Britannia and the British Empire what Marianne is to France or perhaps what Columbia is to the United States. Britannia became a very potent and more common figure in times of war, and represented British liberties and democracy. During the 1990s the term "Cool Britannia" (drawn from a humorous version by the Bonzo Dog Band of the song "Rule Britannia", with words by James Thomson [1700–1748], which is often used as an unofficial national anthem), was used to describe the contemporary United Kingdom. The phrase referred to the fashionable scenes of the era, with a new generation of pop groups and
Britannia (1772 EIC ship) at Sagar Island on 5 December. She reached Malacca on 29 December. On 21 January 1794 joined the squadron. The next day the squadron engaged two French privateers, "Vengeur", of 34 guns and 250 men, and "Résolue", of 26 guns and 230 men. "Britannia" captured "Vengeur", and "Nonsuch" captured "Résolue", with the French captains realising that further resistance would be pointless as "William Pitt" and "Houghton" came up. Eleven French sailors had been killed and 25 wounded; losses on "Résolue" were heavy. British losses were one killed and two wounded on "Britannia". "Britannia" continued her naval role for some months.