Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/348

 334 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1841- ordinary result followed, the house first rejected the Govern- ment proposal by a majority of three, and then threw out the amendment by a majority of seven. In this peculiar predicament the Ministry had three courses open to them to accept a compromise and offer to make the number of hours eleven ; to throw up the scheme altogether ; or to withdraw the bill and introduce a new one, Avithout any limit as to working hours. They decided upon the last-named course, and they let it be known that this time they should regard the question as one involving the existence of the Government. This intimation was sufficient to recall most of their followers to obedience. The bill was introduced, was read a second time on the 22nd of April, and passed through committee quietly, the struggle being reserved for the third reading. That stage was reached on the loth of May, when Lord Ashley moved the introduction of a clause limiting the hours of labour to eleven from October, 1844, and to ten from October, 1847. Two nights of debate followed ; the con- version of the Tories formed the subject alternately of rage and ridicule ; but in the end Lord Ashley's amendment was rejected by a majority of 138, and the third reading carried by a majority of 129. The victory was gained, but it was over their own friends, and left the position of the ministers very unpleasant. The other and more important act of conservative in- subordination took place with respect to a proposed alteration of the sugar duties. The Government proposed a reduction in the case of foreign free-grown sugars, which admitted them at a duty of thirty-four shillings, the colonial duty remaining as before, at twenty-four shillings. This proposal pleased neither the West Indian planters and their friends the protectionists, nor the free-traders, and a curious coalition was the consequence. Mr. Miles, one of the most decided of the protectionists, moved an amendment reducing the duty on colonial sugar from twenty-four to twenty shillings, and that on different classes of foreign sugar to thirty and thirty- four shillings respectively. The issue was confused, for at