1. During the summer and fall of 1793 a considerable number of French refugees from the revolution in Santo Domingo had arrived in cities along the eastern seaboard (see Edmond Charles Genet to H, July 19, 1793, note 3). Most of the refugees had been forced to leave their possessions behind, and by the winter of 1793–1794 many of them were destitute. Private philanthropy and grants by cities and states alleviated some of the distress, and on February 12, 1794, Congress passed “An Act providing for the relief of such of the inhabitants of Santo Domingo, resident within the United States, as may be found in want of support” (6 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America [Private Statutes] (Boston, 1856). description ends 13). Section 1 of this act provided “That a sum not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, be, and the same is hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any moneys which may be in the Treasury, arising from foreign loans, for the support of such of the inhabitants of Saint Domingo, resident within the United States, as shall be found in want of such support.” The act further provided that the money was to be distributed by the President among the Santo Domingan refugees in the individual states.