_Round Robin_ (Vol. iii., p. 353.).--The "little predie round-robin," mentioned by Dr. Heylin, was no doubt a small pancake. (See Halliwell's _Archaic and Provincial Dictionary_, under "Round Robin.") Of the derivation of the petition also called a round robin, I find the following account in the _Imperial Dictionary_:-- "ROUND ROBIN, n. [Fr. _rond_ and _ruban_.] A written petition, memorial, or remonstrance signed by names in a ring or circle. The phrase is originally derived from a custom of the French officers, who, in signing a remonstrance to their superiors, wrote their names in a circular form so that it might be impossible to ascertain who had headed the list. It is now used to signify an act by which a certain number of individuals bind themselves to pursue a certain line of conduct." The round robin sent to Dr. Johnson on the subject of his epitaph on Goldsmith is well known. In speaking of it Boswell states that the sailors make use of it "when they enter into a conspiracy, so as not to let it be known who puts his name first or last to the paper." C. H. COOPER. Cambridge, May 3. 1851. _Derivation of the Word "Yankee"_ (Vol. iii., p. 260.).--Your correspondent J. M., and M. Philarète Charles, are both incorrect in saying that this derivation is not given in any English or American work. In the _Poetical Works of John Trumbull, LL.D._, published at Hartford (U.S.), 1820, in two volumes, in the Appendix, appears the following Note: _"Yankies._--The first settlers of New England were mostly emigrants from London and its vicinity, and exclusively styled themselves the English. The Indians, in attempting to utter the word _English_, with their broad guttural accent, gave it a sound which would be nearly represented in this way, _Yaunghees;_ the letter _g_ being pronounced hard, and approaching to the sound of _k_ joined with a strong aspirate, like the Hebrew _cheth_, or the Greek _chi_, and the _l_ suppressed, as almost impossible to be distinctly heard in that combination. The Dutch settlers on the river Hudson and the adjacent country, during their long contest concerning the right of territory, adopted the name, and applied it in contempt to the inhabitants of New England. The British of the lower class have since extended it to all the people of the United States. This seems the most probable origin of the term. The pretended Indian tribe of Yankoos does not appear to have ever had an existence; as little can we believe in an etymological derivation of the word from ancient Scythia or Siberia, or that it was ever the name of a horde of savages in any part of the world." I some time ago thought of sending you a copy of this "Note," but had forgotten it, until recalled to my memory by reading J. M.'s extract. T. H. KERSLEY, A.B. King William's College, Isle of Man.