rted his old tutor in his extremity. But Mr Jesse says
that he heard it related by a person who lived at the period, that at a
preliminary examination of the unfortunate divine, Lord Chesterfield, on
some pretence, placed the forged document in Dodd's hands, with the kind
intention that he should take the opportunity of destroying it, but the
latter wanted either the courage or the presence of mind enough to avail
himself of the occasion. This, however, is scarcely an excuse, for,
certainly, it was not for Dr Dodd to destroy the fatal document. If Lord
Chesterfield had wished to suppress that vital evidence he could have
done so.

Dr Johnson exerted himself to the utmost to try and save poor Dodd; but
George III. was inexorable. Respecting this benevolent attempt of the
Doctor, Chalmers writes as follows:--

Dr Johnson appears indeed in this instance to have been more swayed by
popular judgment than he would perhaps have been willing to allow. The
cry was--"the honour of the clergy;" but if the honour of the clergy was
tarnished, it was by Dodd's crime, and not his punishment; for his life
had been so long a disgrace to his cloth that he had deprived himself of
the sympathy which attaches to the first deviation from rectitude, and
few criminals could have had less claim to such a display of popular
feeling.'

All applications for the Royal mercy having failed, Dr Dodd prepared
himself for death, and with a warmth of gratitude wrote to Dr Johnson as
follows:--

'June 25, Midnight.

'Accept, thou GREAT and GOOD heart, my earnest and fervent thanks and
prayers for all thy benevolent and kind efforts in my behalf.--Oh! Dr
Johnson! as I sought your knowledge at an early hour in my life, would
to Heaven I had cultivated the love and acquaintance of so excellent
a man!--I pray God most sincerely to bless you with the highest
transports--the infelt satisfaction of HUMANE and benevolent
exertions!--And admitted, as I trust I shall be, to the realms of bliss
before you, I shall hail YOUR arrival there with transport, and rejoice
to acknowledge that you were my comforter, my advocate, and my FRIEND.
God be EVER with YOU!'

Dr Johnson's reply.

'To the Reverend Dr Dodd.

'Dear Sir,--That which is appointed to all men is now coming upon you.
Outward circumstances, the eyes and thoughts of men, are below the
notice of an immortal being about to stand the trial for eternity,
before the Suprem