the corn-duties styled themselves Free-traders.

In the year 1839 an Anti-Corn-law League had been formed for the purpose
of spreading free-trade doctrines among the people. It had its
headquarters at Manchester, and hence the statesmen who took the leading
part in it were frequently called the 'Manchester Party.' There being no
building at that time large enough to hold the meetings in, a temporary
wooden structure was erected, the site of which is marked by the present
Free-trade Hall. The guiding spirit of the league was Richard Cobden, a
cotton manufacturer, who threw himself heart and soul into the cause. He
was assisted by many other able men, the chief of whom was the great
orator, John Bright. Branches of the league were soon established in all
the towns of the kingdom, and a paid body of lecturers was employed to
carry on the agitation and draw recruits into its ranks.

At the beginning of the year 1845, owing to the success of Peel's
financial measures, the nation was in a state of great prosperity and
contentment; and there seemed little hope that the repealers would be able
to carry their scheme for some time to come. Before the year was out,
however, the aspect of affairs was completely changed. As John Bright said
years afterwards, 'Famine itself, against which we had warred, joined us.'
There was a failure in the harvest, both the corn and potato crops being
blighted. Things in this country were bad enough; but they were far worse
in Ireland, where famine and starvation stared the people in the face.
Under these circumstances the demand for free-trade grew stronger and
stronger; and the league had the satisfaction of gaining over to its ranks
no less a person than Sir Robert Peel himself.

When Peel announced his change of opinion in the House of Commons, the
anger of the Protectionists, who were chiefly Conservatives, knew no