Letter from Harold Temperley to Thomas Hardy, 28 January 1924

As one who had the pleasure of meeting you here at Magdalene College, I am venturing to write to you on a subject which has always been of interest to me, and which forms a striking incident in the 'Mayor of Casterbridge'. The incident there related of the sale of the wife is I believe authentic to judge from your Preface. It is a curious fact that Marcellus, the Chargé d'Affaires of France records the sale of wives at Smithfield in 1823. I find two incidents confirming this in the contemporary press, but I have not come across the instance you mention. I am proposing to make a short communication to the second number of the Cambridge Historical Journal on this subject, and I should be very grateful if you could give me any information as to the case you yourself mention. In case you have not seen the first number, I enclose a copy. You will see the table of contents on the last page of the cover, and it would go in as a note and communication.

Apologising for troubling you on a subject which you have made more interesting and well-known than would otherwise have been the case and which is in any circumstances of considerable social interest.

I remain, with the greatest respect,

Yours very truly,

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