1866 - Commemorative Banquet

CELEBRATION OF THE NINETIETH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE IN GENEVA (SUISSE) JULY 4, 1860

PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS

THE COMMEMORATIVE BANQUET — JULY 4th, 1860

At an informal meeting of gentlemen, held at the Grand Hotel de la Paix, Geneva, on the evening of the thirtieth day of June, it was resolved that the citizens of the United States who chanced to be in Geneva at the time ought to observe, in some way, the ninetieth anniversary of their national independence; and Messrs. J. A. C. Gray of New York, F. S. Kinney of New Jersey, James L. Claghorn, and Louis A. Godey of Pennsylvania, were appointed a Committee to carry the purpose of the meeting into effect.

With commendable zeal and energy, these gentlemen at once put themselves in communication with other American citizens, and it was determined to commemorate the day by a banquet in which all Americans residing in the city at the time should be invited to participate; and that the more distinguished friends of the United States among the native Genevese should be invited as guests. The large The saloon of the Hotel de la Paix was procured for the purpose, and its director, Mr. Kohler, gave promptly and generously all the assistance he could render in furthering the arrangements. The hotel was profusely decorated with flags; fireworks were sent for from Paris; and the services of two fine bands of music were procured through his kind instrumentality. Other hotels, such as the Hotel des Bergues, the Hotel Beau Rivage, the Hotel de la Couronne, and the Hotel de l’Ecu, also displayed our national flag during the day; cannon were fired from a small vessel anchored in Lake Leman; and in the evening a fine exhibition of fireworks was made in several parts of the city.

Invitations to attend the dinner were issued to the President and Vice-President of the Grand Council of Geneva; to Messrs. Chenevière, Turrettini, and Richard, Counsellors of State; to M. Harrington, American minister at Berne; to M. Upton, American consul at Geneva; to General Dufour; to Dr. Merle d’Aubigné; to the Count de Gasparin, author of The Uprising of a Great People; to M. J. H. Serment, advocate, President of the Auxiliary Committee of the American Association for the Benefit of the Freedmen; M. Alexandre Lombard, banker; M. le Prof. Adert and M. Debrit, editors of Le Journal de Genève; M. Tronchin, editor of La Nation Suisse; M. Aug. de la Rive; Professor Naville; and many other well-known European friends of the United States, several of whom, as will be afterwards seen, accepted, while others, either by official engagements or absence, were compelled to decline, greatly to their regret and ours.

The Americans who were present at the hotel to participate in the banquet were:

Mr. George D. Phelps
Mrs. Phelps
Mr. H. W. Robbins
Mr. J. McHenry Kitching
Mr. L. A. Godey
Mrs. Godey
Mr. W. A. Moller
Mrs. Moller
Mr. Jas. L. Claghorne
Mr. Claghorne
Mr. Townsend Harris
Mr. George Bell
Mrs. Bell
Miss Bell
Dr. J. Lawrence Lee
Miss Lee
Mr. J. Thorpe
Mrs. Thorpe
Miss Barnes
Miss Dick
Mr. J. F. Page
Mrs. Page
Miss Page
Mr. Anthony Lang
Mr. J. F. Page Jr.
Mr. Thomas Page
Mr. J. A. Robinson
Mr. J. A. C. Gray
Mrs. Gray
Miss Gray
Miss Hunter
Miss Danforth
Mr. Parke Godwin
Miss Godwin
Mr. F. S. Kinney
Miss Kinney
Mr. Char. Lanier
Mrs. Lanier
Rev. Marcus Ames
Mr. George Cummings
Mr. George Kemp
Mrs. Kemp
Mr. S. A. Sawyer
Mrs. Sawyer
Mrs. Eggleston
Mr. Eggleston
Mr. C. I. Taylor
Miss Woodbury
Mr. J. H. Godwin Jr.
Miss L. G. Metcalf
Mrs. Robinson
Mr. A. H. Lowery
Mr. W. C. Fargo Jr.

Among the invited guests present were Charles Upton, Esq., American Consul at Geneva; Dr. Merle d’Aubigné; M. Alexandre Lombard, with parts of their families; Lord Walter Campbell; M. J. H. Serment; M. Marc Debrit; M. James Odier; M. Tronchin; and others. At the hour appointed, the company took their seats in the spacious dining-room of the hotel, which was tastefully decorated with wreaths, banners, etc., after which Mr. George D. Phelps of New York, who had been selected to preside, briefly introduced the proceedings as follows:

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Source: Diman, J. Lewis. The Nation and the Constitution: An Oration Delivered Before the City Authorities and Citizens of Providence, July 4, 1866. Providence: Providence Press Company, 1866. Digitized by Google from the library of Harvard University. Internet Archive.