Ontario High School History of England . still made light ofthe movement, but Sir Robert Peelsaw that the existing system mustbe changed. Already, in 1842, hehad lowered the duties both onwheat and on many other com-modities, and when there was faminein Ireland in 1845 (p. 500) he beggedhis Tory colleagues to relieve thestarving multitudes by removingthe duties on grain. They refused,and he resigned. Then it was foundthat no one else could form a min-istry. When Peel resumed office, therepeal of the Corn Laws had become certain. Supportedby many Wliigs under Lord John Russell, but amid the ex-
Ontario High School History of England . still made light ofthe movement, but Sir Robert Peelsaw that the existing system mustbe changed. Already, in 1842, hehad lowered the duties both onwheat and on many other com-modities, and when there was faminein Ireland in 1845 (p. 500) he beggedhis Tory colleagues to relieve thestarving multitudes by removingthe duties on grain. They refused,and he resigned. Then it was foundthat no one else could form a min-istry. When Peel resumed office, therepeal of the Corn Laws had become certain. Supportedby many Wliigs under Lord John Russell, but amid the ex-ecrations of his former Tory friends. Peel carried throughin June, 1846, the great measure under which, after February1st, 1849, wheat was admitted free, with the exception of aregistration duty of a shilling a quarter. Even this dutywas abolished in 1869. The repeal of the Corn Laws led tocomplete free trade; by 1852 successive budgets had sweptaway every vestige of protection. Overthrow of Peel by the Tories, 1846.—Peel fell in the. Sir lioBKKT Pilkl UTSS-lSaU) MODERN BRITAIN 477 moment of his triumph. In June, 1846, on the very day when the Lords finally passed the repeal of the Corn Laws, he was defeated in the House of Commons on an Irish question, and resigned. Never again, as it proved, did he hold office. Lord John Russell now became head of a Whig ministiy which lasted until 1852. He was small in stature, and so shy and awkward in manner that he was not an inspiring leader. But he was a man of high character, quick wit, and unflinching courage in advancing what he thought would make for the good of the people. In the cabinet sat Lord Palmerston,* a man of more brilliant qualities. Lord John took especial interest in domestic reforms (it was he who introduced the great Reform Bill of 1832), while Palmerston devoted himself mainly to foreign affairs, and his nickname of the Firebrand indicates that he was not wholly a peace minister. The Palmerstonian style, as exhibit
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