Trenton 30 Augt. 1798 Dear Sir When I received your letter of the 30 of Augt. I was indisposed with a bilious fever, [strikethrough: undecipherable] [strikethrough: it was not since a bad] [strikethrough: and] could not of course take any steps to [strikethrough: ascertain] you to discover whether [strikethrough: the] the information given to you respecting the [strikethrough: conversation] sentiments, expressed by Gen Smith at the Presidents table [strikethrough: last] [strikethrough: some come] had been correctly related [strikethrough: by you]. In the mean while [strikethrough: undecipherable] [strikethrough: last] Cap Mitchell did & I found [strikethrough: undecipherable] on my recovery, that a certificate had been sent to you stating [strikethrough: by very] condemning [strikethrough: undecipherable] of what Gen Smith had said on that occasion during his illness and as stated by Cap Mitchell to [strikethrough: the sub]gentlemen who subscribed it. This arrested thus the business stood when the prevailing fever at Philadelphia obliged [strikethrough: him] us to make a very precipitate retreat. I have endeavoured by other testimony, and since that time to ascertain the fact, [strikethrough: but until] recently I [undecipherable] have understood, but yesterday evening that M^r Bayard of the House of Representatives at Wilmington Delaware is at present at table with Gen Smith, and I was so much struck with [strikethrough: the] my conversation and opinions [strikethrough: undecipherable], that he mentioned them to several persons afterwards. [strikethrough: with much surprise and astonishment] I shall drop him a line to day to [strikethrough: undecipherable] the truth and request him to make it known to you of [strikethrough: undecipherable] You had also [undecipherable] It may be proper also that you should write to him. Yours sincerely Col. J. E. Howard.