I have all the pages I need (pages 10 onward are "Other Copies" — I'll transcribe only the primary document, pages 1–9). East Chester Dec. 20^th 1798. The Hon.^ble James Mc Henry — Sir — I have this day received your very polite Letter of the 17^th inst. with its enclosure, I feel myself much indebted for the friendship, civility and favour, which accompanies every sentence, and I should not do justice to my feelings were I to omit expressing my self highly obliged by the polite observations relative to me contained in the letter addressed to you, by General Washington. With respect to the erroneous political opinions with which I have be charged, not knowing the nature or extent of them, I am not competent to make any answer — But my own Heart and feelings relative to the interest and dignity of my Country, have always assured me, that I could nourish no such, nor post any sentiments inconsistent with its Honor and Agrandinements the Wellbeing of its Government and the happiness of its people, Sure I am, that no improper partiallity for any other was ever felt or expressed — I have always acted upon the broad Basis as a free American, uninfluenced by British or French Politicks, believing the Politicks of Independant America to be the true and only point of View, that her native sons should ever attempt to display upon. Should this System have in any degree electrised the feelings of the Partisans of England or France, they must must excuse me, for to neither do I offer an apology. The General seemingly observes, that he has been affected with the information, well or Ill grounded, that I stand charged in the opinion of my fellow Citizens with very serious instances of private misconduct, Instances which affect directly my Integrity as a man, The Instances alledged are various, but that there is one which came forward in a Shape which did not permit him to refuse it his attention — It respects an Attempt Knowingly to pledge property to Major Burrows by way of Security which was before conveyed or mortgaged to Mr. Wm. Constable, without giving notice of the Circumstance. With respect to the general Charges, that my integrity as a man have in various instances been called in question, I must candidly acknowledge, this is the first time the Suspicions were ever communicated to me and even now bound up with conscious Integrity, I deny the charge and defy the Informer. You Sir may better imagine than I can possibly express the feelings which agitate my mind at the moment on this important Subject, When I look back on the Scenes of honourable public Life, thro' which I have passed and I dare venture to say, the interesting respectability of my private Walks, I am at a loss to determine from whence such infamous and cruel Calumny could have spring and can suppose it to issue from no other Source, than that some interested Attorney had to form an opinion upon exparte evidence. With respect to the last charge, that I attempted knowingly to pledge property to Mr. Burrows by way of security, which was before conveyed or mortgaged to Mr. Wm. Constable, without giving notice of the Circumstance — I answer — that the Informer when he introduced the words, [underline: attempted Knowingly] became a base Calumniator and ought ever to be exposed to the most pointed and close investigation Should he ever hereafter presume to make specifick Charges or pointed Communications. Your goodness Sir will excuse the necessary details to elucidate this point and but aside this infamous Charge. It may not be superfluous for me to State that the first pecuniary arrangements which took place between Mr. Burrows and myself, was the advance of an immense sum of money for his Accommodation on my part, in exchange for which he transferred to me certain Lands in Virginia, the deeds for which I am informed are not good, but of this General Hamilton knows more than I do and if necessary can answer. About twelve months after when Mr. Burrows was floating at the full tide of prosperity, in consequence of the flood I produced in his affairs, hearing of my embarrassments in consequence of British Ventures and detention of my property, illegally captured to the [undecipherable] value of upwards of forty thousand pounds sterling, He voluntarily offered me his Credit & requested me to use it — I did — When he became embarrassed from his connection with Mr. Robert Morris, Nicholson, &tr. & Allison, for sums unknown, I was held up as the Individual who was the father of all his misfortunes, while his other associates were scarcely known, I however immediately went to his House at Kinderton and upon my arrival told Mr. Burrows, that in consequence of his embarrassments, I had come from New York with all the property I had, with an intention not to leave him, without his permission, untill he was relieved from his embarrassments, he received me in his usual Style and I passed near a month at his House, in daily negotiation with his aid, to raise money upon my property either by actual sale or loan — for myself I had no other object in view than to obtain a sufficiency to relieve him, we were several times so he supposed within an hour of closing our negotiation, but the periods passed without a completion of our object, and after he was fully satisfied, that nothing could be effected thro' his influence or the influence of his friends, he requested me to go to New York & try there, which I did early in September, but owing to the scarcity of money nothing could be effected. Shortly after Mr. Burrows arrived at New York and sent me the enclosed No. 1. I immediately waited on him, and gave him assurances of my best disposition and readiness to do every thing in my power either to raise money for him or to secure him to his satisfaction — he was accompanied by Mr. Jn. Smith of Baltimore who people apprehended would close with the propositions I had made in Philadelphia — the transfers upon which the advances were to be made, I was then, as I had been at Philadelphia, ready to make — On the 2^d of october I received No. 2. I waited on the Gentlemen & said I was ready to do my part, even upon their propositions, for I cared not what sacrifice I made, if Mr. Burrows was but relieved. I made every necessary arrangement on my part, called at 12 o'clock the next day, agreeable to appointment, ready to execute — on my entering the room there did not appear that cordiality between Mr. Smith & Mr. Burrows that usually shew itself, and the business of Mr. [undecipherable] was thrown aside. Mr. Burrows and myself being left alone, he told me that he did not see any other mode of relief, than by transferring to him his Estate in New York, which he would not discover under six months — I assured him I would freely do it, to any amount that would satisfy him, and relieve his mind from its present torture, I went with him to Mr. Troup, laid before him a Schedule of my property, and desired them to take as much as would perfectly satisfy the demand. In fixing the value of the property, Mr. Troup, Mr. Burrows, and myself agreed, until Mr. Troup as Mr. Burrows's Lawyer, said he was satisfied — Mr. Troup drew the Deeds and I executed them — In the hurry and anxiety of my mind I went to Mr. Wm. Constable with whom I had deposited most of my valuable papers, and to whom I had transferred some property as security for his endorsement of £40,000 — not adverting that I had transferred some lots in Courtland Street to him, I asked him for the deeds, he gave them to me, I went from Mr. Constable's House to Mr. Troup's office & gave them to him. The mistake was soon discovered and as soon rectified; But how could the Kind Informer suppose it was possible for me thus to impose, had I been capable of so base an act, when the Town Records were open to Mr. Troup as Mr. Burrows's Lawyer, within three minutes Walk from his Door, the charge is too bare-faced and if the Informer had any conscience &c, he will swallow the [underline: Attempt Knowingly] and blush at his own inscipidity of grace. After the business was settled to Mr. Burrows's satisfaction he took his leave in a friendly manner for Philadelphia. No. 3. of the 11^th of october is Mr. Burrows's Letter to me where you will find he expresses himself satisfied with the arrangements I made for him — No. 4. of the 12^th proposes me to consent to the advertising of the property so as to be immediately productive — this I did as will appear by No. 5 from Col. Troup dated 27^th of october. No. 6. from Mr. Burrows to Col. Troup will shew the pressure still continued, notwithstanding the full & satisfactory transfers made — What use Mr. Burrows & Mr. Troup made of this property the world will knows, they put it into the hands of Jew Brokers & plundering Auctioneers and after dissipating the whole of it, institute a suit against me for the original sum & have forced me to give security for the sum of One Hundred & Ninety four Thousand Dollars, in what they call the pursuits of Justice, had the opinion here been for me, which it seems to be in Philadelphia, this security could not have been produced within the hour as it was — I have no observations to make relative to Mr. Burrows's intermediate conduct, nor upon the strong combination against me, who never did an unkind act and felt himself always above an unjust one. If from the injustice of others, I am obliged for a time to submit to the circulation of opinions derogatory to my honor & my character, I must rely upon my own conscious integrity for a support, untill I can fairly move the mist from the Eyes of those who have been unjustly impressed & wait with patience untill my accusers unfold themselves or I am blessed with an opportunity handsomely to unmask them. I have now Sir answered you promptly and candidly and shall be happy to learn that my Good General & yourself are satisfied with the Statement. I will now only observe, that I would not wish the President should again hazard the negative of the Senate in any nomination connected with my name, not only on the score of my private feelings, but upon the broad basis of the public good — If however I receive the appointment I shall accept it, because I have asked for a Commission, & because in case of invasion I shall share the dangers of my Countrymen whether commissioned or not — But even then I wish it to be perfectly understood, that I shall accept it with a view to serve my Country, not to promote my Individual Interest — Let the question be determined for or against — it can neither lessen nor add to, my anxiety for her well-fare or my disposition to serve her at every hazard, nor the obligations I feel myself under for your politeness, candour and attention. I have the Honor to be with great regard. Your most Obd. Humblest. W. S. Smith