Johnson’s last contribution to the Dodd controversy before the hanging was a set of observations for the newspapers. The manuscript is Hyde 37 (24). The date 25 June is penciled in at the top, probably by Allen. Among the Yale Boswell Papers is a single octavo leaf with the heading “Dr. Dodd.” Over it Boswell wrote, “This paper copies of which were given about in London and inserted in the newspapers was written by Dr. Johnson.” The printing in the Public Advertiser for 25 June, however, seems to pre-date the broadside because it says “This day” rather than “Yesterday,” and because it adheres more closely to the text of the manuscript. We use the version in the Public Advertiser as copy-text but note differences between it, the manuscript, and the octavo, which seems the most polished text of the three. As usual, we also note cross-outs and insertions in the manuscript.

This day will be conveyeda to the Secretary of State,b a petition in favour of Dr. Dodd,c signed by twenty-threed thousand hands. On this occasion it is natural to consider,e

That in all communities penal laws have been relaxed as particular reasons have emerged.f

That a life eminently useful,g a single action eminently good, or even the power of being useful to the publick, have been sufficient to protect the life of a delinquent.h

That no arbiter of life and death has ever been censured for granting the life of a criminal to honesti and powerful solicitation.j

That the man for whom a nation petitionsk must be presumed to have merit uncommon in kind or in degree;l for however the mode of collecting subscriptions,m or the right judgmentn exercised by the subscribers,o may be open to dispute, it is at lastp plain that something is done for this man, that was never done for any other,q and government,r which must proceed upon general views, may rationally conclude,s that this mant is something better than other offenders have been, or has done something more than others have done.u

That though the people cannot judge of the administration of justice so well as their governors,v yet their voice has always been regarded.w

That this is a case in which the petitioners determine against their own interest;x and thosey forz whose protection the law was madea entreatb its relaxation, and our governorsc cannot be charged with the consequences which the people bring upon themselves.d

That as this is a case without example, it will probably be without consequences, and many ages will elapse before such a crime is again committed by such a man.e

That though life be spared, justice may be satisfied with ruin, imprisonment, exile, infamy and penury.f

That if the people now commit an error, their errorg is on the part of mercy;h and that perhaps history cannot showi a time in which the life of a criminal,j guilty of nothing abovek fraud, was refused to the cryl of nations,m to the jointn supplication of three and twenty thousands.o