Instructions of Fairfax County Committee of Correspondence to Their Convention Delegates ( Geo. Mason & Chas. Broadwater Esqrs.)

Gentlemen                             Alexandria 9th Decem 1775.

When ministerial Tools are employing every wicked Machination to accomplish their unjust Purposes, 'tis high time every virtuous Citizen should be on the Watch guarding those Liberties, which the Tyrants have mark'd out for Destruction; Actuated by these Motives and wishing to contribute to the Protection of this Colony & the common Cause; We the Committee of Correspondence for the County of Fairfax beg leave to present you our Representatives in Genel Convention w’th: a few such Observations, as We think may be usefull at this Period of imminent Danger.

By late accounts from the Southward it appears that Lord Dunmore is daily increasing in Force & Garrison; We hoped that the two Regiments of Regulars wou'd e'er this have circumscrib'd his Career and prevented his insulting this Colony in Proclamations & Plunder; it seems he still continues to pester us, and numbers on the Minute Establishment are call'd into actual Service. Should there still be a Necessity for augmenting the Army, for the more effectual Defence of this Colony; We wou'd recommend the raising of Regulars for the Purpose; daily Experience evinces, that the Minute System is very inadequate to the Design; wherever the Colony is expos'd and vulnerable, there we wou'd recommend regular Forces to be station'd; an Arrangement might be made so as to contribute alternately to each others Assistance on the shortest Notice of an Attack. We wou'd likewise advise, your promoting the fitting out a few Vessells of War, to protect the Bay & Rivers, from Lord Dunmore's Pirates, We beg leave to assure you such Vessels are attainable, can be mann'd & equipp'd.

We allso request that you will encourage, some effectual Plan, for supplying the Colony with Arms, & Ammunition, as we do apprehend, the calling a Number of Men to the lower Parts of the Colony, unaccoutred is incurring an Expence to little purpose & exhibiting to the World the Shadow of an Army.

The Ordinance for arming the Militia we think ineffectual & dependant on a Contingency, we wish not to happen, the Default of the People. The Sword is drawn, the Bayonet is allready at our Breasts, therefore some immediate Effort is necessary to ward off the meditated Blow, let the County Lieutenants be supply'd with Arms from the Armory at Fredericksburg, or have Liberty to buy them any where at the Country's Expence, and the Fines go into the common Fund -- It seems that a considerable Force hath been employ'd to guard the little Money in the Treasury; let us observe that an interior Part of the Colony seems best calculated for preserving the public Money & Military Stores, there, less liable to Depradation, consequently, an inconsiderable Guard necessary. Be pleas'd to acquaint the Convention, that there are at Winchester fourteen Cannon at Cressaps two, at Fort Cumberland six in good order and belonging to the Colony, these might be useful on Navigation, at their present Situations not wanted, the Committee of Safety have been wrote to on this Subject, but no answer given to the Letter.

From the present System, adopted by those at the Head of Affairs, it wou'd appear that the upper parts of the Colony were to be left destitute of Defence, and totally neglected. Companies of the Minute Service call'd out of the Northern District, e'er those in the Southern one; more continguous to the Place of Action have repair'd to it.  Why is this part of the Country to be left unguarded? when it appears, not only from the public Papers, but Lord Dunmore's Assignation with Conoly that Alexandria was to be their place of rendezvous in the Month of April next, a place well known to the Officers who were out on Genl. Braddock's Expedition, a safe Harbour for Ships of War & commanding a most material part of the Colony.

If we are to be govern'd by a Council of Safety, we do recommend, that you give your Voice for a full and equitable Representation, as the only means to unite us & produce the most salutary Effects; to sum up the whole of our request, we beg you will use your utmost Endeavours, that Men may be rais'd on the regular Establishment, & Vessells arm'd both to be stationed at such Places as will contribute to the Safety of the Colony at large, that you be not sparing in the raising of Money for the good of the Colony, but be cautious in the distribution of it, for be the Taxes in future what they may we shall cheerfully retrench every other Luxury to secure that of being free, and are with much Regard & Esteem Gentlemen

Your obt. huble Serv’ts

John Dalton

William Ramsay

John Muir

John Carlyle

James Kirk

Geo. Gilpin

Richd. Conway

Source: The Papers of George Mason, Gunston Hall Plantation - Also cite as (Rutland, Vol I, p259-261)