T. J. Buckton.
Birmingham.
Termination "-by" (Vol. viii., p. 105.).—On going over an alphabetical list of places from A to G, I obtained these results:
| Lincoln | 65 |
| Leicester | 21 |
| York | 24 |
| Northampton | 9 |
| Cumberland | 7 |
| Norfolk | 6 |
| Westmoreland | 3 |
| Lancashire | 2 |
| Derby | 2 |
| Nottingham | 2 |
| Sussex | 1 |
| Total | 142 |
Results of a similar character were obtained in reference to -thorp, -trop, -thrup, or -drop; Lincoln again heading the list, but closely followed by Norfolk, then Leicester, Notts, &c.
B. H. C.
German Tree (Vol. viii., p. 619.; Vol. ix., p. 65.).—Eryx has mistaken my Query owing to its vagueness. When I said, "Is this the first notice of a German tree in England?" I meant, "Is this the first notice of a German-tree-in-England?" and not "Is this the first notice-in-England of a German-tree?" as Eryx understood it.
Zeus.
Celtic Etymology (Vol. ix., p. 40.).—If the h must be "exhasperated" (as Matthews used to say) in words adopted into the English language, how does it happen that we never hear it in hour, honour, heir, honest, and humour? Will E. C. H. be so kind as to inform me on this point? With regard to the word humble, in support of the h being silent, I have seen it stated in a dictionary, but by whom I cannot call to mind, in a list of words nearly spelled alike, and whose sound is the same:
"Humble, low, submissive."