W. H. F.
Boswell's "Johnson" (Vol. viii., p. 439.).—
"Crescit, occulto velut arbor ævo,
Fama Marcelli: micat inter omnes
Julium sidus, velut inter ignes
Luna minores."—Hor. Carm. I. xii. 45-48.
F. C. has overlooked the point of Boswell's remark, viz. that Johnson had been "inattentive to metre."
C. Forbes.
Temple.
Pronunciation of "Humble" (Vol. viii., p. 393.).—I venture once more to trespass on your pages, in the hope of helping to settle the right pronunciation of humble. In the controversy respecting it, the derivation of the word should not be overlooked, as it is a most important point; for I consider that the improper use of the h has arisen from people not knowing from whence the word was taken. Now, as I am of opinion that it will go far to prove that the h should be silent in humble, by giving a list of the radical words in the English language in which that letter is silent, and their derivations, I beg to do so: premising that they are derived from the Celtic language, in which the h is not used in the same manner that it is in other languages: