MDDM Chapter 17: Notes, Question

[jbor]

"the War of '39" (175.14) Robert Jenkins, an English merchant captain,
trading from Jamaica, alleged that in 1731 his sloop had been boarded by a
Spanish *guarda costa*, and that, though no proof of smuggling had been
found, he had been tortured, and his ear torn off. The said ear--some said
he had lost it in the pillory--he produced in 1738 in the House of Commons
and so helped to force Walpole into the 'War of Jenkins' Ear' against Spain
in 1739. Jenkins was later appointed Governor of St Helena.

"Honorable John" (175.20) Another reference to the East India Company, which
was known both as "John Company" and the "Honorable East India Company". It
is said that the "John" in 'John Company' is a perversion of 'Hon', but it
is possible that the name is allied to the familiar John Bull, the nickname
for an Englishman or Englishmen collectively. The name 'John Bull' is used
in Dr John Arbuthnot's satire, _Law is a Bottomless Pit_ (1712), republished
as _The History of John Bull_. Arbuthnot did not invent the name but
established it. (Brewer's)

177.2 up: Tortoise Pick? Is this just a description of the shape of
Mournival's "Mandoline", or ... ?

best