74. (ARNOLD, BENEDICT) RACHEL SHEPHERD A.L.S. 1p. legal folio, Wage Island, Md., Sept. 6, 1780 to MARGARET SHIPPEN, Arnold's wife who carried on much of the treasonous correspondence on her husband's behalf, and who possibly docketed this letter. Shepard's poorly-spelled letter (corrected here), may have been written in double-speak, as was much of the treason-related correspondence. In part: "...Let the lady you once mentioned to me know that if she is not yet suited...and will give me good encouragement I will wait on her the first opportunity as I cannot reconcile myself to Maryland...heard Mrs. Lawrence was coming here and I should take it as a great favor if you would send me word by her, I long to see you Madam...". The verso bears a docket possibly in Margaret's hand: "Maryland. From Mrs. Rachel Shepard Sept. 6th 1780". Chipped at margins with a clean 2" tear at bottom, library stamp on verso, else quite good. Arnold's treason was discovered only 17 days after this letter was written! $200-300