The present leader of the House of Commons is already
deep in the conflict of the General Election. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach made his first speech to the constituency he hopes to win,—the Western Division of Bristol,—on Saturday last. The Liberals, however, were beforehand with him, and on the previous day, that is, yesterday week, Mr. Brinsley Nixon addressed the 250 repre- sentatives of the Liberals of the Western Division. Mr. F. J. Fry presided, and Mr. Townsend introduced Mr. Nixonto the meeting in a speech, in which he urged that Bristol ought nefto sanction the bad finance of the Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer. After this, Mr. Nixon addressed the Liberal Council in a very manly and significant speech, which made it perfectly clear that he at least is not going to be one of those independent Liberals on whom no man can depend." He gave in the warmest possible adhesion to Mr. Gladstone's leadership ; regretted the Egyptian expedition, but held that it is now England's duty to do all in her power to put a stop to the bad government of the Egyptian people, and that no step could be more retro- grade than to reintroduce into Egypt the role of the Turk, the " vampire " of European polities. Further, he advocated e. thorough reform of the Land Laws, expressed himself opposedto attempting Disestablishment at present, though in the abstract he favoured it, and pledged himself to the reform of procedure in the Commons as the most essential reform of all. Against any treating with the Irish Party that would endanger in the least the unity of the Empire, Mr. Nixon protested in the heartiest terms. " Not for a hundred seats in Parliament " would he be a party to such a policy.
