"
It is not supposed that the king here mentioned was any thing more
than a powerful nobleman, whose possessions, or castle and lands, were
situated in the north of England; in which division of the island
the ancient Bernicia was placed. As there is no evidence as to the
locality or limits of this ancient district, it is hoped that an
answer to the above query will afford a satisfactory solution to an
uncertainty that has long existed among Welsh antiquaries.
Gomer.
{336}
_John Bull_.--Might I beg to ask, through your columns, the origin of
the name "_John Bull_," as applied to Englishmen? I have frequently
heard the question asked; but I never heard it satisfactorily
answered. An antiquary once told me that it was so applied from the
number of _Johns_ among our countrymen, and the profusion of _bles_
in our language; an explanation which I placed to the credit of my
friend's ingenuity.
R.F.H.
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REPLIES.
LETTER ATTRIBUTED TO SIR ROBERT WALPOLE.
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