Empire cartoon
Brian Monteith (Perspective, 17 February) refers to the description of the Union flag as the Butcher’s Apron. It is my impression that this description first arose among those who approved of British imperialism, in a cartoon in the respectable London Magazine.
The cartoon showed John Bull as a butcher, standing in front of his shop, knife in hand, bulldog at his feet, wearing an apron made of the Union flag. It is hardly surprising that those who disapproved of Empire then started to use this description.
But Brian may know better – perhaps the cartoon followed the description.
David Stevenson