Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-02
FRANCE AND AMERICA.
PRESIDENT GREVY ON THE YORK.
TOWN CENTENNIAL.
meeting of the COmmttEee-A Pro-
gramme Formulated for the Conn
ing Ceremonies.

WASHINGTON, April 3O.-M. Outrey, the
French Minister accompanied by the Secre-
tary of State, called upon the President
yesterday and presented letter, of which
the following is a translation
"S''les Greoy, President Of the French Repsl5lic
to the President Of the United States Of
America:
'GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND-I have Just
received letter whereby your honorable
predecessor, His Excellency, Rutherford B.
Hayes, announced to me that in pur-
suance Of resolution of Congress he in
vited the government and people of
and people of the United States
on the 18th of next October in celebrating
the one hundredth anniversary of the battle
OF Yorktown. have accepted this invita-
tion in the name OF the government
OF the republic, and in that of the
whole French people. This solemn
testimony of remembrance, which has
been preserved by your fellow
citizens, of the part taken by eminent indi-
viduals Of France in the glorious struggle
which secured independence and liberty to
the United States, has called forth a feel
Ing of deep emotion In France, of which it
has afforded me pleasure to be the in
terpreter by informing General Moves,
your worthy representative, that
haaving tdi1 taken nan,o part artt,onIRe IN the
the honor" The American a. nation nat @ which
has become so powerful and prosperous, by
inviting a fraternal cooperation on the
occasion of this anniversary, forever con-
secrated the union which was created by
noble and liberal aspirations and by our
alliance on the battle field, and which our
institutions, which are now of the
same sam d.chsaa character must thd draw closer
both nations. Offering you the assurance
OF my high esteem for yourself, personally,
and my best wishes for the glory of the
United States, desire also to convey my
sincere thanks to Mr.. Hayes, the cordial
feelings which he expressed to me and for
his good wishes for the prosperity Of the
French Republic.
''Your good friend,
''(Signed), JULES GREvY.
"(Countersigned), B. N. HILAIRE.
"Done at Paris, March 25th, 1881"
NEW YORK, April 30.-An informal pre-
liminary meeting of the Yorktown Centen-
aTy Committee took place this morning In
the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Hon. Jno. Goode,
Geo. B. Loring, Dr. Jas. P. Paxon, j. E.
Payton, Phil. 0. Parsons, Lewis Perrine, III.
G. Hamlin, j. F. Talbot, NJ. Glennan and
.
secretary, took part in the discussion.
1t was agreed to present q
programme for approval at
full meeting, to take place this afternoon
in the Governors room of the City Hall.
According to this plan the celebration will
commence October 9th, the anniversary of
the day on which the allied forces of France
and America erected the first parallel of
breastworks or Yorktown fortification. On
this day all the descendants of the promulga-
tors of the Declaration Of Independence will
be invited to attend. On the next day the
government authorities will receive the rep
resentatives of the French republic, which,
in all probability, will consist of visiting
feet and regiment. During their stay they
will be entertained by the Colonial States
with target practice in the morning, grand
dress parade in the afternoon and ball at
night. This entertainment will last through
out the twenty days of the celebration,
each feature being appropriately varied on
each day of the affair." Ii this plan be
adopted, special historical interest will be
attached to it, as the gun practice will be
carried on from day to day by ordnance re-
presenting various stages in the progress of
gunnery and gun manufacture from the
revolution to our own time. The music
will be furnished by Gilmore's Twenty sec
ond Regiment band.
Lateral the meeting of the Yorktown
programme sketched this afternoon was
referred to committee with instructions to
report at the next meeting.
NEW YORK, May Last night mass
meeting was held In Madison square for the
purpose of furthering the celebration of the
one bundredth anniversary of the
surrender of Lord Cornwallis, to
be held in Yorktown, Virginia,
October 18th next. The square was illumi-
mated with electric lights, and magnificent
display of fireworks made. About 800 per-
sons attended the meeting, which was an
enthusiastic one. Frederick P. Condert was
chairman, and he, with Gov. Holiday
and Hon. John Goode, of Virginia, Prof.
Cartier, John Austin Stevens, Judge Wood
bridge, and Judge Joseph Christian, of Vir-
ginia, delivered the speeches of the evening
The "Garde Lafayette" go strong surround
ed the platform during the meeting. At its
close an adjourned meeting of the associa-
tion was held, Hon. John Good, pre-
siding. Ex Governor Bedle, of New
Jersey, reported that the committee
had decided to commence the festivities on
October IS and to continue them on the
10Th, and perhaps longer. The committee
did not decide as to what nature the open
ing ceremonies would be. The report was
adopted and the meeting adjourned sine de-