Upon the first day of January, 1801, the _Second Union Jack_, the “Union Jack” of to-day, No. 420, superseded the Flag of King JAMES and Queen ANNE. The “Union” with Ireland rendered a change necessary in the Union Jack, in order to incorporate with its blazonry the Banner of ST. PATRICK, No. 421, _arg., a saltire gu._ There seems good reason to believe that the so-called Cross of St. Patrick had little, if indeed any, separate or prior existence. The process that had been adopted before was again brought into action, but now a single compound device had to be formed by the combination of a cross and two saltires, Nos. 418, 419, and 421. As before, in this new Flag the blue field of ST. ANDREW forms the field: then the two Saltires, the one white and the other red, are formed into a single compound Saltire counter-changed of the two tinctures alternating, the white having precedence; a narrow edging of white is next added to each red side of this new figure, to represent the white field of St. Patrick, as the narrow edging of white about the red cross represented the white field of ST. GEORGE in No. 418; and, finally, the red cross of St. George fimbriated with white, as in the First Jack, is charged over all. Such is the Second Union Jack, No. 420. In this compound device it will be observed that the _broad diagonal white_ members represent the _silver saltire_ of St. Andrew, No. 419: that the _red diagonal_ members represent the _saltire gules_ of St. Patrick, No. 421, and that the _narrow diagonal white_ lines are added in order to place this _saltire gules on a field argent_: that the _diagonal red and the broad diagonal white members_ represent the two Saltires of St. Andrew and St. Patrick in combination: and that the _fimbriated red cross_ in the front of the goodly alliance declares the presence of the symbol of St. George. Sir HARRIS NICHOLAS has suggested that this flag may have acquired its name of “Jack” (“Union” is obvious enough) from the original author of the First Union Flag, King JAMES, who, in the Heralds’ French language, would be styled _Jacques_: and so the Flag would be called “Jacques’ Union,” which would easily settle down into “Jack’s Union,” and finally would as easily become “Union Jack.” The Second Union Flag is always to be hoisted as it is represented in No. 420, the diagonal white having precedence in the first canton. To reverse the proper display of the Flag implies distress or danger; or such a procedure (very often, as I am aware, unconsciously adopted, through ignorance of the real meaning of the Flag itself) subjects the Union Jack to degradation. [Illustration: No. 422.--The Red Ensign.] By a recent warrant Lords Lieutenant fly the Union Jack charged with a sword fesseways. The ENSIGNS now in use are:--