Maria's Diary 5

2 May, 1830

William came to a party at our house this week and says how much he enjoys a
sociable get together. He told us that earlier in the week, he went by St. James Palace, and asked how the King was. He went in and left his name, and said the bulletin read that his majesty had been very much affected by his breathing in the night. But in the morning his health was somewhat restored. There is much mystery preserved on the subject of his health, William thinks.

13th May

William came again to Hackney this weekend. We had staying with us two Miss
Aikens, and between us we worked out that we were all second cousins of some sort. The younger one, Susan, got William to play marbles with her, and my brother John Charles joined in. William says he went back to the Palace and read the bulletin which seems to predict thatthe King will not survive the weekend. I wanted to play marbles too,
but didn’t really get the chance

24th May

William went to the Covent Garden Opera house again. This time he saw Luigi
Lablanche, who he says has the best voice he has ever heard - like an
organ.

31 May

William told us that he went for a bulletin on the King again and was told
that he was much the same but had a tolerably good night. Everyone is
expecting to hear the bells toll any day now.

June 18

William told us about his visit to Covent Garden Theatre last week. It was
Cinderella with Miss Mary Ann Paton and Miss Maria Foote taking the leads. I am so jealous that I don’t get the chance to see these things. But William does a good job of telling us all he can remember about the people he sees.

He said Maria Foote is a beautiful actress who is about 32 or so. Her father had a theatre and made sure she had leading roles when she was still very young. When she was only 16 she appeared first at Covent Garden Theatre and she made a great success. “There is a bit of gossip about her, of course,” he said. “She has two children, and a lover who promised her marriage and then didn’t keep his word She had another offer of marriage, but that one retracted his offer, and as a result of an action she took for breach of promise of marriage had to pay £3,000 damages. These proceedings gave rise to pamphlet warfare, through which and through some opposition on the stage Miss Foote retained a measure of public sympathy.”

“And what about the other one, Mary Ann?” I asked.

“Mary Ann Paton started out in concerts as a singer and performer on the harp and piano when she was only eight. It wasn’t until she was 20 that she starred in an acting role in theatre. She is now considered at the head of her profession. She was divorced by her husband earlier this year, which meant there was a certain amount of bad feeling, but she got a good round of applause at the end.

“Afterwards we sang ‘God Save the King’” he said, “and I have never heard
such enthusiasm before, no doubt due to the reports of the King’s precarious health. It has such a grand effect. I am so pleased that I was there for it.”

And how is the King now William?” I asked.

William said he went to the Palace for the latest bulletin and the report read that the King felt incommoded in his breathing throughout the night. “It seems that he is worse than he has been for some time,” he added.