John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 July 1777

Kingston 21 July 1777

D r . Morris,

The Situation of Tryon County is both shameful & deplorable Such abject Dejection & Despondency as mark the Letters we have rec d . from thence disgrace human Nature. God knows what to do with or for them. Were they alone interested in their Fate, I should be for leaving their Cart in the Slough till they w d . put their Shoulders to the Wheel. 1

Be more cautious in your Letters to the Council. It was imprudent to say that the Gen. offered you two N England for one York Soldier, or that Sinclair alone of the 4 Gen. was worth a Crown–€” 2 Schuyler has his Enemies here, & they use these things to his Disadvantage–€” Suspicions of his having been privy to the Evacuation of Tycond. spread wide–€”& twenty little Circumstances which perhaps are false are tromped up to give Colour to the Conjecture–€”

We could wish that Your Letters would might contain Paragraphs for the Public–€” We are silent because we have Nothing to say, & the People suspect every thing B the worst because we say Nothing–€” Their Ears ^ Curiosity ^ must be constantly gratified, with or they will be restless and uneasy–€” Indeed I dont wonder at their Impatience, The late northern Events having been such as to have ^ given ^ occasion to Alarm & Suspicion–€” I have not Liesure to add any Thing more than that I am &c.