_The Letter "h" in "humble"_ (Vol. viii., p. 54).--The question has been
raised by one of your correspondents (and I have not observed any reply
thereto), as to whether it is a peculiarity of Londoners to pronounce the
_h_ in _humble_. If, as a Londoner by birth and residence, I might be
allowed to answer the Query, I should say that {230} the _h_ is never heard
in _humble_, except when the word is pronounced from the pulpit. I believe
it to be one of those, either Oxford or Cambridge, or both, peculiarities,
of which no reasonable explanation can be given.
I should be glad to hear whether any satisfactory general rule has been
laid down as to when the _h_ should be sounded, and when not. The only rule
which occurs to me is to pronounce it in all words coming to us from the
Celtic "stock," and to pass it unsounded in those which are of Latin
origin. If this rule be admitted, the pronunciation sanctioned by the
pulpit and Mr. Dickens is condemned.