Source 8G

Shortly after I wrote my letter of yesterday to you I got up & spoke for the first time in the House of Commons ... There is no doubt I scored a success & a great one. The old man & Trevelyan [Sir G.O. Trevelyan (1838–1928): Liberal MP], Morley, [John Morley (1836–1923): Liberal MP], Harcourt appeared delighted. I saw Morley afterwards & he said it was a ‘capital speech – first rate’ & he said so with marked emphasis. He is such a dry stick that he wouldn’t have said anything unless he thoroughly believed it. I have been overwhelmed with congratulations both yesterday & today Tom Ellis who is genuinely delighted because one of his own men has succeeded – told me that several members had congratulated Wales upon my speech. Stuart Rendel said I had displayed ‘very distinguished powers’. There is hardly a London Liberal or even a provincial paper which does not say something commendatory about it.

(Lloyd George to Mrs Lloyd George, 14 June 1890, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] )