418 Minor Anecdotes of Dr. Johnson.
who had been recently executed for forgery x . It proceeded as follows. Miss SEWARD. * I think, Dr. Johnson, you applied to see Mr. Jenkinson 2 in his behalf/ JOHNSON. 'Why, yes, Madam ; I knew it was a man having no interest, writing to a man who had no interest 3 ; but I thought with myself, when Dr. Dodd comes to the place of execution, he may say, " Had Dr. Johnson written in my behalf, I had not been here," and (with great emphasis] I could not bear the thought ! ' MlSS SEWARD. ' But, Dr. Johnson, would you have pardoned Dr. Dodd ? ' JOHNSON. * Madam, had I been placed at the head of the legislature, I should certainly have signed his death- warrant ; though no law, either human or divine, forbids our deprecating punishment, either from ourselves or others 4 /
In one of his visits to Lichfield, Dr. Johnson called upon Mrs. Gastrell of Stowe 5 , near that city. She opened the Prayer- book, and pointed out a passage, with the wish that he would read it. He began, ' We have heard (heerd) with our ears ' she stopped him, saying, ' Thank you, Doctor ! you have read all I wish. I merely wanted to know whether you pronounced that word heerd or hard 6 / 'Madam/ he replied, " heard" [heerd] is
1 On June 27, 1777. In August thief are yet shocked at the thought Johnson visited Lichfield, and after- of destroying him. His crime shrinks wards Ashbourne, where he gave to nothing compared with his misery.' Boswell an account of Dodd. Life, On Dodd's execution Johnson wrote iii. 139. to Boswell : ' Surely the voice of the
2 Charles Jenkinson, first Earl of public, when it calls so loudly, and Liverpool. Ib. iii. 147; ante, ii. 283. calls only for mercy,ought to be heard.'
3 Jenkinson had interest, for he Life, iii. 120. See also ib. iv. 207. had been Lord Bute's private secre- 5 Ib. ii. 470.
tary, and was one of the leaders 6 She must have said 'heerd or
among the *' King's Friends.' herd.' He told Boswell that his
4 This anecdote, which comes reason for pronouncing it heerd was through two people, must be received ' that if heard was pronounced herd, with caution. If Johnson used these there would be a single exception words it was no doubt in ' talking for from the English pronunciation of victory ' (ante, i. 390). In the Ram- the syllable ear, and he thought it bier, No. 114, he wrote: 'All but better not to have that exception/ murderers have at their last hour Ib. iii. 197. When I was an under- the common sensations of mankind graduate at Pembroke College one pleading in their favour. They who of the tutors always pronounced break would rejoice at the correction of a breek.
nonsense
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