To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 2 March 1793
From William S. Smith
[Philadelphia, March 2, 1793. According to an entry in for March 2, 1793, Hamilton submitted to the President “a letter from Colo. W. S. Smith of this date respecting the debt of the U.S. to France1—with a Copy of a letter wh. he had written to Mr. Ternant on the subject2—and an Extract of a Communication from the Minister of Contributions at Paris to Colo. Smith dated Novr. 1792.”3 Letter from Smith not found.]4
, 66.
1. For background to Smith’s proposals concerning the debt owed to France by the United States, see H to George Washington, March 1, 1793, note 1; “Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on Proposals Made by William S. Smith Relative to the French Debt,” March 2, 1793.
3. This letter from Etienne Clavière to Smith was dated November 7, 1792. See H to Washington, March 1, 1793, note 1.
4. The entry in for March 2 notes that “Colo. Smith states to Mr. Ternant that according to the arrangemts. which had been made between him (Colo. S) and the Executive Council of France, he (Colo. S.) ought to receive the sum of 3 millions of Livres for which Mr Ternant had applied to the U.S. by order of the French Governmt., to purchase provisions &c. to send to France” (, 66). For Ternant’s application for this sum, see Tobias Lear to H, February 8, 1793; “Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on Furnishing Three Million Livres Agreeably to the Request of the French Minister,” February 25, 1793.