The following is the content of an undated M/S in JJ's writing which I was given by my nephew Pat Carmody, on an occasion related to the celebration of my 80th birthday. He must have got if via my sister Maureen Carmody (1916-2003) who left papers with him. I think it is worth reproducing, as it shows how isloated and neglected he felt in his last years. RHWJ 15/11/2009.)

Highly confidential: Professor Johnston's 'Apologia pro Vita Sua'

I sent out various copies for review, and also copies to the libraries of various learned institutions, including my alms mater Trinity College Dublin and my second alma mater Lincoln College Oxford. In December of the year 1971 I submitted two copies to TCD with the request that they give me an honorary Litt D on the strength of it.

In the 21st of February 1972 I had a letter (semi-officially) from Dr Louden Ryan FTCD in which he informed me "for my own ears" that one examiner had already sent in his report and "it is very favourable". But the second examiner was in no hurry. All through March I waited with growing impatience and on 30th of March Dr Ryan wrote to tell me "I have now got a very firm promise that the report will be with McMurry by the end of this week". The end of that week came and still no examiners' report.

April cam and no further reliable information but rumours reaced me that the second examiner's report would be much less favourable. I then decided I would wait no longer but try my luck elsewhere.

Fortunately I had sent a copy of my Querist book to my Oxford college (Lincoln) early in 1972 merely as an act of courtest. Quite lately they sent me a copy of their annual magazine in which there appeared an unsolicited review of my book as a prominent feature. This coincided aptly with a growing disinclination to take the TCD degree and a desire to ascertain on what terms I would et an Oxford Litt D. So far I have done nothing positive.

All this time I did not know that the Provost was unaware of the goings on in the committee of the body that determines these matters. The question is "where to we go from here?".

My impression is that he probably used this paper as a threat to try to get the TCD machinery to work with a greater sense of urgency, given his age and condition. He aspired to end his life with the title 'Dr', a status which he had omitted to pick up in his younger days, due to the pressures of the then current events, of which this hypertext and my Century book is a partial record. He felt his days were numbered; in fact he died shortly after his degree was in the end conferred. Note that it was not an 'honorary degree'; it was by report of external examiners, a fact that people I encountered at the time found extraordinary. I recollect helping him up the steps to receive it, shortly after Shostakovich had received his honorary degree. So on the whole I think the foregoing should be on record. RHWJ 15/11/2009.

Roy Johnston (date)