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 284 Recollections of Dr. Johnson

with it ; that he had slept during the Night, and when he awoke in the morning, he did not immediately recollect what he was to suffer, and the moment that he did, he express'd the utmost horror and agony of mind outrageously vehement in his speech and in his looks till he went into the Chapel, and on his coming out of it his face express'd the most angelic peace and composure.

Dr. Johnson also told me that Dodd probably entertain'd some hopes of life even to the last moment 1, having been flatter'd by some of his medical friends that there was a chance of suspending its total extinction till he was cut down, by placing the knot of the rope in a particular manner behind his ear. That then he was to be carried to a convenient Place, where they would use their utmost endeavours to recover him. All this was done. The hangman observed their injunctions in fixing the rope, and as the cart drew off, said in Dodd's ear, you must not move an inch 2 ! But he struggled. Being carried to the place appointed, his friends endeavoured to restore him by bathing his Breast with warm water, which Dr. John son said was not so likely to have that effect as cold water. That a man wander'd round the Prison some Days before his execution, with bank notes in his Pocket to the amount of a thousand pounds, to bribe the jailor to let him escape.

I have been induced to mention all these particulars from a supposition (as I observed before) that they are but little known, having never heard any person speak of them (excepting that of the Bank notes) besides Dr. Johnson, who had his intelligence from the best authority, immediately after the

1 'Dr. Johnson told us that Dodd's * when cut down and put in coffins city friends stood by him so, that came both to life; one though he a thousand pounds were ready to be had been blooded died about eleven given to the gaoler if he would let at night ; the other, continuing alive, him escape.' Life, iii. 1 66. See ib. was put in Bridewell, where great n. 3 for the convict who ' could not numbers of people resorted to see find that any one who had two him. Having been always defective hundred pounds was ever hanged.' in his intellects he was not to be

2 In the Gentleman's Magazine for hanged, but to be taken care of in 1736, p. 549, it is reported that two a Charity House.' house-breakers hanged at Bristol, See also ante, ii. 143 n.

execution

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