21 APRIL 1900, Page 3

Sir Michael Hicks-Beach speaking at Bristol on Thursday dealt with

the rumours of Dissolution. In answer to the question when it would be, he declared that he could only give them this answer,—that he did not know, and he felt absolutely certain that nobody else knew either. But of one thing they might be confident,—that if,as they hoped, the war was not pro. longed beyond a reasonable period and did not extend beyond the natural life of the Parliament, they would not take the course of appealing to the constituencies before they were in s position to judge of the policy which the Government were prepared to recommend. That is spoken like a statesman, and. should finally dispose of the ridiculous and offensive story that the Ministry meant to dissolve at the next victory in order to benefit by the resultant popularity.