"TO MR. DELL, BROMSGROVE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 602, 17 September 1853, Page 7

"TO MR. DELL, BROMSGROVE.

"Tuesday, tha 14th Dec, 1852. " Sir— ln our own names, and in behalf of our schoolfellows, we beg to offer the fullest apology in our power, for the unwarrantable outrage committed on your person on Tuesday, the 30th of November.

" [t was unjustifiable as an interference with your sentiments, which you bad a full right to express, and as offending against the personal security which the law demands for every one.

" We can assure you that it was far from our intention to wound your feelings or insult your opinions ; and we had no idea at the time, that what we looked upon at the time as a youthful joke, would have been viewed in so serious a light. We sincerely hope that the acceptance of the apology at our hands will at once obliterate a remembrance of the past, in a renewal of good feeling for the future. " R. Gkeir, "Wm. Kbb, and 5 others. " Bromsgrove Grammar School.

The following is the amusing account of the aerio-cornic affair given by our contemporary the Worcester Herald .• —

"Curious Instance of Lynch Law. — Many of our readers are aware that the tradesmen belonging to the Society of Friends refused to close their shops on the day of the Duke's funeral, and introduced a bill into their windows justifying their refusal to do homage to the memory of a man whose fame was principally of the military kind. One of the Friends, a tradesman of a country town, was pitched upon as the scape-goat of his sect for the offence against public opinion. Things went on in their usual course in the * Friend's ' establishment till the last day of the last month, when a small boy called upon the proprietor about noon, and delivered a verbal message to him to the effect that his presence was required on business at the Grammar School, at the study of Mr. , at four o'clock in the afternoon. the 30th of November was market day at , and the ' Friend ' therefore could ill spare the time for the visit, but he knew that the boys at the Grammar School were the sons of rich parents, and anticipating, we presume, that he was about to receive an extensive order for goods in his line, he made himself tidy and neat, as became a man of his sobriety, and walked down to the school. Having passed through the principal's grounds, he turned into the school-yard and enquired the way to Mr. — — 'a study. Half a dozen boys at once pointed out a door on his right hand, and showed by their looks that they took more than a common interest in their visitor. Precisely as the 'clock was striking four the ' Friend's ' knuckles were rapping at the door thus indicated by the boys. ' Come in,' cried a voice, and in he went. In the room, which was rather large for a schoolboy's study, he found half a dozen of the larger boys. ' How do you, Mr. ? ' was the polite salutation of some one. ' Pretty well, I thank thee — how art thou? said the Quaker. 'Ah! you are a gentleman — you are very punctnal' said the treacherous student, affecting an easy, off-hand manner. ' What might be the business I was wanted upon?' quietly asked the ' Friend.' But the explanation, which did not seem to come readily, was cut short by some of the lads who bad followed the Quaker in suddenly slipping a rope over the 'Friend's' shoulders, and in an instant the arms of the astonished man of peace were fast to his sides. The ' Friend ' was in the prime of life, and able to make a tolerable impression upon the shins of his enemies with his solid shoes, but true to his non-resistance principles he etirred not a tee, and did nought but remonstrate and entreat. At firot he was paralysed with astonishment; but on recovering his self possession in some degree he humbly inquired of the students what was the nature of his otFcoce. The room was now filled with 1 scholars, who answered with shouts, ' Wellington,' * Wellington,' and with a second rope they made his legs as fast as his arras. The 'Friend's' meek questions, 'What are you doing ? ' ' What have 1 done to deserve this ? ' met with no response, except ' Oh, it's all right; tell you alter a bit,' though the quietuess of the Quaker seemed much to astonish the lade I'he operation of binding occupied several minutei, aod when it was over, the * Friend '

was pushed into a chair. * Now then, now then/ cried the boys, and surrounded the chair. 4Oh ! ' cried the ' Friend ' in great tribulation, 'for heaven's sake preserve me; oh, don't injure me, for the sake of my family, don't.' His entreaties fell upon deaf ears, for the boys shouldered the chair and marched him into the play-ground. After poor non-resistance had been paraded as long as the conspirators thought fit, a couple of rugs were produced, and then it was that the ' Friend ' began to fear that the lads meant nothing short of murder, and that the mode of execution was to be suffocation. He again resumed his petitions for mercy, but his tormenters appeared to be infatuated, for ibey seized the rugs, pitched him upon them, and then as many boys as could take bold of the edges of the rug seized it, and he was tossed into the air after the renowned example of Sancho Panza. At this juncture fear, and the unusual motion rendered the victim partially insensible, and he was tossed over and over again, till his enemies had no strength left in them. Then he was replaced in the chair, and carried back to the place where he was first treacherously inveigled. Afcer due time had been allowed him to collect his scattered wits, he was told that his offence lay in putting the bill in his window respecting the Duke of Wellington, and he was ordered to remove it immediately on arriving at home. The Duke was a countryman of theirs, and his memory should not be insulted. The ' Friend ' declared that he was a man of peace, and could not therefore sanction war ; he thought it was hia duty to keep the bill in the window. Finding him thus firm, they changed their mode of attack : from tossing him they condescended to flatter him. ' You are a brick old boy,' said one. * You have stuck to your principles like a martyr, but do take that bill away. If you'll take it down you shall be the jolliest fellow in the town.' ' No,' said the man of peace humbly, ' I feel I never Bball be ; I feel myself the lowest of the low.' At last they unbound him. and be got up to proceed homeward. ' Have you done with me ?' he quietly enquired. ' Oh, yes ; you're a Christian ; a jolly brick to your principles, we give you credit for that.' 'I thank you,' returned jthe Qaaker, 'for not breaking my bones, or injuring toy body,' and then he walked calmly away from the study. The conspirators were so struck with admiration at the imperturbability of their victim that they absolutely in the end gave three cheers for the ' Friend ' as ' a jolly fellow and a regular brick.* Incontinent he walked home and Bent for Mr. , surgeon, whose prescriptions soon restored his mind and body to their wonted healthy condition. The boys declare that they were awfully disappointed by the Quaker's refusal to show fight, and that they lost all their fun. There is a sequel however to be told. It is reported that the lads have been put upon short commons for the offence, and that these are accompanied with heavy impositions and close confinement."