years after this generous agreement, Mr. Peel pro-
posed five bills in succession, destined on the one
hand to simplify, consolidate, and explain, and on the
other hand to humanize, the penal laws of England,
more especially those intended to repress offences
against property, and those which entailed the punish-
ment of death. The earnest sincerity, the practical
and determined spirit, which presided over this work,
and the success which it obtained when the new laws
were subjected to the test of application, redounded
to the honour of Mr. Peel. A little jealous feeling
mingled with the praises of the Whigs, his old antago-
nists, when they saw him reap the fruit of their long
and patient efforts; but public approbation stifled
these suggestions of wounded self-love; and it was
an oft-repeated saying of the Whig reformers, in
reference to Mr. Peel: 'Quoniain talis es, utinam noster
esses!'

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