Written at House of Commons. William Humphreys has failed conspicuously - 'You sat upon him completely in your explanatory statement. Evidence is distinctly good. John Rhys writes from Criccieth to Ellis a glowing a/c of it'. Rhys believes that Walter Jones has 'ruined the landlords'.
Written at House of Commons. The evidence from Carnarvon to the Land Commission is 'very unsatisfactory' - '... A thousand pities it should have been so mismanaged'. D. Lloyd George's 'lengthy rigmarole' in that day's Guardian. Has spent all day with Hoefer; things have not gone well. 'Now the record is mum - dim sibrydiad wrth neb. Not even W. J. Parry knows anything about it'.
Written at National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, SW. Asquith has been preoccupied with the Employers' Liability Bill, but is now 'out of the wood'. Voted against the Government - 'I had no alternative'. Has been discussing disestablishment with Tom Ellis at Rendel's house - 'We did nothing. I ripped up Rendel's scheme that is all. It is a very difficult task'.
Written at Palace Mansions, Addison Bridge, Kensington. Why has he received no letter from Garthcelyn? William George's case did not come on after all. Is writing for the Guardian. Williams, Garn is resigning - 'forced to owing to bad reports by Inspector. School Grant witheld this year altogether & the poor fellow only gets £14 a quarter'. Williams 'means to try his luck in London. He'll starve I fear'.
Written at House of Commons. The Game case. Is now writing a summary of a certain Miss Orme's report on female labour in Wales. It may appear on Wednesday in the Guardian. 'What a squasher. Tremendous. Ellis & I sat down for an hour to meditate upon it & chew it like a "joy o bacco" & spit it out'. This should certainly please Richard Lloyd.
Written at House of Commons. Applauds William George's success with Judge Lewis. The Guardian did not publish D. Lloyd George's article: 'The stuff is too old I suppose or not sufficiently interesting for the general public. Well it is very disappointing. It means three hours work thrown away & the prospect of earning £5 unrealised'. Asquith and Gladstone have written to Rendel 'to ask for the terms of our demands on Disestablishment', and Rendel has contacted D. Lloyd George and Tom Ellis. 'It is a very difficult business'. Family news.
Written at House of Commons. Has spent the morning with Rendel, Ellis and Sam Evans 'preparing our minimum demands for Disendowment'. Gladstone has 'himself taken the business in hand already. He is full of it. That is a good sign that the Government are really in earnest'. Rendel is to present their 'terms' to Gladstone. '[Sam] Evans was asked in to prevent any South Walians feeling sore because the whole matter was left to North Wales members. Of course this must be treated as a very strict secret'. Dr Clarke's case.
Written at House of Commons. Is to see the Local Government Board on the Pentrerfelin affair. Has a cold and may be unable to attend the Temperance meeting that evening: 'I have hardly any voice left, I feel seedy & would, I am convinced, make a mess of it'. The permanent officials are 'wretched fellows' and Fowler 'such a timid hide-bound chap'.
Written at House of Commons. 'Magnificent. I never dreamt of just a licking for the parson. I certainly thought his own rag tag & bobtail would have saved him'. Has seen D. H. Evans - 'He promised to back me up strongly if I started business. He can do a lot'.
Written at House of Commons. There is a sub-committee the following day about the convention '& I don't want to let the other fellows to get any advantage'. The Committee Scheme is in favour of a single Federation for Wales. Sam Evans has suffered 'a most extraordinary accident'.
Written at National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, S.W. The bad news from Greece; recounts recent events. The serious state of affairs in South Africa as revealed in the Transvaal correspondence published the previous day. 'Chamberlain is making tracks for war'.
Written at House of Commons. Local news. Lewis's illness. John Burns is to come down with D. Lloyd George on Saturday and is to attend the quarrymen's demonstration on Monday. The situation in Patagonia and the report in the Financial Times.
Written at House of Commons. Thanks for the promise of books for the office. Is to dine with the drapers that evening. 'Talked out' the Isle of Man Church Bill in the Commons the previous night 'to the infinite amusement of the Liberals'. Is 'meditating an attack on the South African Committee for shielding Joseph. Much will depend of course on the character of the Report when it is presented'.
Written at 13 Walbrook, London E.C. The quarries. Gwilym and Margaret are with him. 'What a marvel say you. Will has been jabbering away in Welsh at the clerks'. What about holidays?. Includes note from Margaret Lloyd-George.
Written at House of Commons. The quarries. 'The other affair didn't come on to day. It may tomorrow. I don't care much. It can only end one way & that is in exculpating the calumniated party'. There was a great debate on South Africa.