14 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



cffefts proceeded from it. There 

 was no longer any inducement to 

 obstruct the course of the common 

 law; things reverted to their former 

 order ; and so far from martial law 

 superseding or destroying the com- 

 mon law, it afforded the most 

 powerful means of its restoration. 



The case,howevcr,now was widely 

 different. There was no rebellion 

 raging in the country ; there was no 

 system of intimidating judges, ju- 

 rors, or witnesses ; there was no- 

 thing to obstruft the operation of the 

 ordinary tribunals and the course of 

 common law. In this view of the sub- 

 ject, it did not appear to him that 

 the re-enaftment of martial law was 

 necessary, or adviseablc ; but still, 

 as ministers, (who must be suppos- 

 ed to have more information on the 



subjc6t) declared it was necessary, 

 he should not oppose either of the 

 bills. 



Lord Limerick positively asserted, 

 that the re-ena6tment of those bills 

 was absolutely necessary for the tran- 

 quillity of the country, and universal- 

 ly '(vished for by the well-disposed 

 part of the people of Ireland. 



The lord chancellor (lord Eldon) 

 gave his hearty assent to the bills ; 

 and thought, that no fair inference 

 could be drawn from his majesty's 

 speech, to suppose they were not 

 necessary. 



After a few words from lords 

 Darnley and Hobart,both bills were 

 read a second time, and ordered to be 

 committed the next day, when they 

 finally passed into laws. 



CHAP. 



