Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-09-25

Robin Adair was well known in the London
fashionable circles OF the last century By the 60
briquet Of the Fortunate Irishman;' but his pa
reniage and the exact place Of his birth are un-
known. lie was brought up as surgeon, but
'fhis detection In an early amour drove him pre-
eipitately from Duhlin,' 10 push his fortunes in
England. Scarcely bad be crossed the ehannel
when the chain Of lucky evests that ultimately
led him to fame and fortune commenced. Near
Holyhead, percsiving carriage overturned be
ran to render assistance. Tbs sole occupant cf
this vehicle was '7ady Of fashion, well known
~ polite esrelaa e 20 Rsenived AasiF'a aasen@
ticns with .hanka. and, being lightly bart, and
hearing that be was = surgeon, requested him to
travel with her in her carriage TO London. On
their arrival in the metropolis she presented him
with fee Of one hundred guineas. and gave him
n general invitation to her house. In after life
Adair used to say that it was not so much the
amount ofthis fee, but the time II was given,
that was Of service to him. as he was then almost
destitute. But the in citation TO her house was a
still greater. service, for there he met the person
who decided his fate in life. This was Lady
Caroline Keppcl, daughter Of the second Earl Of
Albemarle and Of Lady Anne Lennox, daughter
of the FIRST Duke of Richmond. Forgetting her
high lineage, Lady Caroline, at the first sight of
the Irish surgeon, fell desperately in love with him;
and her emotions were so sudden and so violent
as TO attract the general attention OF the compa-
ny. Adair, perceiving his advantage, lost no
time in pursuing it; while the Albemarle and
Richmond families were dismayed at the pros
pect Of such a terrible DrisaElianee. Every means
were tried to induce the young lady to alter her
mind, but without effect Adair's biographer
tells US that ''amusements, long journey, an adj
vantageous offer, and other common modes Of
shaking of what was considered by the family
rs an improper match, were already tried, but in
vain; the health Of Lady Caroline was evidently
impaired, and the family at last confessed, with
good sense that reflects honor on their under
standings as well their hearts, that ii was pos
sble to prevent but never to dissolve an attach
ment: and that marriage was the honorable, and,
indeed the only alternative that could secure her
happiness and life" When sLady Ca<oline was
taken by her friends from London TO BdSA. that
she might ba separated from her loverAslss NEo;c,
il is said, the song OF Robin Adair,' ana set II
to plaintive Irish tune that she had heard him
sing. Whether written By Lady Caroline or not
the song is simply expressive Of her feelings at
the time, and as ii completely oorroborates the
circumstances just related, which were the town
talk Of the period though now little more than
family tradition, there can be no doubt that they
were the origin Of the song, the words Of which,
as originally written, are the following
What's this dull town TO me?
Robin not near;
He whom wish 10 see,
Wish fer to hear
Where's all the joy and mirih,
Made life heaven on earth
Oh they re all fed with thee,
Robin Adair.
What made the assembly shine?
Robin Adair
What made the ball 80 fine?
Robin was there
What, when the play was DER,
What made my heart so sore7
Oh it was parting with
Robin Adairl
But now thou art far from me,
Robin AdAir
But now ! never see thee,
Robin Adair
Yet he I love 50 well
Still in my heart shall dwell;
Oh can | ne er forget
Robin AdaiT
Immediately after his marriage with Lady
Caroline, Adair was appointed Inspector Gener-
al ofMilitary Hospitals and subsequently, becom-
ing favorite of George H., be was made sur
gcon-general, kings sergeant surgeon, and sur
geon of Chelsea Hospital. Very fortunate men
have seldom many friends. but AdAir, by de-
clining baronetcy that was offered to him BY
the king, for surgical attendance on the Duke of
Gloucester, actually acquired considerable popu-
larity before his death, which took place when be
was nearly fourscore years Of age, in 1870. In
the Gen,leman's Magazine Of that year there are
verses stOn the death Of Robert Adair, E$qr.,
late Surgeon-General, By J. Crane, ". D." who.
1t is to be hoped, was g much better physician
than poet Lady Caroline Adair's married life
was short, but happy. She died Of consumption
after giving birth 10 three children, one Of them
n son. On her death-bed she requested Adair 10
wear morning for her as long as he lived; which
he subsequently, did, save on the kings and
queens birthdays when his duty 70 his sover-
eign required him TO appear at coart in full
dress. If fhis injunction respecting mourning
were to prevent Adair marrying again, IL had the
desired effect; be did not marry . second time
though be had many oEeEs.-Home Journal.