Again, on the part of the old law, the want of adaptability to the changing conditions of different markets was often a serious difficulty. Thus, it often happened that the state of these markets in different parts of the world presented favourable mercantile prospects; but no suitable vessel could be found to carry the goods to the market where they were required. For instance, hostilities being about to break out between France and the United States in 1834, the price of French brandy rose enormously in America, while, at the same time, the large quantities of that article then in England rendered it unsaleable in the London market. At the time there was not an American vessel to be chartered in the Thames, and the American Navigation Laws precluded the brandy from being carried in a British vessel. On the other hand, palm-oil, at times, could not be brought from the United States, there being no British vessel available for charter on the spot. In such cases, the merchants complained in their letters in doleful terms, “I have lost my commission, and some British vessel the freight.” Instances of such occurrences were multiplied from all parts of the world. Much was said at the time about the difficulty of bringing cochineal from the Canary Islands, where the cactus, on which it feeds, had recently been cultivated for this purpose. Though it might be absurd to raise such complaints, as the smallest possible inconvenience resulted from the state of the law as it affected this particular article, the principle applied to the whole colonial system; and, as Spain refused to allow British ships to carry British goods to the Canaries, it was urged that our colonial system ought to be altered, so as to induce Spain to modify hers. Cochineal produced in the Canaries, and landed at Cadiz in Europe, like other articles, had to be sent elsewhere out of Europe to be naturalised, in order to come in for home consumption. [Sidenote: But the Navigation Laws not always to blame.] Perhaps, practically, these anomalies did not, to any large extent, occasion impediments to business beyond retarding its extension, because every merchant was so well acquainted with the provisions of the Navigation Laws (which were as much studied for their evasion as otherwise), that less inconvenience resulted[59] than might have been expected. The law, however, assumed so many complex forms with time, new discoveries, treaty obligations, and perpetual minor alterations, that, irrespectively of the advantages or disadvantages of a total change, arguments could be raised for a complete abrogation of every existing Act, if it were only to commence anew and remodel the law, so as to avoid the habitual and vexatious discussions and disputes with the Customs to which the system gave rise. [Sidenote: Special views of the Canadians.]