Sir.

At a meeting of the Committee for this County and District, a Resolution was entered into to write to your Council of Safety, and appointed me for that purpose.

I am informed that your Commanding Officer or Officers in each County have it not in their power to raise the Militia (on any occasion) under his or their Command, without application to your Council of Safety and instructions from them for that purpose.

Permit me to say I apprehend many dangers may be avoided, many good consequences (in case of a sudden Attack from the Enemies of America) are obvious had the Commanding Officer in each County on Potowmack River full power to raise the Militia and order them to March where there was a real occasion either in your own Province or to the assistance of a Sister Colony. We have been frequently Allarmed with Dunmore and his Banditti with the Vessels of War paying us a Visit, and when he lately made his appearance in our River, it was presumed, his intention was to make this place an object worth his attention ー His well known enmity to Liberty, his untoward disposition towards this Commonwealth in particular, and his corrupt principles, capable of committing the most atrocious Villainies, give cause to suspect that his intention might be to distress this place and the Inhabitants of each side the River, by which your Province would experience the dire effects of the Marauders.

Should you be Attacked, and our assistance necessary, we wou'd chearfully obey the summons of Liberty humanity, and Neighbourly affection, and fly to your Assistance, we should be wanting in [honor] did we not, because we are not bound up by any Ordinance, nor Command, but at full liberty to exert ourselves in behalf of ourselves and in that of a Sister Colony.

I hope you and the Gentlemen of your Council of Safety will excuse this remonstrance to you, and that you will see the necessity in the same light that we do of empowering (at least) your Commanding Officers on the River to raise the Militia under their respective Commands (in Case of danger) and to March them where there maybe a call for them. I am convinced the Gentlemen & Soldiers would chearfully do it from a principle of Humanity & friendship tho' the danger was more remote from them was this request put in execution. I am Gentlemen [&c.]