From John Jay to Richard Lawrence, 23 January 1797
To Richard Lawrence
Albany 23d. Januy. 1797
Sir
It gives me pleasure to inform you that the Legislature has been pleased to appropriate 2500 Dollars for the Relief of the French Refugees in our City, whose complicated Distresses recommend them so strongly to our Beneficence & humane Attentions.1
You will find herewith enclosed a Warrant on the Treasurer for 1000 Dolls. and a Copy of the Act lately passed on this Subject. The Directions and Intent of it, must be carefully observed and pursued in the Distribution of this Money— No new Comers into the City (altho they be real Refugees from St. Domingo) are objects of this Law— such of them only as were and have continued to be Residents in the City of New York at and from the time of the passing of the former Laws for their Relief, are to be considered as within the Intent and Meaning of the present act. This should be particularly attended to, lest Persons of the like description in other States should be tempted by the prospect or hope of sharing in this Bounty to remove to and reside in New York.
I have no Reason to suppose that any provision has been made by the french Republic or others for these unfortunate sufferers; if however that should be or become the case, stop your hand, and inform me of it immediately.
I flatter myself that you will readily undertake this Business, and will conduct it in the most careful manner and on the most moderate Terms. The Sum granted is not large, and great circumspection & Prudence will be necessary in the Application of it.—2 I am &ca
(signed) John Jay
Mr. Richd. Lawrence
LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03061).
1. “An ACT for the support of the St. Domingo French Refugees in the City of New-York,” 20 Jan. 1797, , 11–12. For the pay warrant, see JJ to Gerard Bancker, 22 Jan. 1797, LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03253). See also JJ’s Addresses to the New York State Legislature, 6 Jan. and [1 Nov. 1796], both above.
2. Richard R. Lawrence (1765–1822) was a Quaker merchant, and philanthropist, and member of both the Manumission Society and the Society of New York Hospital, as well as a commissioner of the Alms-House. On 28 Nov. 1796, the Common Council ordered that “a Loan of 300 Dollars be made to Richd Lawrence one of the Commissrs [of the] Alms House to be applied towards the Relief of certain indigent refugee families from St Domingo. And that Mr Mayor issue his Warrant on the Treasurer for payment thereof.” , 2: 306. For Lawrence’s membership in the NYMS, see , 4: 538. For the response to the refugee crisis, see JJ’s Addresses to the New York State Legislature, 6 Jan. and [1 Nov. 1796], both above; JJ to Lawrence, 9 Feb. 1797, and 6 Jan. 1798, and Lawrence to JJ, 27 Jan. 1797, all below.