274 THE ENGLISH CORN LAWS 



without reference to home-prices. In 1843 this principle was 

 carried yet further. A special concession was made to Canada. 

 In return for a preference granted to British trade, Canadian corn, 

 irrespective of home-prices, was admitted at a nominal duty of Is. 

 Encouraged by these concessions, the agitation against the Corn 

 Laws gathered strength. It gradually extended from a demand 

 for the relaxation of the stringent duties to a demand for their 

 total abolition. For a brief period the pressure was reduced by 

 the favourable seasons of 1831-36. In 1835, wheat fell to 39s. 4d., 

 the lowest price at which it had been sold for 54 years. Hopes 

 revived that the improvements in farming had again placed pro- 

 duction on a level with the growth of population. The Corn Laws 

 were for the moment forgotten. But the unfavourable cycle of 

 1837-41 again forced the question to the front. From 1839 onwards 

 the Anti-Corn-Law League used its growing influence in favour 

 of total repeal. The demand for cheap food grew more and more 

 insistent from the labouring classes. Manufacturers echoed the 

 cry, because cheap food meant a lower cost of production, and 

 because food imports would be paid for by exported manufac- 

 tures. Finally, the disastrous harvest of 1845 and the potato 

 famine compelled the Government to yield. The " rain rained 

 away " the Corn Laws. In 1846 the existing duties were modified 

 according to a scale which was to continue in force till February 1, 

 1849. After that date all kinds of foreign corn were to be admitted 

 at the nominal fixed duty of Is. a quarter. That nominal duty 

 was finally repealed in 1869. 



