ABSTRACT
The House of Commons to which Antony Ashley Cooper was to address his appeal had been elected in December, 1832 and represented the electorate that had been enfranchised by the Act passed in the summer. When Ashley gave notice on February 5th, 1833, of a motion to renew Sadler’s Bill, he found encouragement in all parts of the House. Bull, who was present, said that more than forty notices of different motions were given, some of them very popular, and that Ashley’s notice received more cheers than any other. Ashley’s Bill received its first reading in March, 1833. The average Member was enough in earnest to support Ashley if he were given no effective alternative. Althorp moved to substitute thirteen for eighteen, the age in Ashley’s Bill. He spoke of the danger of famine, “the immense mischief” that Ashley’s Bill would cause, and he quoted from the new Report to show how healthy factory life was for children.
