Toasts Proposed during the Revolutionary War

I had a wonderful time recently at the launch for my novel, The Chamomile. Several of the guests made the following toasts that were proposed during the Revolutionary War era.

Toast 1

George Washington attended a Public Dinner at Frances Tavern on Pearl Street in New York where he would propose 13 Toasts with Hot Butter'd Rum.'

1. To the United States of America,

2. To His Most Christian Majesty Louis XVI of France;

3. To the United Netherlands;

4. To the King of Sweden;

5. To the American Army;

6. To the Fleet and Armies of France which have served in America;

7. To the memory of those heroes who have fallen for our freedom;

8. May our country be grateful to her military children;

9. May justice support what courage has gained;

10. To the indicators of the rights of mankind in every quarter of the globe,

11. May America be an asylum to the persecuted of the Earth;

12. May a close union of states guard the temple they have erected to Liberty;

13. May the remembrances of the day be a lesson to princes.

Toast 2

Here's to the four hinges of friendship --

Swearing, lying, stealing & drinking.

When you swear, swear to your country;

When you lie, lie for love;

When you steal, steal from bad company;

And when you drink, DRINK WITH ME!

Toast 3

Benjamin Franklin’s delivered a toast at Versailles while he was American emissary to France. On this occasion the toasting was led off by the British ambassador, who said, "To George the Third, who, like the sun in its meridian, spreads a luster throughout and enlightens the world." The next toast came from the French minister, who said, "To the illustrious Louis the Sixteenth, who, like the moon, sheds his mild and benevolent rays on and influences the globe."

Franklin finished the round: "To George Washington, commander of the American armies, who, like Joshua of old, commanded the sun and the moon to stand still, and both obeyed.”

Toast 4

"To the enemies of our country! May they have cobweb breeches, a porcupine saddle, a hard-trotting horse, and an eternal journey.”

Toast 5

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." - Ben Franklin

Toast 6

To the signers of the Declaration of Independence: From this act of treason against the British Crown sprang a chart of Liberty and Emancipation broad as the universe and filled with glad tiding and a good will towards men. They who periled their lives by this noble act will live and be cherished in the hearts of free men.

Toast 7

To Authors -- The queerest of animals; their tales come out of their heads!