52 AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH RURAL HISTORY 



all foreign corn was excluded, except when English wheat 

 was at the famine price of 80s. a quarter. The effect of 

 this law was to increase the price of corn still further. In 

 1812 it was actually 155s. a quarter. 



Agricultural wages were extremely low at the time, 

 although they varied in different parts of the country. 

 In Lancashire, for example, they had sunk to 4s. 6d., whilst 

 even near London they were only 10s. 9d. It is clear 

 that no labourer could maintain himself and his family 

 on 4s. 6d. a week, even with the addition of the sum earned 

 by spinning and weaving. Thus the number of paupers 

 was increased. 



Sliding-Scale Import Duties. 



Instead of a fixed rate of import duty, as had hitherto 

 prevailed, new regulations on a sliding-scale basis were 

 adopted in 1828 and 1842. Foreign corn was permitted 

 to be imported on payment of a tax which varied with the- 

 price of home-grown corn. But these changes did not 

 pacify the people, for the price of wheat was still kept high 

 by means of these duties. Nothing short of " free-trade 

 in corn " would give satisfaction to the poorer members 

 of the community in particular. 



Anti-Corn Law League. 



The general effect of the corn duties was to bring the 

 farmer and the landlord into closer alliance in their opposition 

 to the interests of the labourers. Higher prices for corn 

 meant increased profit for the farmer, whilst the landlord 

 benefited from enhanced rents. 



There was growing up, however, a spirit of opposition 

 against the duties on corn, especially from the town poli- 

 ticians. The House of Commons was being urged to 

 consider the poverty which was being caused by the taxes 

 on food. Bad harvests, in 1836 and following years, 

 aggravated the distress. Both manufacturers and farmers 

 were affected adversely. Factories " ran short time," 

 thousands of workmen were discharged, and many manu- 

 facturers failed. 



With the view of bringing about the repeal of the Corn 

 Laws, the Ant i- Corn Law League was formed in 1838. 

 John Bright, a Lancashire cotton-spinner, and Richard 

 Cobden, a cotton merchant, became the prominent speakers 

 on behalf of the objects of the League. Both were members 



