In the thinly disguised allegory of _Atalantis Major_, _Atalantis_ is,
of course, Britain. _Olreeky_, or _Old Reeky_, or simply _Reeky_, is
still used as an affectionate local term for the city of Edinburgh,
prone as it is to be enshrouded in mists and smoke in the early
morning. _Tartary_ is France, and the French are referred to as either
the _Tartarians_ or the _Barbarians_. Jacobites are also indicated by
the name _Tartarians_, since the Pretender's cause was actively
supported by Louis XIV. _Japan_ is Spain and _China_ stands for
Holland. The characters who appear in _Atalantis Major_ are (in the
order that they are mentioned):
_The Duke de Sanquarius_ (p. 14) is James Douglas, second Duke of
Queensberry and Duke of Dover (1662-1711);
_The Earl of Stairdale_ (p. 15) is John Dalrymple, second Earl of
Stair (1673-1747);
_The Earl of Crawlinfordsay_ (p. 16) is John Lindsay, nineteenth
Earl of Crawford (d. 1713);
_The Prince of Greeniccio of the ancient Blood of Argyllius_ (p.
17) is John Campbell, second Duke of Argyll, Baron Chatham and Earl
of Greenwich (1678-1742);
_The Earl of Marereskine_ (p. 18) is John Erskine, eleventh Earl of
Mar of the Erskine line (1675-1732);
_The Prince de Heymuthius_ (p. 18) is John Churchill, first Duke of
Marlborough and Baron Churchill of Aymouth (1650-1722);
_The Earl of Dolphinus_ (p. 18) is Sidney Godolphin (1645-1712);
_Bellcampo, Lord of the Isles_ (p. 19) is Archibald Campbell, first
and only Earl of Islay (pronounced "Isle-ah") and brother and heir
of the second Duke of Argyll (1682-1761);
_One of the Ministers_ (p. 22) is Thomas Miller of Kirkliston;
_John ----, his Majesty's Hangman_ (p. 22) is John White;
_Bradalbino_ (p. 24) is John Campbell, first Earl of Breadalbane
(1635-1716);
_Leslynus_ (p. 24) is David Leslie, third Earl of Leven
(1660-1728);
_One of the family of Boiilio_ (p. 24) is David Boyle, first Earl
of Glasgow (1666-1733);
_The Prince de Rosymonte_ (p. 34) is James Graham, fourth Marquis
and first Duke of Montrose (d. 1742).
The fact that, in several cases, the names used by Defoe are developed
from family names and not the title seems to offer support for the
contention that _Atalantis Major_ was intended primarily for a Scottish
audience. Further, Defoe's name for Marlborough--_Heymuthius_--comes
from his one Scottish title, Baron Aymouth (now Eyemouth, a fishing
town on the southeast coast of Scotland), and not from his better-known
English title, the Duke of Marlborough.
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