The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-02
FRENCH MISSION
 SAILS FOR HOME
Sentiments of Gratitude Ex-
 pressed on Battleship
MUCH PLEASED WITH TRIP
Col. Meaux Saint Marc In the Name of the President of France Drinks to the President of
 United States.

Boston, June 1.-The sentiments of grati- tude felt by the members of the mission delegated by the President of France to come to America to attend the unveiling at Washington of the statue of the Count de Rochambeau found final expression to- day on the battleship Gaulois, which con- veyed the mission to this country and which late this evening left for Lisbon, whence 1t will go to France.
 A dinner was served on the battleship Gaulois, attended by the special repre- sentatives of President Roosevelt, repre- sentatives of the state of Massachusetts and the city of Boston. the members of the French embassy at Washington and the members of the Rochambeau mission. Representing the President were Herbert Peirce, third assistant secretary of state; Colonel Thoe. A. Bingham of the United States army, Commander R. P. Rogers of the navy and MT. Edwin Morgan, sec retary of the Presidents commission. Massachusetts was represented by Adju- tant General Samuel Dalton and the city of Boston by Mayor Patrick A. Collins. The United States navy yard at Charles ton was represented by Commandant Rear Admiral Mortimer Johnson and oth CTS. Rear Admiral Francis J. Higginson was also present, together with Captain Henry Lyon and his flag lieutenant of the Olympia. All of those who are connected with the French embassy at Washington, headed by M. Jules Cambon, were in at- tendance, while the members of the mis- sion itself all gathered to pay final &C., knowledgment to their American welcome.
 Many Ladies Present.
 For the ladies there were present Mime. Cambon, the wife of the French am- bassador. the Countess de Rochambeau, Mrs. Herbert H. D. Pierce. Mime. de Mar gerie, Mime. Vignal, Mrs. J. Johnson and the Misses Johnson, the wife and daugh- ters of the rear admiral; the Misses Col lins daughters of the mayor, and oth- ers
 The dinner was served on the after deck of the Gaulois. Gen. Brugere. who occupied seat at the head of the table, proposed a toost. Speaking in French he said:
 II unite in my toast France and America, not the France and America of one hundred and twenty years ago, but the two republics of today-a toast to President Loubet of France and to Pres ident Roosevelt of the United States"
 Rear Admiral Higglnson then said: Tt seems to me that this Rochambeau mis- sion has been most apropos. It has touched a tender chord in the hearts of the American people. There have been unveiled here statues of Rochambeau and Lafayette and every time the president of the United States passes to the cxecu- tive mansion on the right he must en- counter the statue of Lafayette; on the left that of Rochambeau. He can never forget their meaning. representing as they do the friendship of the country of France In parting General. wish you bon voyage"
 Saint Marc Greatly Pleased.
 Lieut.. Col. Meaux Saint Marc, the per- sonal representative of President Loubet. testified to his great pleasure at being delegated as member of the mission by the head of the French republic. Tt Is an honor here today" he said '1n the name of the president of France, to hold my glass and drink to the president of your country, Theodore Roosevelt"
 Vice Admiral Fourinere wished. he said. to give assurance to the bonds of friendship between France and America.
 When the Gaulois steamed out of the harbor, accompanied by the battlesbin Kearsarge and the cruiser Olympia. she fired the national salute of twenty-one guns, which was returned by the Olym. pia.
 Then at Boston Light, where the escort- ing squadron took leave or the French man of war. the same cruiser fired a sa- lute Of seventeen guns in honor of Gen. eral Brugere and then salute of fifteen guns in honor of Vice Admiral Fourni- ere.