDITOR A2TO PSOPRIETOK.
Office: Twenty-fourth Street,
Between Market and Postol Bee Sts
BATES OF SUBSCaiPnON.
One copy one year
Six months, in advance
SATES OF ADVZS'
"ijV
SQUARE
1 MO.
2 MOS
3 HOB
6' MOS
Qae..,.-
Two....-
Three...
Pour.—
Five— ■
Tenj. - - - •
$ 4 00
8 00
12 00
16 00
20 00
35 00
$ 6 00
19 00
18 00
24 0(i
30 00
65 00
$ 7 50
15 00
22 00
30 00
37 00
75 00
>12 od"
25 00
37 00
50 00
65 00
120 00
12 MOB
130 00
40 00
60 00
80 Oo
100 00
175 00
| The Wife of Benedict Arnold.
BY JAMES PARTON. \
We catch our first view of
this unhappy lady on a bright
May day, in 1778, when she! took
part in a famous and splendid
pageant at Philadelphia. I She
was then a beantiful girl of;I8—
Miss * Margaret Shippen-Uthe
daughter of an opulent and
ancient Philadelphia family, and
one of the reigning belles of that
town. Her ancestors were
among the first settlers in Penn-
sylvania, and her great-grand-
father was the first Mayor of
Philadelphia. In the course of
time the family had acpuired
great possessions; and, laying
aside the Quaker garb, had be-
come members of the Church of
England. During his contro-
versy between the thirteen colo-
nies and the King, which ended
in the Revolutionary war, Ed-
ward Shippen, her father, the
head of the family, tas inclined
to the King's side.
It was May the 18th, 1778.
For many months the British
army had been quartered in
Philadelphia, commanded by
Major-General Sir William
Howe. The General had now
been superseded, and was about
to return to Eng-and. The offi
cers of the arny—a wealthy
class, who had nothing to do—
seized the occasion of his retire
ment to amuse, themselves by
giving a grand festival in his
honor; and this was the day on
which it was to be held.
The affair began with a grand
regatta upon the Delaware river,
or rather a long procession of
galleys and barges, filled with
officers and ladies, which were
rowed slowly down the whole
length of the city, in an avenue
formed by the shore crowded
with,.spectators, and a line of
men-of-war and transport ships
gaily dressed with flags and
streamers. At half-past four in
the afternoon, the barges began
to move, the oars keeping time
Market street, they all laid upon
their oars, while the band played
"God Save the King;"
which the soldiers gave three
cheers. Continuing their course,
the company were conveyed past
the city to where a grand tour-
nament was to take place; and
it was in this portion of the en-
tertainment that Margaret Ship-
pen 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 pavillions, with
rows of benches, one above the
other, filled with the most dis-
tinguished ladies of the city.
On the front seat of each of
these pavillions, were placed
seven of the most beautiful young
ladies Philadelphia could boast.
They were dressed in Turkish,
to the martial music, and when VMfMI X1AC
they had arrived opposite" red coats had lisappeared—blue
costume, trowsers, tunics, and
turbans, 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 Marga-
ret Shippen. One of the knights
who figured in the tournament
was Captain Andre, her familiar
acquaintance.' Little could
either of them have thought, on
this bright day, how fatally their
destinies were involved.
The trumpet sounded. The
herald appeared. The challenge
was delivered, and the contest
occurred, which ended without
loss of blood, to the satisfaction
of all concerned. At the conclu-
sion of the tournament, the com-
pany were ushered into a mag-
nificent ball room, decorated, we
are told, by eighty-five mirrors,
and lighted by thirty-four
branches of wax candles. The
ball was opened by fourteen
belles in Turkish, dress, and their
fonrteen knights—-one Lieutenant
Sloper being the knight who led
Miss Shippen out to dance. At
ten o'clock, the windows were
thrown open, and a splendid dis-
play of fire-works was exhibited.
At twelve, large folding doors,
which aad hitherto been conceal-
ed, were suddenly thrown open,
which revealed a gorgeous
saloon, two hundred and ten feet
long, forty-feet wide,and twenty-
two feet hijht, with three al-
coves on each side. This was
the upper room. Upon the
tables ther< were twelve hun-
dred dishes. As the guests en-
tered the rocn, a great number
of black slavs in Oriental cos-
tume, range in two lines,
bowed to the Tound. This vast
apartment wg one splendor of
wax lights, flowers, ribbons,
fiags, mirrorsand silver plate.
One of the reglar toasts of the
occasion was, "Miss Shippen
and her knigh" After supper,
the company returned to the
ball room, and .ept up the dance
until four in th morning, reach-
ing their homesabout sunrise.
The festival, ts Major Andre
remarks, was tn most gorgeous
ever given by an army to its
chief. And litl© indeed had
that chief don to deserve it.
An old officer of the British
army, who peroived the folly of
paying such extavagaut honors
to a General iio had won no
victories, said sadly: "What
will Washingta think of all
this!"
Exactly a math from that day
the British irmy evacuated
Philadelphia, tnd away they
sped across Jerey, with General
r'Washington a their heels. A
day or two afte a body of Amer-
ican troops mrched in, com-
manded by (eneral Benedict
Arnold. All \as changed. The
coats were in tie ascendant; and
the new Yanke general was ths
alter foremost man |n the city. Ar-
f nold, a vain, weak man, ever
fond of^isplay and luxury, ap-
propriated on< of the hand-
somest houses in the town,
where he set up a costly estab-
lishment, kept i great many ser-
vants, gave spleadid dinners,and
maintained a handsome equip-
age drawn by four horses—a
scale of expense utterly incom-
patible either with his fortune
or his pay. No one, however,
knew at the time that, to main-
tain this costly pomp, he was
concerned in speculations un-
worthy of an officer and gentle-
man, and sometimes used the
hisha^Heytha< Passed through
In inviting his guests, as the
patriotic portion of the people
remarked with surprise, he was
likely to select Tories as Whigs.
He seemed to court the adherents
of the King, and he frequently
had at table the wives and
daughters of public enemies, who
had been publicly proscribed,
and had found refuge with the
enemy in New York. Among the
families who attracted his regard
was that of Edward Shippen,
and he was soon observed to pay
particular court to his daughter,
Margaret. Arnold was then a
widower, thirty-eight years of
age, just twenty years older than
the young lady. Ere long he
formally asked her hand from her
father, and her father consenting,
he addressed the daughter, and
they were engaged.
In the meantime Arnold had
become so odious by his extrav-
agance, and his insolent, over-
bearing conduct to the people,
that Congress was obliged to
take cognizance of the fact. On
the eve of his marriage, he was
ordered to be tried 38y a court
martial. Miss Shippen, however,
was true to her engagement, and
married him five days after. The
court martial, as every one
knows, sentenced him to be rep-
rimanded by General Washing-
ton, and he was reprimanded ac-
cordingly.
"Our profession," said General
Washington to him, «is the
chastest of all; even the shadow
of a fault tarnishes the luster of
our finest achievements. The
least inadventure may rob us of
the favor, so hard to be acquired.
Ireprehend you fa? having-for-
gotten that, in proportion as you
had rendered yourself formidable
to your enemies, you should have
been guarded and temperate in
your deportment towards your
fellow-citizens. Exhibit anew
those noble qualities which have
placed you on the list of our most
valued cammanders. I will, my-
self furnish you, as far as it may
be in my power, with opportuni-
ties of regaining the esteem of
your country."
.This was more like an eulo-
gium than a reprimand; but it
did not touch the heart of Arnold,
who went from the presence of
his commander, not to regain the
esteem of his country, but to be-
tray that country.
A year passed away. He was
in command at West Point, in
correspondence with the enemy.
Whether she shared her hus-
band's secret during those
months of preparation, will per-
haps never be known with cer-
tainty. Just before the explosion
of the treason at West Point,
Arnold sent for his wife and
child to join him, and I have
seen the letter which he wrote to
her on this occasion, telling her
of the best way of reaching him,
and what houses she could sleep
at on the road.
Arnold and his wife were
seated at the breakfast table,
with Hamilton, Lafayette and an
aide. In the midst of the meal a
horseman alighted at the door;
and a moment after, a letter was
placed in Arnold's hands, which
informed him of his ruin. He
controlled his countenance, rose
quietly from the table, an<J beck-
oned his wife to follow him. They
went up stairs to their room,
where lay their infant child; and
there he told her that he was a
ruined man, and must fly, that
instant, for his life. She fell
senseless to the floor. Leaving
her there, he rushed from the
room, hurried down stairs, sent
some one to her assistance, and
then returned to the breakfast
room. He told his guests that
General Washington was com-
ing, and he must make haste to
prapare for his reception. He
mounted the horse of the messen-
ger who had brought the letter,
and galloped away.
Colonel Hamilton has left us
an interesting account of Mrs.
Ardold's demeanor after her hus-
band's departure. He says she
remained frantic all day, and ac-
cused every one who approached
her of an intention to murder
her child. She continued, he
says, to rave until she was ut-
terly exhausted. But Colonel
Burr, in his old age, was accus-
tomed to give a very different ac-
count of the matter. He had
known Mrs. Arnold from her in-
fancy, and he declared that she
knew all about her husband's
treason from the beginning, and
he used to relate a scene which
he said he witnessed at the house
of Mrs. Prevost, whom he after-
wards married, which somewhat
confirms his opinion. Mrs. Ar-
nold, it will be remembered, was
sent home to her father, escorted
by a party of horse, and re-
mained for a night at Mrs. Pre-
vost, where Colonel Burr was.
Mrs. Arnold, he said, burst into
a room dressed in a riding habit,
and was about to speak to the
lady of the house when seeing him
in the dim light of the apartment,
and not recognizing him, she
asked anxiously:
"Am I safe ? Is this a gentle-
man friend f
Upon discovering who he was,
she told them how she had de-
ceived General Washington, Col-
onel Hamilton, and the other
American officers by her frantic
outcries; and she declared" that
she not only knew of the treason,
but that it was she who had in-
duced her husband to commit it.
This was Col. Burr's story, to
which the reader may attach the
credit which he thinks it de-
serves. Arnold himself does not
say that she was ignorant of his
intentions to surrender the for-
tress. In the well known letter
which he sent back to General
Washington from the Vulture,
he says:
"From the known humanity of
your Excellency, lam induced to
ask your protection for Mrs. Ar-
nold from every insult and injury
that a mistaken vengeance of my
country may expose her to. It
ought to fall only on one; she is
as good and as innocent as an
angel, and is incapable of doing-
wrong."
The authorities of Pennsylva-
nia believed with Burr, that she
was a traitor. Her papers were
seized, and although nothing was
found in them to criminate her,
she was not permitted to remain
at her father's house, which she
said she desired to do.
Her father offered to give se-
curity that, during the war, she
would write no letters to her hus-
band, and send to the govern-
ment, unopened, any letters she
might receive from him. His offer
was refused, and they ordered
her to depart, and not to return
during the war. Being then
obliged to join her husband in
New York, she soon recovered
her spirits, and shone in society,
to use the language of the time,
as "a star of the first magnitude."
In England, too, whither she ac-
companied her husband, she at-
tracted much attention for her
beauty, and was much flattered
in Tory circles. The British gov-
ernment gave Arnold, in compen-
sation for his American losses,
something less than £7000, and
settled upon his family a pension
of £1000 a year, which was to be
continued as long as the husband
or the wifejsurvived. Their fam-
ily increased in England. Ar-
nold, finding himself pinched up-
on an income of £1300 per an-
num, went upon a trading voy-
age to Halifax; with what suc-
cess is not known. It was thought
by some that he was glad to leave
England for awhile to escape the
contempt in which he was held,
even by those who had employed
him.
Mrs. Arnold lived to 1S04, when
she died, aged forty-three years.
That infant son whom she held
in her arms, as described above,
entered the British army in 1798,
rose to the rank of Lieutenant-
General, and was still living as
late as 1850. One of her grand-
children is a clergyman in the
Church of England—it is said a
very worthy gentleman—who
has conversed with American
visitors about his grandfather in
a rational and becoming manner.
Two of her sons settled in Can-
ada, where they acquired compe-
tent estates, and were living in
1829.
An Oregon Romance.
The Curious Manner in Which a Young
Irish Woman Obtained a Husband.
There were married in this city, last
evening, a couple whose love-making
and marriage furnish us a theme.
During the spring of last year, there
appeared upon the railroad a fair-
haired, smooth-faced, muscular fellow
with a rich Irish brogue, who applied
lor work, expressing himself as willing
to do anything. He had "au ould
father and mother in the ould country
that he wanted to help to America, atid
was willing to work hard for good
wages." He was given av pick and
shovel, and told to pitch in, which he
did with a will. Although he was a
little awkward at first, he soonjnaster-
ed-the science of handling the shovel
and came to be regarded as one of the
best men on the work. He had a
pleasant voice, told a good story, and
made many friends among the other
workmen, who regarded him with es-
pecial favor.. After a while Mr. Hallet
the contractor, had his attention called
to the new hand, and finding him to be
quick at learning, gave him command
of a gang of men, and soon found that
his confidence was not misplaced. In
the same camp was another foreman,
who was as lithe and active a young
fellow as can be found in any part of
the country. Between the two a
warm friendship sprang up, and when
not at work they were always together.
The summer passed away, and the
winter months, with their rain, came,
and when work got slack and men be-
gan to drop off and come into th^ city,
Mike proposed to Jimmy to go to Port-
land^ take a room and live until spring.
I he proposition, however, was rejected
by Jimmy, who declared that he did
not want to come to the city. So the
two remained at Eugene for several
weeks, awaiting for the recommence-
ment of the work.
Somehow or other during the winter,
Mike made a discovery—and that Was
that Jimmy, instead of being a man,
was a woman. An- explanation was
made, and Mike's feelings soon under-
went a change, and he found that
Cupid had pierced his heart. He pro-
posed to Jimmy to come to the city,
where she would receive her proper
habilaments, and then they would
form a copartnership for life, and in
proper time return to work on the'
road as subcontractors. The proposi-
tion was agreed to, and last night saw
Mike aud Jimmy made man and wife.
They have purchased a tent and gone
down to Cowlitz river for the purpose
of assissting in the building of the
Northern Pacific railroad from Hum-
phreys to Olympia. During the com-
ing summer Jimmy will preside over
the culinary department, unless Mike
should get sick, when she declares she
will go out and boss the men.
The Japanese have a fifty-days' fair
in the Sacred City of the' Mikados,
Kioto—being the first ever held in that
country.
Extensive deposits of crystallized
sulphur have been discovered in the
Beaver Mountains, 300 miles from Salt
Lake City.
France having abolished the pass-
port system as regards England only,
other countries demand of her a sinii-
liar exemption.
Two mock medical shops in Phila-
delphia have had their charters re-
voked by the Legislature.
A tornado swept over South Caro-
lina last week.
The shakes continue in California.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Nelson, Richard. The Representative. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 22, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 4, 1872, newspaper, May 4, 1872; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth203082/m1/1/?q=%22Nelson%2C%20Richard%22: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .