the forgery laws were made sanguinary purposely for the commercial world. Hence they, as representing the City of London, the very heart of commerce, might fairly ask for lenity. The petition was adopted finally, though with reluctance.

This application was prepared by Johnson, though he afterwards seemed to complain of their having "mended it." *

One of the great subjects of conversation outside was the behaviour of Lord Chesterfield. It was believed he could have saved his tutor; and certainly in those times, when a rich and influential nobleman could do much that was illegal, it seemed likely that some method could have been found to check the law's progress. It is hard for us to know, at this distance of time, what could have been done; but it has been shown that he was all but helpless in the matter. The public made no

* Strange to say, the City petitioners marvellously improved the composition, both in sense and force, as will be seen at a glance, by comparing a passage or two. Johnson wrote, "and we have reason to believe has executed his ministry with great fidelity and efficacy;" which, besides the uncertainty of the assertion, is a little too general. For this the "menders" substituted the more forcible, "which in many instances has produced the happiest effect." Johnson wrote, "that he has been the first initiator, or a very earnest and active promoter of several modes of useful charity." Meaning to convey with nice logical accuracy that he had founded some charities, and forwarded others which he had no share in founding. The common councillors removed the uncertainty of the disjunctive, substituting an "and." They inserted an humble "encouraged by your Majesty's well-known clemency," substituted "not an unworthy object of pardon" for "not unfit object," and pruned down many of Johnson's correct but clumsy "thats."

such allowance; and his share in the proceeding was long recollected. When he said, jocularly, to the well-known Colonel Berkeley, who had had several encounters on Hounslow Heath, "Berkeley, how long is it since you shot a highwayman?" the other replied, promptly, "How long is it since you hung a parson?" Seven years later he was named ambassador to Madrid; set off, and stayed nearly two years in the country round Marseilles, drawing his salary all the time. This job caused loud complaints. He, however, was a great favourite of the king's, having "pleasing and lively manners," which, perhaps, he learnt from his luckless tutor. To improve this royal intercourse, he actually for years gave up his fine seat at Bretby, and took a little place near Windsor. He lived into the year 1815.

On Friday, June 6, was witnessed, in the chapel of Newgate, a very strange spectacle, and one of a very tragic significance. The convicts were all gathered there; and from the pulpit a sermon was delivered to them by a clergyman who was himself a convict and a condemned convict. It must have been an awful and deeply impressive sight. And indeed we can conceive that nothing could have more weight, or have been more profitable for the abandoned miscellany of convicts about him, than some earnest words addressed to them from one who was addressing them, as it were, half way out of his grave. A truly sincere penitent would have eagerly

* This story was told long ago by Wraxall, who had it from Colonel Berkeley, through Lord Sandwich. He is now confirmed by Colonel Berkeley's son, Mr. Grantley Berkeley.

L

seized on the opportunity. But it looks as though this hapless Dodd had clutched at it only as another possible plank to which he might cling, and get to shore. Johnson was made to write the sermon.* It was then carefully altered, pruned, and added to, in Newgate-and even furnished with notes; for the truth was, it was intended to be preached, not to the miserable convicts in the gaol, but to the great London congregation outside. All this looks like some of the old theatricals; but still, in such dark and desperate straits, it is hard to deal severely with him. Very shortly "The Convict's Address to his Unhappy Brethren" (a melodramatic title) was published, and greedily read.

Great hopes were now begun to be entertained, and not without reason. At times his fate did seem to rest on, literally, the turn of a card. It was debated many times. The king could not make up his mind. Walpole represents Lord Mansfield as playing a most malignant part. It was artfully put, as a question between that dreadful and dangerous entity, "the people" and the royal power. The people were growing very daring, and this looked like pressure. It was said, even before the judges had given their opinion, he had declared that the law should be carried out.

* Johnson began very strikingly, "You see with what confusion I now stand before you. No more in the pulpit of instruction, but in the humble seat with yourselves." Dodd, however, weakened it by intruding a passage preceding it. He also added "notes"-a shape of his almost incorrigible vanity. Johnson was naturally proud of a compliment of Miss Porter's: "When I read Dr. Dodd's Sermon to the Prisoners, I said Dr. Johnson could not make a better."

on.

It has been popularly said that the king had declared that if he pardoned Dodd, he would have considered that he had murdered the Perreaus-two forgers who had been executed the year before. This was actually imputed to Johnson, which was improbable on the face of it; but with more likelihood was said by Hawkins to have appeared in a newspaper. It had now come to June. The time was drawing The exertions were being redoubled and made with almost frantic ardour. In the second week of this month the Recorder "made his report to his Majesty of such prisoners as were lying under sentence of death in Newgate-viz. Doctor William Dodd and Joseph Harris." It is a horrible testimony to the barbarous code of the times, that Joseph Harris's offence was the robbing of a stage-coach passenger of two half guineas and about seven shillings." But no one seems to have ever dreamt of interfering for the life of luckless Joseph Harris.

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On the 15th of June the privy council assembled, and deliberated for the last time on the case of the several prisoners. A final decision was at last arrived at and it was to be read in the London papers of that evening that a warrant had been made out for the execution of Doctor Dodd, on Friday, the 27th.

CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH.

THERE is reason to believe that it was Lord Mansfield who really decided the question of Dodd's fate. It was the popular impression, and it was, besides, exactly the view that we should expect a man of such rigid constitutional views as he entertained, to take.* Walpole, too, had heard it on good authority; and Wraxall had been told of it by one who was actually present at the council. Walpole had heard that he had "indecently" declared for execution before even the judges had given judgment. The story went that the king had been long undecided and irresolute, then had finally turned to the Chief Justice and had asked his opinion, and on finding that he was against mercy, had taken up the without a word and signed the dreadful paper.

pen

Dodd himself had

*Lord Campbell, in his Lives, passes over Mansfield's share in this transaction without a word of notice.

In ordinary criminal cases there was no regular warrant signed, and the judge merely wrote in a column opposite the prisoner's name