Palmerston delivered a famous five-hour speech in which he sought to vindicate not only his claims on the Greek government for Don Pacifico, but his entire administration of foreign affairs. "As the Roman, in days of old, held himself free from indignity, when he could say, Civis Romanus sum,[17] so also a British subject, in whatever land he may be, shall feel confident that the watchful eye and the strong arm of England will protect him from injustice and wrong." He was answered by Sir Robert Peel,[18] in what turned out to be his last speech to the Commons, and by W. E. Gladstone.[19] The Government won the motion by 310 to 264, a majority of forty-six, in favor of Palmerston's conduct of foreign affairs.