By this time the heat, which had set in with quite tropical fervour, became almost overpowering, and the House, which began by being tired, had become almost exhausted.

It was under these depressing circumstances that the Leader of the Opposition started on what must have been to him something of a corvee, and for a considerable time--although the speech was not wanting in some very telling hits and bright sayings--he laboured very heavily; he could not arouse the enthusiasm even of his own followers, and was thus wire-drawn and ineffective.
[Sidenote: Honest John in fighting form.] If Mr.Balfour was at his worst, Mr.Morley was at his best.

The speech which he delivered at Newcastle, during the previous week, placed Mr.
Morley definitely in the very front rank of platform orators.

After his speech of September 1st, he made a distinct and great advance in his position as a Parliamentary debater.

His great defect as a speaker has been a certain want of nimbleness and readiness.