ants of the world before Tyre was called into
existence; their port being what the Greeks called Seleucia, when they
attempted to revive its ancient greatness. It is probably to them that the
discovery of Britain is to be attributed; and it was probably from them
that it received its name.

In G. W.'s communication, a derivation of the name from _barat-anac_, "the
land of tin," is suggested. He does not say by whom, but he seems to
disclaim it as his own. I do not recollect to have met with it before; but
it appears to me, even as it stands, a far more plausible one than
_bruit-tan_, "the land of tin:" the former term being supposed to be Celtic
for _tin_, and the latter a termination with the sense of _land_: or than
_brit-daoine_, "the painted (or separated) people."

I am, however, disposed to think that the name is not of Phoenician origin,
but was given by their northern neighbours, whom I have mentioned as their
predecessors in commerce. These were evidently of kindred origin, and spoke
a language of the same class; and I think it all but certain, that in the
Assyrian name for tin (_anna_) we have the name given to it by this people,
from whom the Assyrians obtained it. "The land of tin" would be in their
language _barat_ (or probably _barit_) _anna_, from which the transition to
Britannia presents no difficulty. I assume here that _b-r-t_, without
expressed vowels, is a Phoenician term for "land of." I assume it on the
authority of the person, whoever he may be, that first gave the derivation
that G. W. quotes. I have no Phoenician authority within reach: but I can
readily believe the statement, knowing that _banit_ would be the Assyrian
word used in such a compound, and that _n_, _r_, and _b_ are perpetually
interchanged in the Semitic languages, and notoriously so in this very
root. _Ummi banitiya_, "of the mother who produced me," is pure Assyrian;
and so would _banit-anna_, "the producer of tin," be; all names of lands
being feminine in Assyrian.

It would be curious if the true derivation of the world-renowned name of
Britain should be ascertained for the first time through an Assyrian
medium.

EDW. HINCKS.

Killyleagh, Down.

* * * * *

As there are several Queries in the Note of G. W. which the Celtic language
is capable of elucidating, I beg to offer a few derivations from that
language.

Britain is derived from _briot_, painted, and _tan_, a country--_i. e._
"the