American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Manuscript recording nine toasts that were offered in celebration of the young American government's recently formed alliance with France, 1p, 6 1/2 x 5 1/4 in. mounted to lightweight cardstock (heavily toned, adhesive repair at center, loss at center affecting text, small circular pinholes at edgelines). Verso with inscription "In the year 1778 / Anson W. Jackson." 

The toasts, in order: "1st To the King of France / 2nd To the European Friendly Powers / 3rd To the American States & Success to them / 4th To the Honourable Continental Congress / 5th To the Queen of France / 6th May the Liberties of American Independence be Perpetuated to the [?] Posterity / 7th In Memory of those Brave HEROES that fell in Defence of American Liberty / 8th Union to the United States of America till time shall be no more / 9th Liberty with danger is Preferable to Slavery and Bondage."

French for "fire of joy," a "feu de joie" is a rifle salute fired by soldiers on a ceremonial occasion each soldier firing in succession along the ranks to make a continuous sound. Spelled phonetically by Americans as a "Fude Joy," these rifle salutes are documented at several important Revolutionary War-era celebrations. The Diary of Captain John Davis for 4 July 1781 states, "This day we had a Fude joy in celebration of the Independence of America." The Revolutionary War Journals of Henry Dearborn, 1775-1783, records that following the American victory of General Lincoln at Charles Town, South Carolina, "in Consequence of the above news, we fired a fude Joy...." Most notably, at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, on 6 May 1778, George Washington ordered the entire camp gathered at the Grand Parade to celebrate with a feu de joie the newly formed alliance between France and the United States. Later that evening, Washington and his officers toasted French intervention and American independence. Given the penciled date on the manuscript offered here and the substance of "The Tosts that ware Drank on the Day of Fude Joy," this manuscript toast was likely recorded in celebration of the French alliance. 

A remarkable manuscript demonstrating American patriotism and pride at the birth of a new nation.