Written at Ormond House. Was the Pwllheli stabbing business an election row?' Progress with the newspaper - It is a very big job & will take time. Lord Welby is helping. Sir Robt. Reid has joined. So has Sedgwick (Oxford)'. Maggie's health. Rev S. R. Jenkins Merthyr writes me of his experiences stumping South Wales during election "What delighted me more than ought else was the magnificent reception given to every mention of your name. Your popularity is unbounded in South Wales". Wish I could make some good use of it'.
Written at Ormond House. The weather. Family news and books purchased. 'Letters of congratulation still pouring in. The incident has stirred our men throughout the country ir gwaelodion. The fools. They have helped the cause & the man they hate as no single incident hitherto has'. Spender is to dine the next day. Is going to Lewes with the Mayor of Fulharn on Friday and staying in Brighton. Merry Christmas to Uncle Lloyd and Auntie Polly.
Written at Ormond House. The shares in the Genedl. The Boer War; the alarmist telegram in the Daily Express. Fy marn i ydyw y bydd peth fel hyn yn mynd ymlaen yn y Transvaal flwyddyn i heddyw. My estimate at the beginning of the war as you may remember was April 1901. I think I rather underestimated the difficulties considerably in fact. 'Lief [Jones] whilst privately despising the leaders of the Welsh party with true Jonesian conceit - these Jones's Brynmor, Viriamu & Lief are the quintessence of self-satisfaction - did not object to enlist support by pretending that we sympathised with him'.
Written at Ormond House. The Penrhyn case. The Llanelly meeting 'Alfred Davies is beneath notice. He is laughed at. Our meeting is to be held in a chapel with sitting accommodation for 900. His meeting is to be in a hall wh: only holds 350 altogether'.
Written at Ormond House. The Penrhyn case. 'Been reading in the N. W. Express the smashing up you gave to the Police case at Bangor on Monday. Campus'. Smillie's poll.
Written at Ormond House. Sheffield was 'a magnificent success. Largest meeting ever held by Liberation Society at their autumnal gathering. Judging by reception given I think it is fair to say they came there to see & hear your brother'. The Liberal paper says that he 'absolutely fascinated the audience'. Has attended Lawrence's wedding. Is addressing the Clapham Junction Literary Society that evening - 'M: worried me into that'.
Written at Ormond House. Much regrets William George cannot come on the holiday. Business matters. 'Ld Roberts' proclamation is another General Election move. They want to be able to say Ld.R. now considers the war to be so far over that he annexes the whole country. Nothing can now save us from a dissolution in October but (a) Serious complications over China or (b) One or two "regrettable occurrences" of some dimensions. Thirty trucks with supplies captured & burnt is not big enough although more serious than the papers will allow'. Will see William George at Caernarfon. 'Osmond retired. W.E. ought now to get it'.
Written at Ormond House. Met Colonel Hanna at Courtney's the previous afternoon - 'He says that at the present rate they will never conquer the Boers. He ridiculed the block horses'.
Written at Ormond House. Is very busy and cannot write. Is enclosing the evening paper with a list of the new ministers: 'Arnold Forster is the only good one'.
Written at Ormond House. Is attempting to re-start his work. Family news. Has met the candidate for York that day. Anticipates the Monday meeting. 'You will see how [the] Greenock paper attacks them for making money out of me. Quite right especially as I got none of it. Glasgow mean to pay my expenses'. Saw the Bishop of St Asaph that day who claimed that Balfour's intention was to be defeated in the Commons, resign and to force the Liberals to form a government.
Written at Ormond House. I fear that the newspaper business ... will prevent my putting my back into defending the Penrhyn workers'. Can see Daniel at Bangor the following day. Must return on Thursday.
Written at Ormond House. Hopes to see William George on Saturday evening. Is to play golf with T. P. O'Connor at Wimbledon Park that afternoon. 'Meetings are thickening for me. Invitations pouring in daily. Some I can't very well refuse'.
Written at Ormond House. Goes to Wrexham the following day to address the Literary Society of Peris Williams's chapel. 'There will be a tug of war on Thursday but we ought to win'. There is an apology in the Chronicle for misquoting him.
Written at Ormond House. Goes to Wrexham at 2.10 'C.B. is buckling up in earnest'. 'I see the Libl. Imps. are congregating around Rosebery at Chesterfield Monday next like a lot of cats around the catsmeat tray. They are all looking forward to getting some scrag thrown them when he gets in'.
Written at Ormond House. Family news. Goes to Birkenhead on Thursday to lecture on 'Imperialism' to the Ruskin Society - 'Telir i mi am y job hono'. Is at Wandsworth that evening and Caernarfon on Friday.
Written at Ormond House. Encloses a letter from Morian - 'The old boy wrote the first newspaper description ever penned of me. It was when I spoke with Davitt at Festiniog - 18 years ago! So he takes a deep interest in me'.
