"The Lady Mayoress is in the straw, and the Bambino, according to the customs of the City, is to be rocked in a cradle of solid silver. This is a very ancient privilege, and, as it costs the City about Five Hundred Pounds, the Aldermen will probably look twice, before they elect family men again with their wives in the family way."—(Times, July 1, 1799.)
What occasioned the following?
"Such senseless extravagance as eating Bank notes has not been known since the French Courtezan, who curled her hair with them: or the days of Cleopatra, who swallowed a jewel as a rich repast."—(Times, Aug. 22, 1799.)
The singular belief that used to obtain, and still is prevalent, especially among the lower classes, that a man might sell his wife to any bidder, provided that he did so in open market, and with a halter round her neck, was in full force at the latter end of the 18th Century. That this belief has not died out may be seen in an article on "Wife Selling," by my brother, in "All the year Round" 20th Dec. 1884, in which he cites cases as recently as 1862, 1870, 1881—and two in 1882—in one of which, the wife was sold for a glass of ale, and the other, for a penny and a dinner.
"By some mistake, or omission, in the report of the Smithfield Market, we have not learned the average price of wives for the last week.
"The increasing value of the fair sex is esteemed by several eminent writers as the certain criterion of increasing civilization. Smithfield has, on this ground, strong pretensions to refined improvement, as the price of Wives has risen in that market from half a guinea, to three guineas and a half."—(Times, July 22, 1797.)
"An Hostler's wife, in the country, lately fetched twenty-five guineas. We hear there is to be a sale of wives soon at Christie's. We have no doubt they will soon go off well."—(Times, Sept. 19, 1797.)
"On Friday a butcher exposed his wife to sale in Smithfield Market, near the Ram Inn, with a halter about her neck, and one about her waist, which tied her to a railing, when a hog-driver was the happy purchaser, who gave the husband three guineas, and a crown, for his departed rib. Pity it is, there is no stop put to such depraved conduct in the lower order of people."—(Times, July 18, 1797.)
"On Saturday evening last, John Lees, steel-burner, sold his wife for the small sum of 6d. to Samuel Hall, fell-monger, both of Sheffield. Lees gave Hall one guinea immediately, to have her taken off to Manchester the day following by the coach: she was delivered up with a halter round her neck, and the clerk of the market received 4d. for toll. It would be well if some law was inforced to put a stop to such degrading traffic!! (Sheffield Register)"—(Times, March 30, 1796.)
"At the last sale of wives there was but a poor show though there were plenty of bidders. One alone went off well, being bought by a Taylor, who outbid eight of his competitors."—(Times, Dec. 2, 1797.)