Trenton 30^th Aug^t. 1798 Dear Sir * When I received your letter of the 30 of Aug^t. I was indisposed with a bilious fever, and [strikethrough: was not] [strikethrough: in a] [strikethrough: had] could not of course take any steps to assist you to discover whether [strikethrough: of the] the information [strikethrough: given to you] respecting the [strikethrough: conversations] sentiments, expressed by Gen Smith at the President's [strikethrough: table] [strikethrough: was received from] had been correctly related [strikethrough: to you]. In the mean while [strikethrough: was] [strikethrough: last] Cap Mitchell did & I found [undecipherable] on my recovery, that a certificate had been sent to you [strikethrough: stating by very] containing the [strikethrough: substance] of what Gen Smith had said on that occasion during my illness and as stated by Cap Mitchell to [strikethrough: the] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] men who subscribed it. [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] Thus the business stood when the prevailing fever at Philadelphia [strikethrough: obliged] [strikethrough: obliged] me to make [strikethrough: before I had recovered.] a [strikethrough: very] precipitate retreat. I have endeavoured by other testimonies, and since that time to ascertain the fact, [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] I [strikethrough: now] have understood, but yesterday evening that Mr Bayard of the House of Representatives at Wilmington Delaware as was present at table with Gen Smith, and [strikethrough: he] was so much struck with [strikethrough: the] my conversation and opinions [strikethrough: he expressed], that he mentioned them to several persons afterwards. [strikethrough: with much emphasis and astonishment] I shall drop him a line to day to [strikethrough: learn] the truth and request him to make it known to you [strikethrough: of the] [strikethrough: the fact in so] you [strikethrough: had also] [strikethrough: let it] may be proper also that you should write to him. yours sincerely Col. J E Howard. --- Trenton 3 Sep^t. 1798 D^r Sir Col. Howard requested me [strikethrough: to come] [strikethrough: hither] to the inclosed fragments of [undecipherable] that [strikethrough: had informed] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] Gen Smith Col. Howard [strikethrough: had] [strikethrough: permitted] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: that] Gen Smith at the President's table [strikethrough: had] said [strikethrough: had] [strikethrough: to have expressed himself at the] President's Table, [strikethrough: that] he wished our envoys had given the French the money they had demanded, and that [strikethrough: Gen] Smith dens [strikethrough: the] charge. Col Howard has earnestly requested me to give him [strikethrough: such] informa: tion respecting the [strikethrough: Smith's] [strikethrough: general] language and conversation at [strikethrough: that] this occasion as may be in my power to obtain. Yesterday evening only I understood [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] you were of the party at the President's, and that struck with [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] the Gen^ls. [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] sentiments you had repeated what he had said to several gentlemen. If the fact is so, I request you [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] to take the trouble to state the Gen^ts conversation to Col. Howard, [strikethrough: to make him] your testimony I consider of importance and I am certain you will not refuse it. [strikethrough: I] I am D^r Sir with very great respect & esteem yours &c. [Col. J. Howard — 3 Sep^t 1798 — [undecipherable] importance of [undecipherable] conversation [undecipherable] by Gen Smith.]