passed through both Houses without opposition. Even Eldon did not resist them, and they were not so much as debated in the House of Lords. These measures were followed up by Peel in subsequent sessions by a series of statutes of great importance and scope for the consolidation, amendment, and improvement of criminal law and procedure. Before he left office in 1827 nearly 300 Acts relating to the criminal law had been wholly or partially repealed, and such of their pro- visions as were still retained had been consolidated in eight new statutes. Sir James Mackintosh was content, after the gratifying experience of 1823, to leave the further reform of the criminal law in the willing and capable hands of Peel. He said in after years, when considering the reforms effected, "that he could almost think that he had lived in two different countries, and conversed with people who spoke two different languages." This change was mainly due to the statesmanship of Peel.

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