Actresses -- Great Britain -- Biography; Siddons, Sarah, 1755-1831
“Believe me, my dear Sir, it is not want of inclination, but opportunity,
that prevents my more frequent acknowledgments: but need I tell you this?
No; you generously judge of my heart by your own. I fear I must have
appeared very insensible, and, therefore, unworthy the honour Miss Seward
has done me; but the perpetual round of business in which I am engaged
is incredible. Shall I trespass on your goodness to say that I feel as I
ought on that occasion?”
She then alludes to the kindness of the King and Queen which, sometimes
to an inconvenient extent, was shown towards her all her life.
“I believe I told you that the Queen had graciously put my son down on
her list for the Charterhouse; and she has done me the honour to stamp
my reputation by her honoured approbation. They have seen me in all my
characters but Isabella, which they have commanded for Monday next; but,
having seen me in Jane Shore last night, and, judging very humanely that
too quick repetitions of such exertions may injure my health, the King
himself most graciously sent to the managers, and said he must deny
himself the pleasure of seeing Isabella till Tuesday. This is the second
time he has distinguished me in this manner. You see a vast deal of me
in the papers, of my appointment at Court, and the like. All groundless;
but I have the pleasure to inform you that my success has exceeded even
my hopes. My sister is engaged, and is successful. God be praised for all
His mercies! You will think me an egotist, I fear. I shall certainly be
at Bath in the Passion Week, if I am alive. I count the hours till then.”
Our readers may like to know that when their Majesties, with the Prince
of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Augusta went in state,
on October 8th, 1783, to see Mrs. Siddons play Isabella, the Sovereign
and his wife sat under a dome covered with crimson velvet and gold; the
heir to the throne sat under another of blue velvet and silver; and the
young Princesses under a third of blue satin and silver fringe. George
III. wore “a plain suit of Quaker-coloured clothes, with gold buttons;
the Queen, a white satin robe, with a head-dress which was ornamented by
a great number of diamonds; the Princess Royal was dressed in a white
and blue figured silk, and Princess Augusta in a rose-coloured and white
silk of the same pattern as her sister’s, having both their head-dresses
richly ornamented with diamonds. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
had a suit of dark blue Geneva velvet, richly trimmed with gold lace.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account