Stamford Local History Society

An Amusing Apology from a Lincolnshire Newspaper 1806

Whereas I, Benjamin Birch,

Of Boston town (and near the church),

At Stamford Market, o’er the bowl,

Got drunk and slandered neighbour Cole.

For which he has --- to my vexation ---

By law compelled this declaration:

That I, without just cause or reason,

Made use of words as base as treason,

And therefore do his pardon ask ---

A most unpleasant, painful task.

But as I own I was to blame,

Why dang it! Then I sign my name.

By B.Birch

Boston January 1806. 

Source. The Million (a London Magazine) September 2nd 1893 (Saturday) p17/c1,

in the Queer, Quaint and Curious Section.

A printed version can be downloaded HERE