Fairfax County (Virginia) Committee to the Continental Congress

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Fairfax County, Virginia, November 23, 1775.

SIR: The Committee of this County, informed of the present scarcity of salt in this Colony in general, and in this part of it in particular, sensible of the difficulty, perhaps impracticability of procuring it, if not done this winter, and apprehensive of the great distress and discontent that the want of this necessary article may occasion among the people, as well as the impossibility of furnishing proper provisions for the regiments of minute-men and draughts from our militia which may be called into service next spring, have directed us to apply to the honourable the Continental Congress, praying them to encourage the importation of salt, either by permitting the exportation of country produce in return, in such manner as is allowed upon the importation of military stores, or in such other manner as that honourable Board shall judge best. We beg leave, Sir, through you, to lay this request, as a matter of the utmost importance to the good people of this Colony and the publick service, before the gentlemen of the Congress; and are, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient servants,

G. MASON,
JOHN DALTON,
WM. RAMSAY,
JOHN CARLYLE,
JOHN MUIR,
JAMES KIRK,

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Congress in Philadelphia.