The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-07
THE FRENCH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

| THE FRENCH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.
FIrTY-sEvESTH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET AT
PARIs-HoNons TO STANLEY AND orHER
| ExPLoRERs-AN APPRECIATION OF MODERN
JOURNALISM.
PARIS, Dec. "a, 1871
On Saturday last the French Geographical Society
celebrated the dtty seventh anniversary OF its foun
dalton by u banquet at Lemardoiay's Salon A
number OF brilliant and distin gushcd savans were
present. and the chair occupied by Admiral
| La Roucicre lc Noury, lifo member OF the Senate.
The elegant banquet having had iul justice done It,
the distinguished admiral and ex Minister of Marine
who presided gave the toast Tho President OF the
Republic, who has devoted himself 10 the task OF
restoring peace and reconciliation This delicate
reference to the Marshai-President's submission to
tho will Of tho majority applaudod with great
| fervor, and the toast was drunk with enthusiasm.
The next toast 'srhe Project OF the Seine and
the Municipal Council OF Paris" This was responded
to by NJ Qua refages. Member OF tho Institute WAC
compimcnted the Project and tho Municipal Council
on the happy union which subsisted between them
Notwithstanding the strain OF the late politi-
cal crisis. "rhey havo ever been of one
mind" said n. Quatroiagcs 'hn their de-
sire to benefit the country; both in favor Of
progress" Tho SPEAKERS remarks full OF moder-
ation and good sense, and no was particularly happy
in his references to the termination OF tho crsa His
speech was received with great favor
The health OF the King OF the Beigians next
drunk and the toast responded to by another
member Of the Institute, NJ. Levasseur, who spoke
the most energetic terms OF the good qualities Of that
popular sovereign who takes the Initiative in great
work Of universal humanity and civilization.
Tho President OF the Geographical Society OF
70 a CT m inn mt
sovereign, recalling with pleasure the OF friendship
which had subsisted between Franco and Belgium
from the days when a Belgian prince, Godfrey dc
Bouellon, gave such brilliant example n tho great
Crusade IN which France took the leading
part N. DO Lcsseps also responded, as a
personal friend OF the King and referred IN the warm.
est to tho great work of African exploration
which he has undertaken and which, NJ. do Leseeps
claims Will eventually become popular in Franco as
II now is in the little Belgian Kingdom where the
idea conceived ~
The traditional toast to travellers and explorers
responded TO by NJ Mannoir General Secretary OF
the Geographical Society, and q very appropriate
speech was also made by Dr. Harmand the explorer of
the Mekong.
NJ MATTE BRUINS SPEECH.
N. Matte Brun, the eminent scoarapher, responded
10 the toast OF sour Explorers of ALI Countries OF All
Languages and Of All Nationalities." He said:-
Thc geographical phaanx TO whose health our worthy
secretary has just asked drink march forward,
preceded by bold and dashing eclaireurs who are
anxious to be the first TO carry tho flag OF their ounry
TO some point hitherto unknown. While we arc here
In hall which dedss the cold, seated around well
served table, while have the satisfaction OF being
aolc to exchange ideas with convrsrcs and friends,
these explorers far from their native land from
all they hold DEAR from the Of civilization
a hC
the iatigucs aud the dangers OF tho task TO
which they arc devoted. To these courageous
soldiers Of science owe an acknowledge
ment OF our sympathy and our reinsurance,
and therefore, am here only the exponent Of tho
sentiments which animate you In honoring this toast
to the explorers TO tho emulators OF tho Barths
the Livngstoues, the Camerons and the Duvcgriers
who even at the present moment are at work to en-.
large tho domain Of geographical science We drink
70 the energetic and courageous Henry N. Stanley,
who after having had tho good fortune extend the
hand OF succor 10 the iilustrous Livingstone, has
just completed by iorce OF admirable perse-
veranco an exploration OF the great lakes
and to accomplish memorable journey in Equatorial
Africa, thus solving the great problem OF tho Zaire
Congoh which is so important TOR the hydrography Of
Africa That VIC may soon SEQ him among
US 10 give him the welcome 10 which he
Is SO well entitled. We drink also 10 the
French explorers, whose interesting achievements we
have heard fecited Two days ago We drink 10
NM. Hannaud and De Ujioloy, explorers in Asia;
to MN. Dc Brazza, Balay Marche aud Largeau, In
Africa; to Messrs. Weincr and Pinart In America 10
NM. Lucen Wyse and Armand Reclus, explorers
In Central America, and to their companions;
to NM Ranray and De Saint Pol Lias,
in Australasia. We wish them the success
which Commandant Rondaire has achieved-he who
nrO to nc In In
Chotts And we wish success 10 Lieutenant De
SeneIl who is about to engage 10 an exploration
OF tho interior OF Africa. In conclusion, we
wish success to Dr. Crcvoux, who has just con-
cluded difficult voyage from Maroni the
Amazon across Guanas. Certainly all the support
and encouragement t which society should give to
explorers should not DO denied them. They arc also
assured OF the enlightened socitude OF the
Minister Of Public Instruction and OF those
high public functonaries, one OF whom, who
Is most devoted TO their interests, Is among
US so.right But, gentlemen, what dangers aud
chances OF failure there be encountered even
under the most favorable conditions which these
explorers DO placed Let US, then. drink hearty
toast TO the health and the Of explorers
Tribute JOURNALISM
Tho next toast was, "rhe French and Foreign
Press" which was coupled with the name OF James
Gordon Bennett This toast was responded 10 by NJ.
Cortambert, who sSid:-
We drink TO the French and foreign press-to that
press which places every day In communication
with tho entire world which follows plorers
their pcriIous enterprises, an hch proclaims their
triumphs when they have not PAID with their lives
penalty OF their devotion to science. We drink 10
that press which Is truly Independent. which enight-
ems, which nsiructs and develops ideas which has no
party spirit, or, rather, which has only spirit
that OF truth. We drink to the foreign press which
has given many oi mos. Contemplating and hardy