Sale Of A Wife

ON Wednesday evening last, in the Grass-market, Mary Mackintosh was
brought down about six o'clock by her husband, for the purpose of being
sold. Her crime was drunkenness and adultery. She was held by a straw
rope tied round her middle, and the words, " To be sold by public auction"
in front of her bosom. Several thousand spectators were assembled to wit-
ness this novel occurrence. John F——n, pensioner, and knight of the ham-
mer, commenced business, but the acclamations of the people were so great,
that no one could get a hearing for ten minutes, to bid for the unfortunate
Woman;

You find the most interesting things on the interwebby tubes when you're looking for other things. In this case, this bit of "current history" was current in 1828*. The National Library of Scotland has put their collection of "broadsides" on the web. The Word On The Street gives an interesting look back at the way news was circulated in the days before cable television.

* We all know nothing like this would happen today. If it did, though, it would involve eBay.