348 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1841- his party. The stronghold of protection was defended to the last with desperate energy. The proposal that the House go into committee on Peel's motion was made on the 9th of February, when Mr. Miles moved "that the House do resolve itself into committee on that day six months." The debate was long and stormy, Radicals and Whigs supporting ministers, Protectionists passionately opposing them. The discussion extended over twelve nights, during which forty- eight members spoke for free trade, and fifty-five against. On a division, on the 2nd of March, there voted for the motion, 337 5 against it, 240, giving the Government a majority of ninety-seven. In committee, on the same night, Villiers moved that the duties on corn should cease at once, but was defeated by a majority of 187. The bill was brought in, and the second reading was moved on the 2Oth of March, when another long debate, extending over four nights, took place. The House divided on the 2/th of March, when the numbers were for, 302 ; against, 214 ; majority, 88. A final division was taken on the third reading, when the bill was carried by 327 votes to 229. In all these divisions except that moved by Villiers, on which the vote was essentially Radical the Government had the aid of nearly the whole of the Liberals, the opposition being almost entirely Tory.* In the House of Lords the bill was read a second time on the 25th of May, by a majority of 211 to 164; and was read a third time and passed on the 26th of June, without a division.
- The actual proportions as given in Hansard on the two great divisions,
those taken on the 2nd and 27th of March, are as follows. The numbers in this case include the tellers, and vary to that extent from those in the text. 2ND OF MARCH. Majority. Minority. Conservatives 112 Conservatives 231 Liberals ... 227 Liberals ... n 339 242 27TH OF MARCH. Majority. Minority. Conservatives 102 Conservatives ... ... 208 Liberals 202 Liberals 8 304 216
