ABSTRACT
Graham Wallas and John Russell made sympathetic speeches, and Graham announced that the Government’s Factory Bill was in course of preparation. The Government abandoned their scheme, promising to bring in a new Bill next year without the educational clauses. Sir Robert Peel and Graham were uncompromisingly hostile; they were nervous about the result, for they made an unavailing attempt outside the House to persuade Ashley not to press his motion to the point of defeating the Government. Their envoy on this occasion was Stanley, afterwards Lord Derby, and Secretary for War and the Colonies, who left Peel’s Government next year, in 1845, when Peel proceeded to repeal the Corn Laws. Peel’s Government introduced a Bill embodying some of their recommendations, but the House of Lords was so hostile that it was withdrawn. Roebuck spoke, nominally in favour, in effect destructively, and after speeches from Macaulay, Russell and Peel, all of them hostile, the House rejected Duncombe’s motion by 287 to 49.
