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 (1774 ship) "Britannia" left Sydney on 2 August 1797 for China, where she would pick up a cargo of tea. She initially followed the route that "Scarborough" followed. "Britannia" sailed north and into the region of the Marshall Islands. On 19 September she sighted an island that Dennott named "Hunter Island" (Kili Island). Canoes brought out some islanders who wanted to trade breadfruit. The next day she sighted an island in the Ailinglaplap Atoll that Dennott named "Lamber Island". Natives again came out to trade but "Britannia" sailed on. Later that day "Britannia" did stop at an island in Namu Atoll that