Re: The Finnic issue

That at least part of the British population also spoke a Venetic language, specifically that part which had been conquered by the Belgae, see Udolph's listing of *balg- toponyms in England in
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/60821
cf
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/60815

which unfortunately I haven't gotten around to translating yet.
 

*****GK: Again this may have relevance for more ancient times (in the sense that the Belgae kept some substratic elements in their tongue). But here is what Tacitus says about the Britannic language of his era (and he should know given his family connections): "In universum tamen aestimanti Gallos vicinam insulam occupasse credibile est. Eorum sacra deprehendas ac superstitionum persuasiones; sermo haud multum diversus" (Agricola, 11) Transl: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Agricola#29

"But a general survey inclines me to believe that the Gauls established themselves in an island so near to them. Their religious belief may be traced in the strongly-marked British superstition. The language differs but little"

So: the language of the Aestii acc. to Tacitus was close to that of the Britons, and that of the Britons differed but little from that of the Gauls... *****