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diff --git a/old/69595-0.txt b/old/69595-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 68fc557..0000000 --- a/old/69595-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2974 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The life of John Metcalf, commonly -called Blind Jack of Knaresborough, by John Metcalf - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The life of John Metcalf, commonly called Blind Jack of - Knaresborough - -Author: John Metcalf - -Release Date: December 24, 2022 [eBook #69595] - -Language: English - -Produced by: deaurider, Brian Wilsden and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF JOHN METCALF, -COMMONLY CALLED BLIND JACK OF KNARESBOROUGH *** - - Transcriber’s Note: Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - -[Illustration: JOHN METCALF AGED 78. - -_Drawn by J.R. Smith._ - -_Published as the Act directs Augᵗ. 31. 1795 by E & R Peck, York._] - - - - - THE - LIFE - OF - JOHN METCALF, - COMMONLY CALLED - _Blind Jack of Knaresborough_. - - WITH, - Many Entertaining ANECDOTES of his EXPLOITS in - _Hunting_, _Card-Playing_, _&c._ - Some PARTICULARS relative to the - Expedition against the REBELS in 1745, - _IN WHICH HE BORE A PERSONAL SHARE_; - AND ALSO - A Succinct ACCOUNT of his various CONTRACTS for - Making ROADS, Erecting BRIDGES, - AND OTHER UNDERTAKINGS, - IN - _Yorkshire_, _Lancashire_, _Derbyshire_, - _and Cheshire_; - Which, for a Series of Years, have brought him into - PUBLIC NOTICE, as a most - _EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER_. - - EMBELLISHED WITH - A STRIKING HALF-LENGTH PORTRAIT. - - YORK: - PRINTED AND SOLD BY E. AND R. PECK. - 1795. - - [_Entered at Stationers’ Hall._] - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -To a generous public little apology will be necessary for offering to -their patronage the Story of an Individual, who, under circumstances the -most depressing in their nature, has been, for a considerable part of a -long life, their assiduous and useful servant. - -The Blind, in all ages and countries, have engaged, in a peculiar -degree, the sympathy of mankind;—and, where original poverty has -been annexed to their misfortune, it has been esteemed the utmost -exertion in their favour, to enable them to minister to the amusement -of society, as the only means for keeping them independent of it: To -this general rule, however, a surprising exception is here shewn; and -it is fortunate for the credibility of this little piece, that it is -given to the world during the life-time not only of its HERO, but of -many others who were witnesses of the various extraordinary _facts_ it -contains. - -It is fit, however, to notice the disadvantages under which it now -makes its appearance;—and which, from circumstances, were unavoidable: -The person whose task it was to render it, in some degree, fit for the -press, had much difficulty to encounter in arranging the dates, scarce -any attention having been paid to chronological order; and the various -anecdotes having been set down, as the recollection of them arose in -the mind of the narrator, by an amanuensis wholly unqualified for the -purpose, and given in a language intelligible to those only who are -well acquainted with the Yorkshire dialect.—To those inaccuracies -was added, a literal _disrespect of persons_; the first and third -being indiscriminately used throughout. To avoid constantly-recurring -egotisms, the preference is here given to the third person; though it -is feared even that will be found too often in the proper name, where -it might have been, in many instances, supplied by the pronoun.—But -a long absence having necessarily suspended the attention of the -Editor, and the desire for publication before the close of the -Harrogate season being urgent, he is not allowed time to correct -his own errors. For the same reason, the part containing an account -of the share which Metcalf bore under the late Colonel Thornton, in -his expedition against the rebels; his various undertakings as a -road-maker, &c. have received little other correction than what could -be given by interlineation. Throughout, however, not the least violence -is done to the facts; to insure the purity of which, the M. S. has been -read over to Metcalf himself, and corrected by his desire, wherever any -little accidental error has appeared. - -Though it was absolutely necessary to bring the style into something -like grammatical order, and to purge it of barbarisms, yet pains have -been taken to preserve its simplicity; and in some instances, where a -few sentences of dialogue are introduced, the original words remain. -Imperfect as it is, a hope is nevertheless entertained that it will -prove amusing; and happy shall the Author of its Apology be, if the -profits arising from the sale shall prove of sufficient value to smooth -the decline of a life, which, though marked by eccentricity, has not -been spent in vain. - - - - -THE - -LIFE - -OF - -_JOHN METCALF_. - - -John Metcalf was born at Knaresborough, on the 15th of August, 1717. -When four years old, he was put to school by his parents, who were -working people, and continued at school two years: He was then seized -with the small-pox, which rendered him totally blind, though all -possible means were used to preserve his sight. - -About six months after recovering from the small-pox, he was able to go -from his father’s house to the end of the street, and return, without -a guide; which gave him much spirit and satisfaction.—In the space -of three years he was able to find his way to any part of the town of -Knaresborough; and had begun to associate with boys of his own age, -going with them to seek birds’ nests, and for his share of the eggs and -young birds he was to climb the trees, whilst his comrades waited at -the bottom, to direct him to the nests, and to receive what he should -throw down; and from this he was soon able to climb any tree he was -able to grasp. He would now ramble into the lanes and fields alone, -to the distance of two or three miles, and return. His father keeping -horses, he learned to ride, and in time became an able horseman, a -gallop being his favourite pace. His parents having other children, -at the age of thirteen had John taught music, at which he proved very -expert; though he had conceived more taste for the cry of a hound or a -harrier, than the sound of any instrument. - -A gentleman at Knaresborough, of the name of Woodburn, was master -of a pack of hounds:—This gentleman encouraged Metcalf very much, -by taking him to hunt with him, and was always very desirous of his -company. Metcalf kept a couple of very good hounds of his own. - -Mr. Woodburn’s hounds being seldom kennelled, Metcalf used to take -several of them out secretly along with his own, about ten or eleven -o’clock at night, (the hares being then feeding); but one of the -young hounds happening to worry a couple of lambs, it caused him to -discontinue that practise. - -When about fourteen years old, his activity of limbs, and the good -success with which his exploits were usually attended, consoled him so -greatly for the deprivation of sight, that he was lead to imagine it -was in his power to undertake any thing, without danger: the following -adventure, however, caused him to alter his opinion of its value. - -There happened to be a plumb-tree a little way from Knaresborough, -where there had been a house formerly.—One Sunday, Metcalf and his -companions (who were skilled in matters of this sort) would go there, -to get some of the fruit; in these cases, Metcalf was always appointed -to ascend, for the purpose of shaking the trees. He was accordingly -sent up to his post; but in the height of the business, his companions -gathering below were suddenly alarmed by the appearance of the owner of -the tree, and prepared to quit the ground with all expedition:—Metcalf -thus left to himself, soon understood how matters were going, though -the wind was high, which prevented him from hearing distinctly; and -being inclined to follow his comrades, in making his retreat he fell -headlong into a gravel-pit belonging to Sir Harry Singsby, and cut a -large gash in his face, without, however, receiving any other injury -than a stun which for some time hindered his breathing, and kept him -motionless on the ground.—His father being rather severe, Metcalf -was afraid to go home, lest his wound should lead to a discovery of the -prank he had been engaged in. - -Soon after this, (though not easily dismayed) he and some other boys -were completely alarmed:—The church-porch at Knaresborough being the -usual place of their meeting, they one night between eleven and twelve -o’clock assembled there; Metcalf being generally the chief projector -of their plans: They determined to rob an orchard; which having done, -they returned to the church-porch to divide their booty. Before their -return, a circumstance had happened to which they were strangers, but -to the discovery of which the following little incident led, though -not immediately: There being a large ring to the church-door, which -turned for the purpose of lifting the latch, one of the party took hold -of it, and, by of bravado, gave a loud rap; calling out, “_A tankard -of ale here!_” A voice from within answered, very loudly, “_You are -at the wrong house._” This so stupified the whole covey, that none of -them could move for some time. At length, Metcalf said, “Did you not -hear something speak in the church?” Upon this, they all took to their -heels, and ran till they got out of the church-yard, Metcalf running -as fast as any of them. They now held a consultation on the subject -of their fright, all equally wondering at the voice, and none able to -account satisfactorily for it—One supposed that it might have been -some brother wag, who had put his mouth to the key-hole of the North -door; but to this it was objected, that the reply was too distinct and -too ready to have come in that way. At length, however, their spirits -being a little raised, they ventured again down the flagged pavement -into the church-yard; but when they came opposite to the church, they -perceived a light, so great as inclined them to believe that the -church was on fire. They now re-entered the church-porch, and were -nearly determined to call the parson; when somebody within lifting the -latch and making a great noise, they again dispersed, terrified and -speechless. One of the party, (whose name was Clemishaw) a son of the -sexton, ran home, and in a desperate fright got into bed with his -mother; all the rest, at the same time, making the best of their way. - -The cause of this panic was as follows:—An old lady, wife of Dr. -Talbot, (who had for many years enjoyed the living of Spofforth) dying, -and her relations, who lived at a great distance, being desirous to -arrive before her interment, ordered the body to be kept; this being -too long the case, and the neighbours perceiving a disagreeable smell, -a request was sent to the Rev. Mr. Collins, who ordered the sexton to -be called up to dig the grave in the church immediately: the sexton had -lighted a great number of candles: so much for the supposition of the -church being on fire; and the grave-digger was the person whose voice -had so terrified the apple-merchants, when they knocked. Such, however, -was the impression, that pranks of this nature were not repeated. - -About the year 1731, Metcalf being then fourteen years of age, a number -of men and boys made a practice of swimming in the river Nidd, where -there are many deeps convenient for that purpose.—Metcalf resolving to -learn that art, joined the party, and became so very expert, that his -companions did not chuse to come near him in the water, it being his -custom to seize them, send them to the bottom, and swim over them by -way of diversion. - -About this time, a soldier and another man were drowned in the above -deeps: the former, it was supposed, was taken with the cramp; the -latter could not swim. Metcalf was sent for to get up the bodies, and -at the fourth time of diving succeeded in bringing up that of the -soldier, which, when raised to the surface, other swimmers carried on -shore; but life had quite left it. The other body could not then be -found. - -There are very frequent floods in the river Nidd; and it is a -remarkable fact, that in the deep places, there are eddies, or -some other causes of attraction, which will draw to the bottom any -substance, however light, which comes within their sphere of action. -Large pieces of timber were often seen to be carried down by the -floods; these, on coming over the deep places, were stopped for the -space of a moment, and then sunk. Upon these occasions, Metcalf would -go down and with the greatest ease fix ropes to the wood, which was -drawn up by some persons purposely stationed on the banks. - -In the year 1732, one John Barker kept an inn at the West end of the -High Bridge, Knaresborough. This man was a manufacturer of linen cloth, -and used to bleach his own yarn. At one time, having brought two packs -of yarn to the river to wash, he thought he observed a number of -wool-packs rolling towards him; but on a nearer view it proved to be a -swelling of the current, occasioned by a sudden and very violent rain -in the neighbourhood. He had not time to remove his yarn, so that it -was swept away, and carried through the arches of the bridge, which -stands on a rock. A little below there is a piece of still water, -supposed to be about twenty-one feet in depth: as soon as the yarn -got to this, it sunk, except a little which caught the skirts of the -rock in going down. Metcalf being intimate with Barker, and calling at -his house a few days after the accident, found him lamenting his lost. -Metcalf told him that he hoped to recover his yarn for him, but Barker -smiled at the supposed absurdity of the proposal: finding, however, -that his friend was resolved on a trial, he consented. Metcalf then -ordered some long cart-ropes to be procured, and fixing a hook at one -end, and leaving the other to be held by some persons on the High -Bridge, he descended, and hooking as much of the yarn as he could at -one time, he gave orders for drawing up. In this way the whole was -recovered, with very little damage. - -Some time after this, Metcalf happened to be at Scriven, at the house -of one Green, an innkeeper.—Two persons then present had a dispute -concerning some sheep which one of them had put into the penfold. The -owner of the sheep, (one Robert Scaif, a Knaresborough man, and a -friend of Metcalf’s) appeared to be ill treated by the other party, -who wished to take an unfair advantage. Metcalf perceiving that they -were not likely to agree about the damages, bade them good night, -saying he was going to Knaresborough, but it being about the dead time -of night, he was firmly resolved to do a little friendly business -before he should get home. The penfold being walled round, he climbed -over, and getting hold of the sheep one by one, he fairly tossed them -over the wall: the difficulty of the service increased as the number -got less, not being so ready to catch;—he was not, however, thereby -deterred, but fully completed the exploit. - -On the return of day, the penfold door being found fast locked, great -was the surprise on finding it untenanted, and various the conjectures -as to the rogue or rogues who had liberated the sheep; but Metcalf past -unsuspected, and enjoyed the joke in silence. - -He continued to practice on the violin, until he became able to play -country dances. At Knaresborough, during the winter season, there was -an assembly every fortnight, at which he always attended, and went -besides to many other places where there was public dancing; yet, -though much employed in this way, he still retained his fondness for -hunting, and likewise began to keep game cocks. Whenever he went to a -cock-pit, it was his custom to place himself on the lowest seat, and -always close to some friend who was a good judge, and who, by certain -motions, enabled him to bet, hedge, &c. If at any time he heard of a -better game cock than his own, he was sure to get him by some means or -other, though at a hundred miles distance. - -A little way from home he had a cock-walk, and at the next house there -chanced to be another. The owner of the cock at the latter house -supposing that Metcalf’s and his would meet, armed his own cock with -a steel spur; which greatly displeasing Metcalf, he formed a plan of -revenge; and getting one of his comrades to assist, they procured a -quantity of cabbage-leaves, and fastening them together with skewers, -they fixed them against the outside of the windows, that the family -might not perceive the return of day-light; and that they should also -be prisoners, their associates in roguery walled up the door with -stones, and mud-mortar, which they were assisted in making by the -convenience of a pump which stood near. They then brought water, in -tubs, and continued pouring it in great quantities over the new wall, -(which did not reach quite up to the top of the door-frame) until the -house was flooded to a great depth. This done, they made the best of -their way home. - -In the morning, the people of the house finding their situation, and -being at no loss to suppose who had been the projector, and in all -probability the leading performer, of the business, were no sooner set -at liberty, than they went to a Justice, and got a warrant for Metcalf; -but not being able to prove the fact, he was, of course, dismissed. - -His fame now began to spread; and when any arch trick was done, -inquiry was sure to be made where Metcalf had been at the time. - -At Bilton, two miles from Knaresborough, there was a rookery, and the -boys had made many attempts to take the young ones; but the owner -wishing to preserve them, they were prevented. Metcalf determining to -make a trial, sent one of his comrades in the day-time as a spy to -reconnoitre the position of the nests; and having been informed by -him as to this, they set out in the dead of night, and brought away -seven dozen and a half, excepting the _heads_, which they left under -the trees. The owner of the rooks finding the heads, sent the bellman -round, offering a reward of two guineas for discovering the offenders: -the secret, however, was kept until long afterwards. - -A man at Knaresborough having married a woman who had lived at a -farm-house about a mile distant, brought his wife to his own home; and -some articles being left in the deserted house, he sent a son he had -by a former marriage to bring them away.—Metcalf being about the -same age as this boy, chose to accompany him. When they got to the -place, the boy missed the key, which he had lost from his pocket by -the way; and being afraid to return without his errand, he consulted -Metcalf about what was to be done. Metcalf was for entering the house -at all events; and not being able to procure a ladder, got a pole, -which reached to the thatch, and having borrowed a rope and a stick, -he climbed up the pole, and then ascending by the roof to the chimney, -he placed the stick across, and fastening the rope to it, attempted to -descend, but finding the flew too narrow, he threw off his cloaths, -and laying them on the ridge of the house, made a second attempt, and -succeeded: he then opened the door for his companion. While they were -in the house, there was a heavy thunder-shower, to which Metcalf’s -cloathes were exposed, being left upon the house-top: he attempted to -get up again, to fetch them; but the pole by which he had ascended was -now so wet, that he could not climb by it; he was therefore obliged to -wait until it dried, when ascending again, he recovered his cloathes. -This was considered by all who heard of it as a very extraordinary -performance by one in his situation, as well as a great act of -friendship to his companion. - -In the year 1732 Metcalf was invited to Harrogate, to succeed, as -fidler, a poor old man who had played there for 70 years, and who, -being borne down by the weight of 100 years, began to play too slow -for country dancing. Metcalf was well received by the nobility and -gentry, who employed no other fidler, except a boy whom he hired as an -assistant, when they began to build a long-room at the Queen’s Head. - -Being once, with his assistant, at Ripon assembly, they resolved to -call the next day at Newby Hall, the seat of ’Squire Blacket; having -got acquainted with that worthy family by their frequent visits to -Harrogate. There they stayed, regaling themselves, till near night, -when they set out for home. In the way, they had to cross the river -Ure by a ford, or go round by Boroughbridge or Ripon, which latter -Metcalf was not inclined to do. They were told that the ford would -be found impassable, much rain having fallen. Metcalf, however, was -determined to try; but on coming to the water-side, he found his -companion was much in liquor, and began to doubt of _his_ getting -over: as for himself, he had no fear, being a good swimmer.—So it was -agreed that Metcalf should strip, and (leaving his cloathes to the care -of his friend) lead his horse over, and thereby prove whether or not -it was safe for his comrade to follow. By this means they got over, -but not before it was dark. He then began to dress himself, but his -waistcoat (in which were the three joints of his hautboy) was missing, -as also his silver shoe-buckles, and seventeen shillings which fell -from his pocket. This was an unpleasant accident, but there being no -present remedy, they made the best of their way to Copgrove, where they -rested. Metcalf listened diligently to the clock, and after some hours, -supposing the waters to have abated, (which was the case,) he returned, -and found his seventeen shillings on the bank, and a buckle on each -side of the water. The waistcoat and hautboy he could never recover, -although he carefully drew the deeps with a gardener’s iron rake, which -he had procured for that purpose at Newby Hall. - -Metcalf now bought a horse, and often ran him for small plates. He -still continued to be a cocker—often hunted—and sometimes went a -coursing; in the evenings he attended to play at the assemblies: -finding, from these various pursuits, pretty sufficient employment. -Being greatly encouraged by the gentlemen, he began to think himself of -that class, excepting that his _rents_ failed to come in half-yearly -from his tenants. - -About this time there was a long-room built at the Green-Dragon at -Harrogate. More music being then wanted, he engaged one Midgeley (one -of the Leeds waits) and his son, as assistants. Midgeley, sen. being -a good performer, was taken into partnership gratis; but the son, and -Metcalf’s former assistant, paid five pounds each premium. This was -done with the approbation of all the innkeepers, who wished to keep -Metcalf at the head of the band. - -In the year 1735, Francis Barlow, Esq. of Middlethorp, near York, who -kept a pack of beagles, was at Harrogate, and liking Metcalf, gave him -an invitation to spend the winter at Middlethorp, desiring him to bring -his horse: the invitation was gladly accepted, and he went out with Mr. -Barlow’s hounds twice a week, highly gratified in the enjoyment of his -favourite sport. While at Middlethorp, he was invited by Mr. Hebdin, -an eminent musician, of York, to come to his house, and play, offering -him, gratis, any service or instruction in his power: this kind offer -Metcalf readily accepted, and went to practice music on those days when -there was no hunting. - -He had now completed a visit of six months to the worthy ’Squire of -Middlethorpe;—and the hunting season being almost over, he proposed -to his patron to take a farewell hunt in the forenoon, intending -to proceed to Knaresborough in the evening.—He accordingly set -out with the hounds in the morning; returned with the ’Squire at -noon; got himself and his horse well fed and _watered_, and then -proceeded to York, to take leave of Mr. Hebdin, previous to his going -home. He had learned to walk and ride very readily through most of -the streets of York; and as he was riding past the George Inn, in -Coneystreet, Standish, the landlord, stopped him, calling out “What -haste?” Metcalf told him he was for Knaresborough that night—The -landlord replied, that there was a gentleman in the house who wanted -a guide to Harrogate; adding, “I know you can do that as well as any -one.”—“So I can,” said he, “but you must not let him know that I -am blind, for perhaps he will be afraid to trust me.”—“_I_ shall -manage that,” replied Standish; so going in, he informed the gentleman -that he had procured him a safe guide. Pleased at this, the gentleman -requested that Metcalf would come in and take a bottle: this (for an -obvious reason) the landlord objected to on the part of Metcalf, but -recommended some wine at the door; during the drinking of which, the -stranger got ready, and they set off, Metcalf taking the lead. As they -were turning Ousegate corner, a voice halloed out “_’Squire Barlow’s -Blind Huntsman!_” but the gentleman not knowing the meaning of this, -they rode briskly up Micklegate, through the Bar, turned the corner -to Holgate, and through Poppleton Field on to Hessay Moor, and so -proceeded forward, going over Skip-Bridge. (At this time the turnpike -was not made between York and Harrogate.) - -On the North-West end of Kirk-Hammerton Moor, the road to Knaresborough -joined the main road which leads to Boroughbridge by a sudden turn -to the left; but Metcalf cleared that without any difficulty. When -they came to Allerton-Mauleverer, the stranger asked whose large house -that was on the right; and was immediately informed by Metcalf. A -little farther on, the road is crossed by the one from Wetherby to -Boroughbridge, and proceeds along by the high brick wall of Allerton -Park. There was a road leading out of the Park, opposite to the gate -upon the Knaresborough road, which Metcalf was afraid of missing; but -the wind being from the East, and he perceiving a blast coming through -the Park-gate, he readily turned his horse to the opposite gate which -leads to Knaresborough. Reaching out his hand to open it, he felt the -heel, as it is called; and, backing his horse, exclaimed “Confound -thee! thou always goes to the gate heel, instead of the head.” The -gentleman observed to him that his horse seemed aukward, and that his -own mare was good at coming up to a gate; whereupon Metcalf permitted -him to perform this office. Darkness (which had now come on) being no -obstruction to him, he briskly led the way, resolved that his companion -should not again see his face till they got to Harrogate. As they were -going through Knaresborough, the gentleman proposed a glass of wine, -which Metcalf refused, alledging that the horses were hot, and that -being near their journey’s end, it was not worth while to stop:—On -then they went; and presently some one cried out “_That’s Blind -Jack!_”—This assertion, however, was contradicted by another person -who could not clearly identify him; and by this means the stranger was -kept in the _dark_ as effectually as his guide. They then proceeded -over the High Bridge, and up the Forest Lane, and then entering the -Forest, they had to pass along a narrow causeway which reached about -one-third of the way to Harrogate. When they had gone a little way upon -the Forest, the gentleman saw a light, and asked what place it was. -There were some rocks upon the Forest called Hookston Craggs, and near -to these the ground was low and swampy in some places, close by which -lays the Leeds road;—about this part were frequently seen at night, -vapours, commonly called Will-o’-the-wisp. Metcalf took it for granted -that his companion had seen one of these, but for good reasons declined -asking him whereabout the light was; and to divert his attention from -this object, asked him, “Do you not see two lights; one to the right, -the other to the left?” “No,” replied the gentleman; “I seen but one -light, that there on the right.”—“Well then, Sir,” said Metcalf, “that -is Harrogate.” There were then many tracks, but Metcalf made choice of -that nearest the fence: by the side of this path, which is very near -Harrogate, some larches were planted; and stepping-stones laid for -the convenience of foot-passengers: Metcalf got upon this stony path, -and the gentleman’s horse following, got one of his hind feet jammed -between two of the stones: when his horse was freed, he asked “Is there -no other road?” “Yes,” replied Metcalf, “there is another, but it is a -mile about:” knowing at the same time that there was a dirty cart-way -just at hand, but to which upon some account he preferred this rugged -path. - -Arrived at their journey’s end, they stopped at the house now called -the Granby, but found that the ostler was gone to bed.—Metcalf being -very well acquainted with the place, led both the horses into the -stable, and the ostler soon after appearing, he delivered them to his -care, and went into the house to inquire after his fellow-traveller, -whom he found comfortably seated over a tankard of negus, in which he -pledged his guide; but when Metcalf attempted to take the tankard, -he reached out his hand wide of the mark: however, he soon found it, -and drank; and going out again, left to the landlord the opportunity -of explaining to his companion what he was not yet sensible of.—“I -think, landlord,” said the gentleman, “my guide must have drank a great -deal of spirits since we came here.”—“Why, my good Sir, do you think -so?”—“Well, I judge so from the appearance of his _eyes_.”—“_Eyes!_ -bless you, Sir,” rejoined the landlord, “do not you know that he is -BLIND?”—“What do you mean by that?”—“I mean, Sir, that _he cannot -see_.”—“BLIND! Gracious God!!”—“Yes, Sir; as blind as a stone, by -Heaven!”—“Well, landlord,” said the gentleman, “this is too much: call -him in.” Metcalf enters. “My friend, are you really blind?”—“Yes, -Sir; I lost my sight when six years old.”—“Had I known that, I would -not have ventured with you for an hundred pounds.”—“And I, Sir,” said -Metcalf, “would not have lost my way for a thousand.” This conversation -ended, they sat down, and drank plentifully. Metcalf had with him a -case containing a new fiddle which he had just received from London, -and the gentleman observing it, desired him to play: the guide gave -him as much satisfaction in this way, as he had before done in the -character of a conductor; and the services of the evening were rewarded -by a present of two guineas, besides a plentiful entertainment the -next day, at the cost of this gentleman, who looked upon the adventure -with Metcalf as the most extraordinary incident he had ever met with. - -1736. The Harrogate season now commencing, Metcalf, of course, resumed -his occupation; and, being of a jocular and comic turn, was so well -received at all the inns, that he obtained free quarters for himself -and horse. - -The Green Dragon at that place was then kept by a Mr. Body, who had -two nephews with him; and when the hunting season drew near its close, -these with some other young men expressed a great desire for a day’s -sport; and knowing that Mr. Woodburn, the master of the Knaresborough -pack of hounds, had often lent them to Metcalf for the same purpose, -they doubted not of the success of _his_ application: being, however, -unprovided with hunters, they were obliged to defer the day for near a -fortnight before they could be accommodated. - -On the evening before the appointed day, Metcalf went, flushed with -hope, to Mr. Woodburn, requesting him to lend the pack for the next -day. This was a favour out of his power to grant, having engaged to -meet ’Squire Trapps, with the hounds, next morning, upon Scotton Moor, -for the purpose of entering some young fox-hounds.—Chagrined at this, -Metcalf debated with himself whether the disappointment should fall to -Mr. Woodburn’s friends, or his own: determining that it should not be -the lot of the latter, he arose the next morning before day-break, and -crossed the High Bridge near which he had the advantage of the joint -echos of the Old Castle and Belmont Wood. He had brought with him an -extraordinary good hound of his own, and taking him by the ears, made -him give mouth very loudly, himself giving some halloos at the same -time. This device had so good an effect, that in a few minutes he had -nine couple about him, as the hounds were kept by various people about -the shambles, &c. and were suffered to lay unkennelled. Mounting -his horse, away he rode with the dogs to Harrogate, where he met his -friends, ready mounted, and in high spirits. Some of them proposed -going to Bilton Wood; but this was opposed by Metcalf, who preferred -the Moor; in fact, he was apprehensive of being followed by Mr. -Woodburn, and wished to be further from Knaresborough upon that account. - -Pursuant to his advice, they drew the Moor, at the distance of five -miles, where they started a hare, killed her after a fine chace, and -immediately put up another:—just at this moment came up Mr. Woodburn, -foaming with anger, swearing most terribly, and threatening to send -Metcalf to the devil, or at least to the house of correction; and, his -passion rising to the utmost, rode up with an intention to horsewhip -him, which Metcalf prevented, by galloping out of his reach.—Mr. -Woodburn then endeavoured to call off the hounds; but Metcalf, knowing -the fleetness of his own horse, ventured within speaking, though not -within _whipping_, distance of him, and begged that he would permit -the dogs to finish the chace, alledging that it would spoil them to -take them off; and that he was sure they would (as they actually did) -kill in a very short time. Metcalf soon found that Mr. Woodburn’s -anger had begun to abate; and going nearer to him, pleaded in excuse -a misunderstanding of his plan, which he said he thought had been -fixed for the day after. The apology succeeded with this good-natured -gentleman, who, giving the hare to Metcalf, desired he would accompany -him to Scotton Moor, whither, though late, he would go, rather than -wholly disappoint Mr. Trapps. The reader, by this time, knows enough of -Metcalf to believe he was not averse to this proposal; so leaving the -hares with his comrades, and engaging to be with them in the evening, -he joined his old associate. The day being advanced, Metcalf objected -to the circuitous way of Harrogate Bridge, proposing to cross the river -Nidd at Holm Bottom; and Mr. Woodburn not being acquainted with the -ford, he again undertook the office of guide, and leading the way, -they soon arrived at Scotton Moor, where Mr. Trapps and his company -had waited for them two hours. Mr. Woodburn explained the cause of the -delay, and, being now able to participate in the joke, the affair ended -very agreeably. - -Metcalf stayed with this company until three in the afternoon, and then -set off for Harrogate, crossing the river. He had not tasted food that -day; but when he got to his friends, he found them preparing the brace -of hares, with many other good things, for supper; and after spending -many jovial hours, he played country-dances till day-light. - -When the Harrogate season was over, it was Metcalf’s constant custom to -visit at the inns, always spending the evening at one or other of them. -At the Royal Oak (now the Granby) in particular, scenes of mirth were -often going forward; and at these he greatly attracted the notice of -one of the landlord’s daughters. - -In the summer he used often to run his horse for the petty plates or -prizes given at the feasts in the neighbourhood; and on all these -occasions, when in her power, she was sure to attend, with her female -friends. By frequent intercourse, the lady and Metcalf became very -intimate; and this intimacy produced mutual regard and confidence. -Her mother being a high-spirited woman, had brought up her daughters, -as she hoped at least, with notions ill suited to the condition of -Metcalf; so that in order to disguise the state of their hearts -from her parents, the lovers agreed on a set of names and phrases, -intelligible to each other, though not so to them. He used to call -himself Mary, or Tibby, (at once changing the sex, and speaking as -if of a third person); and she, Harry, or Dickey, or some such name. -Whenever he sought to intimate to her his intention of visiting her, -he would say, “You must tell Richard that Mary will be here on such -a day.” Her mother would perhaps ask, “Who is that?” To which she -would reply, that it was a young woman who was to meet her brother -there.—But if the day appointed by Metcalf was not convenient, she -would say, that “Richard had called, and had left word that Mary should -call again at such a time;” meaning the time she wished Metcalf to -come.—And as she commonly fastened the doors, when she expected him -she always left a door or a window open. - -One night, in particular, Metcalf having, in consequence of an -appointment, arrived there about midnight, and got in by a window that -had been designedly left open; in his way to the _young_ woman’s room, -he met the _old_ one in the middle of the stair-case! Both parties were -much surprised; and the mistress asking angrily “Who’s there?” “What -do you want?” he knowing that she always went to bed early, replied “I -came in late last night, sat down in a chair by the fire-side, and fell -fast asleep.” She then called loudly to her daughter, “Why did you not -shew Jack to bed?” “I was not to sit up all night for him;” replied the -lass. He then pursued his way up stairs, and the girl conducted him to -a bed-room. - -In summer he would often play at bowls, making the following conditions -with his antagonist, viz. to receive the odds of a bowl extra for the -deficiency of an eye.—By these terms he had three for the other’s one. -He took care to place a friend and confidant at the jack, and another -about mid-way; and those, keeping up a constant discourse with him, -enabled him, by their voices, to judge of the distance. The degree of -bias he could always ascertain by feeling; and, odd as it may seem, was -very frequently the winner. - -Cards, too, began to engage his attention; all of which he could soon -distinguish, unassisted; and many were the persons of rank who, from -curiosity, played with him, he generally winning the majority of the -games. - -But the achievements already enumerated were far from bounding either -his ambition or capacity: He now aspired to the acquaintance of -jockies of a higher class than he had hitherto known, and to this end -frequented the races at York and many other places; when he always -found the better kind of persons inclined to lend him their skill in -making his bets, &c. impressed, as they no doubt were, with sympathy -for his situation, and surprize at his odd propensity. - -He commonly rode to the race-ground amongst the crowd; and kept in -memory both the winning and losing horses. - -Being much in the habit of visiting York in the winter time, a whim -would often take him to call for his horse at bed-time, and set out -for Knaresborough, regardless of the badness of the roads and weather, -and of all remonstrance from his friends; yet the hand of Providence -always conducted him in safety.—It was quite common for him to go from -Skipton, over the Forest Moor, to Knaresborough, alone; but if he had -company, and it was night, he was, of course, the foremost. - -About the year 1738, Metcalf having increased his stud, and being aware -of the docility of that noble animal, the horse, so tutored his own, -that whenever he called them by their respective names, they would -immediately answer him by neighing. This was chiefly accomplished by -some discipline at the time of feeding. He could, however, without the -help of those responses, select his own horses out of any number. - -Having matched one of his horses, to run three miles, for a wager -of some note, and the parties agreeing to ride each his own, they -set up posts at certain distances, on the Forest, including a circle -of one mile; having, of course, three rounds to go. Great odds were -laid against Metcalf, upon the supposition of his inability to keep -the course. But what did his ingenuity suggest in this dilemma: or, -rather, what did it anticipate? He procured four dinner-bells from the -different inns, with what others he could borrow; and placing a man, -with a bell, at each post, he was enabled, by the ringing, to turn; and -fully availing himself of the superior fleetness of his horse, came in -winner, amidst the plaudits and exultations of the multitude, except -only those who had betted against him. - -A gentleman of the name of Skelton then came up, and proposed to -Metcalf a small wager, that he could not gallop a horse of his fifty -yards, and stop him within two hundred. This horse was notorious as -a run-away, and had baffled the efforts of the best and strongest -riders to hold him. Metcalf agreed to the wager, upon condition that -he might choose his ground; but Skelton objected to there being either -hedge or wall in the distance. Metcalf, every ready at any thing that -was likely to produce a joke, agreed; the stakes were deposited; and -knowing that there was a large bog near the Old Spa at Harrogate, he -mounted at about the distance of an hundred and fifty yards from it. -Having observed the wind, and placed a person who was to sing a song, -for the guidance of sound, he set off, at full gallop, for the bog, and -soon fixed the horse saddle-skirt deep in the mire. He then floundered -through the dirt as well as he was able, till he gained a firm footing; -when he demanded his wager, which was allotted him by the general -suffrage. It was with the greatest difficulty, however, that the horse -could be extricated.——That Metcalf was so well acquainted with this -spot, was owing to his having, about three weeks before, relieved a -stranger who had got fast in it in the night, and whose cries had -attracted him. - -It was now no unusual thing with him to buy horses, with a view to -sell them again. Happening to meet with a man who had left the place -of huntsman to a pack of subscription hounds kept by Sir John Kaye, -’Squire Hawkesworth, and others, and who had a horse to sell, Metcalf -inquired his price, at the same time requesting permission to ride him -a little way. Having trotted the horse a mile or two, he returned, -telling the owner that the _eyes_ of his nag would soon fail. The man, -however, stood firm to his demand of twenty-five guineas for the horse, -alledging that he was beautifully moulded, only six years old, and his -action good. Metcalf then took the man into the stable, and desired -him to lay his hand upon the eyes of the horse, to feel their uncommon -heat; asking him, at the same time, how he could, in conscience, demand -so great a price for a horse that was going blind. This treaty ended -with Metcalf’s purchasing the horse, bridle, and saddle, for fourteen -pounds. - -A few days after, as he was riding on his new purchase, he ran against -a sign-post, upon the Common, near the Toy-Shop, and nearly threw it -down. Not discouraged by this, he set off for Ripon, to play at an -assembly; and passing by a place at Harrogate called the World’s-End, -he overtook a man going the Ripon road.—With him Metcalf laid a wager -of six-pennyworth of liquor, that he would get first to an alehouse at -some small distance. The ground being rough, Metcalf’s horse soon fell, -and lay for a while on the thigh of his master, when, making an effort -to rise, he cut Metcalf’s face with one of his fore shoes. The Rev. Mr. -Richardson coming up at this moment, and expressing his concern for the -accident, Metcalf told him that nothing had hurt him but the cowardice -of his horse, who had _struck him whilst he was down_. His instrument, -however, suffered so materially, that he was obliged to borrow one -to perform on for the night, at Ripon, to which place he got without -further accident. The assembly over, he set off to return to Harrogate, -and arrived there about three in the morning. - -He now thought it was time to dispose of his fine horse, whose eyes -began to discharge much. After applying the usual remedies of allum -blown into the eyes, roweling in different parts, &c. he found him in -marketable condition; and knowing that there would soon be a great shew -of horses without Micklegate-Bar, at York, he resolved to take the -chance of that mart; and setting out the night before, put up at the -Swan, in Micklegate. The next morning, when the shew began, Metcalf’s -nag attracted the notice of one Carter, a very extensive dealer, who -asking the price, was told twenty-two guineas. Carter then inquired if -he was sound, and received for answer, “I have never known him _lame_; -but I shall trot him on this pavement, and if there be any ailment of -that kind, it will soon appear, with my weight.” The dealer bade him -sixteen guineas, and a little after, seventeen; which Metcalf, for -well-known reasons, was glad to receive. - -Having sold his horse, he set off on foot for Harrogate; but before -he had got to Holgate (about a mile on his way) he was overtaken by a -Knaresborough man, on horseback, who proposed, for two shillings-worth -of punch, to let him ride in turn, dividing the distances equally. -Metcalf thought the man was unreasonable in his demand, but agreed to -it at length; and giving his companion one tankard, he, by consent, got -the first ride, with instructions to the following effect, viz. That -he should ride on till he got a little beyond Poppleton-Field, where -he would _see_ a gate on his right hand, to which he should fasten the -horse, and leaving him for the owner, proceed. Metcalf not _seeing_ -the gate, as described, rode on to Knaresborough, which was seventeen -miles from the place where he had left his fellow-traveller. He then -left the horse at the owner’s house, saying that the master having got -into a return-chaise, had desired him to ride the horse home.—— The -owner was greatly enraged at being left to walk so long a way; but, -on Metcalf’s pleading that he never _saw_ the gate, he found it his -interest to join in the laugh. - -Being now in the prime of life, and possessing a peculiar archness -of disposition, with an unceasing flow of spirits, and a contempt of -danger, seldom if ever equalled by one in his circumstances, it will -not be wondered at that levities, such as are before recited, should -have employed a considerable portion of his time. The sequel, however, -will, in due course, shew, that he was capable of embarking in, and -bringing to perfection, several schemes, of public as well as private -utility; and this promise to the reader, it is hoped, will insure his -patience, while he is made the companion of the author in a few more of -his frolicsome adventures. - -In the year 1738 Metcalf attained the age of twenty-one years, and the -height of six feet one inch and an half, and was remarkably robust -withal. - -At that time there lived at Knaresborough one John Bake, a man of -a ferocious temper and athletic figure. He was considered in the -neighbourhood as a champion, or rather bully; and thus qualified, was -often employed _specially_, to serve writs or warrants, in cases where -desperate resistance was expected. Metcalf going one evening, with a -friend, to a public house, they there met this Bake; and a short time -after, Metcalf’s and Bake sat down to cards. The latter took some -money off the table, to which he was not entitled; and the former -remonstrating on the injustice of Bake, received from him a violent -blow. Metcalf interposing with words only at first, was treated in the -same manner; when instantly entering into combat with this ruffian, he -bestowed upon him such discipline as soon extorted a cry for mercy. - -To the fame which Metcalf had acquired by various means, was now added -that of a boxer, though he was far from being ambitious of celebrity -in that way. Some little time after, Metcalf was called up at midnight -by this very Bake, who, knowing by experience the prowess and powers -of his late antagonist, had presumed to make a bet of five guineas, -that Metcalf would beat a fellow whose company he had just left.—But -Metcalf gave him to understand, that, although he had store of thumps -for those who should treat him with insolence, he was no prize-fighter; -and having no quarrel with the man in question, he (Bake) might fight -or forfeit as he liked best. - -Being desirous of getting a little fish, he once, unassisted, drew a -net of eighty yards length, in the deepest part of the river Wharfe, -for three hours together. At one time he held the lines in his mouth, -being obliged to swim. - -The following wager he laid, and won: He engaged with a man at the -Queen’s Head at Harrogate, to go to Knaresborough Cross, and return, in -less time than the other would gather one hundred and twenty stones, -laid at regular distances of a yard each, and, taking one stone at a -time, put them all into a basket placed at one end of the line. - -Meeting with some company, amongst whom there was one of a boastful -turn, Metcalf proposed to go against him from Harrogate to -Knaresborough Cross, provided he would take the way which Metcalf -should choose. To this the other agreed, believing that he could easily -keep pace with Metcalf till he should arrive within sight of the -Cross, and that he could then push forward, and beat him. But when -they got within half a mile of the town, Metcalf quitted the road which -leads over the High Bridge, and, knowing that his antagonist could not -swim, made for a deep part of the river above Bridge, and divesting -himself of his upper drapery, swam across; at the same time calling -out jeeringly to his adversary, “that he hoped for the pleasure of his -company up to the Cross.” The other, not liking to commit himself to -the water, gave up the wager. - -About this time, Dr. Chambers, of Ripon, had a well-made horse, which -he used to hunt; but finding that latterly he became a great stumbler, -he exchanged him with a dealer, who took him to Harrogate, and meeting -with Metcalf, told him he had an excellent hunter to sell at a low -price.—Metcalf desired to try how the horse leaped, and the owner -agreeing, he mounted him, and found that he could go over any wall or -fence, the height of himself when saddled. A bargain was soon struck; -and this happening at the Queen’s Head, several gentlemen who were -witnesses of the horse’s performance invited Metcalf to accompany them, -two days after, to Belmont Wood, where a pack of hounds were to throw -off. - -These hounds were the joint property of Francis Trapps, Esq; and his -brother, of Nidd, near Ripley. A pack superior to this was not to be -found in the kingdom; nor were the owners themselves ever excelled in -their attention to their dogs and hunters. - -The wished-for day arriving, Metcalf attended the gentlemen, and the -hounds were not long in finding. The fox took away to Plumpton Rocks, -but finding all secure there he made for Stockeld Wood, and found -matters in the same slate as at Plumpton.—He had then run about six -miles. He came back, and crossed the river Nidd near the Old Abbey, and -went on the East side of Knaresborough, to a place called Coney-Garths -(where there were earths) near Scriven. Metcalf’s horse carried him -nobly; pulling hard, and requiring proportionate resistance. The wind -being high, Metcalf lost his hat, but would not stop to recover it; -and coming to Thistle-Hill, near Knaresborough, he resolved to cross -the river at the Abbey-Mill, having often before gone, _on foot_, over -the dam-stones. When he got to the dam, he attended to the noise of -the fall, as a guide, and ranging his horse in a line with the stones, -dashed forward for some part of the way; but the stones being slippery -with a kind of moss, his horse stumbled, but recovered this and a -second blunder: the third time, however, floundering completely, away -went horse and rider into the dam. Metcalf had presence of mind to -disengage his feet from the stirrups, during the descent; but both the -horse and himself were immersed over head in water. He then quitted his -seat, and made for the opposite side, the horse following him. Having -secured his nag, he laid himself down on his back, and held up his -heels to let the water run out of his boots; which done, he quickly -re-mounted, and went up a narrow lane which leads to the road between -Knaresborough and Wetherby; then through some lanes on the North-East -side of Knaresborough; and crossing the Boroughbridge road, he got to -the Coney-Garths, where he found that the whipper-in only had arrived -before him. - -Here the fox had earthed, as was expected; and the other horsemen -(who had gone over the Low Bridge, and through the town) after some -time came up.—They were much surprised at finding Metcalf there, -and attributed the soaked condition of himself and horse to profuse -sweating; nor were they undeceived till (giving up the fox) they got -to Scriven, where, upon an explanation of the affair, they laughed -heartily. - -In the circle of Metcalf’s acquaintance at Knaresborough were two young -men, whose sister lived with them in the capacity of housekeeper; and -she being of a jocular turn, would often, on Metcalf’s calling at -the house, propose such whimsical schemes to him, as gave him reason -to believe that to laugh and be merry was the chief business of her -life. However, she one evening apprised him of her intention to pay him -a visit in the night, and desired him to leave his door unlocked. A -knowledge of the woman’s mirthful propensity made him at first consider -this as a joke; but, on the other hand, he thought it _possible_ that a -_real_ assignation was intended; and being too gallant to disappoint a -_lady_, he told her he would obey her orders. Too sure for the future -peace of Metcalf, the lady was punctual to her appointment; coming at -the dead time of night to his mother’s house, unawed at passing by -the _church_, whose sanction was wanting. It would be impertinent to -detain the reader on the subject of the meeting: suffice it to say, -that Metcalf too had unfortunately left his scruples at another house. -In a few months after, this tender creature accosted him in the usual -way—“I am ruined!—undone—lost for ever, if you do not make an honest -woman of me!—” &c. &c. - -Whatever compunction Metcalf might have felt in a case of confiding -innocence, pleading for the only compensation in his power, he did not -think his conscience very deeply interested in the present: besides, -his heart was strongly attached to his first truly respectable and -worthy mistress.—His business, therefore, was to pacify a troublesome -client, which he did in the best manner he was able. The adventure with -this dulcinea had happened previous to the above-mentioned hunt; but -when Metcalf accompanied the gentlemen from the Coney-Garths to the -village of Scriven, he there heard, on the authority of the landlord of -the inn, that a woman had gone that day to filiate a child to him. He -endeavoured to be merry on the occasion, alledging, that it could not -be so, as he had not _seen_ the woman for several years. This produced -a laugh among the company; but with Metcalf it soon took a more serious -turn. On his return to Harrogate he employed his fellow-fidler to -procure a meeting between him and his favourite, Dorothy Benson, which -was effected with some difficulty; and he took this occasion to inform -her of his disgrace, judging it better to be before-hand with her, in -a matter which could not be long concealed.—“Ah! John,” replied she, -“thou hast got into a sad scrape: but I intreat thee, do not think -of marrying her.” Having quieted the fears of his favourite on that -score, he desired his assistant to go with him to Knaresborough, to -_sound the coast_; but before they had got half way, his companion -exclaimed, “Here is the Town-Officer coming!” Metcalf proposed walking -smartly on, without noticing him; but when they got near, the Officer, -who was a Quaker, called out, “Stop, I want to speak with thee.” He -then explained his errand, and pressed Metcalf much to marry the -woman; to which he replied, that he had no thoughts of marriage, and -desired to know whether for thirty or forty pounds in money the matter -might be made up. “Yea, friend,” said Jonathan, “perhaps I can settle -the affair for thee on those terms.” On this, Metcalf observed to -him, that he must go to Harrogate, his money being there. The Quaker -agreeing, they went together to a public-house, where Metcalf called -for a tankard of punch, drank part of it, and seeming very chearful, -said, “I must go and collect my money: as it is in various hands, -perhaps it will be an hour or more before I can return; so drink your -punch, and call for more.” This pretext succeeding, he left Jonathan -to regale himself at his own suit; and choosing the most private way -to a thick wood, he there secreted himself all day. After some hours -waiting, the man of the broad brim lost all patience, and set out in -quest of his profane ward; when meeting a gentleman, he thus accosted -him: “Friend! have thee, perchance, seen a blind fidler?” The gentleman -replied, “I thought that a person of thy cloth had not wanted a -fidler.” “I tell thee I want one at this time,” quoth the Quaker; who, -after some other fruitless inquiries, went home. - -At night, Metcalf ventured to break cover; and judging it unsafe to -remain in the neighbourhood of the _hounds_, he gave his assistant -directions to put his little affairs in order—then mounting his horse, -he took the road for Scarborough. - -As he was walking one day on the sands, with a friend, he resolved to -take a swim in the sea, his companion agreeing to give him an halloo -when he should think he had gone far enough outward; but the other, not -making a sufficient allowance for the noise of the sea, suffered him -to go out of hearing before he shouted, and Metcalf continued swimming -until he got out of the sight of his friend, who now suspected he -should see him no more. At length he began to reflect, that, should -he proceed on to Holland, he had nothing in his _pocket_ to make him -welcome;—so turning, and removing his hair from his ears, he thought -he heard the breakers beating against the pier which defends the Spa: -finding, by the noise, that he was at a great distance, he increased -his efforts, and happening to be right, he landed in safety, and -relieved his friend from a very painful situation. - -Having an aunt at Whitby, near the Allum-works, he went there, left his -horse, and got on board an allum ship bound for London. - -In London he met with a North-country man who played on the small -pipes, and who frequented the houses of many gentlemen in town. By -his intelligence Metcalf found out several who were in the habit -of visiting Harrogate; and amongst others, Colonel Liddell, who -resided in King-street, Covent-Garden, and who gave him a general -invitation to his house. The Colonel was a Member of Parliament -for Berwick-upon-Tweed, and lived at Ravensworth-Castle, near -Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and on his return from London into the North, -which generally happened in the month of May, he stopped three weeks at -Harrogate, for a number of years successively. - -When the winter was over, Metcalf thought he must take a _look_ out -of London. Accordingly he set out through Kensington, Hammersmith, -Colnbrook, Maidenhead, and Reading, in Berkshire; and returned by -Windsor, and Hampton-Court, to London, in the beginning of May. In his -absence, Colonel Liddell had sent to his lodgings, to let him know that -he was going to Harrogate, and that, if agreeable to him, he might go -down either behind his coach or on the top. Metcalf, on his return, -waited upon the Colonel, and thanked him, but declined his kind offer, -observing, that he could, with great ease, walk as far in a day as he -would choose to travel. The next day, at noon, the Colonel, and his -suite, consisting of sixteen servants on horseback, set off, Metcalf -starting about an hour before them. They were to go by way of Bugden, -and he made his way to Barnet. A little way from Barnet the Bugden and -St. Albans roads part, and he had taken the latter: however, he made -good the destined stage for sleeping, which was Welling, and arrived -a little before the Colonel, who was surprized at his performance. -Metcalf set off again the next morning before his friends, and coming -to Biggleswade, found the road was crossed with water, there being -no bridge at that time. He made a circuitous cast, but found no -other way, except a foot-path which he was dubious of trusting. A -person coming up, asked, “What road are you for?”—He answered, “For -Bugden.” “You have had some liquor this morning, I suppose,” said the -stranger.—“Yes,” replied Metcalf; although he had tasted none that -day. The stranger then bid him follow, and he would bring him into the -highway. Soon after they came to some sluices, with planks laid across, -and Metcalf followed by the sound of his guide’s feet; then to a gate, -on the side of the turnpike, which being locked, he was told to climb -over. Metcalf was struck with the kind attention of his conductor, -and taking twopence from his pocket, said, “Here, good fellow, take -that, and get thee a pint of beer;” but the other declined it, saying -he was welcome. Metcalf, however, pressing the reward upon him, was -asked, “Can you see very well?” “Not remarkably well,” he replied. “My -friend,” said the stranger, “I do not mean to _tythe_ you:—I am Rector -of this parish; and so God bless you, and I wish you a good journey.” -Metcalf set forward with the parson’s benediction, and stopped every -night with the Colonel: On coming to Wetherby, he arrived at the inn -before him, as usual, and told the landlord of his approach, who asked -him by what means he had become acquainted with that, and was informed -by him how he had preceded the Colonel the whole week, this being -Saturday, and they had left town on Monday noon. The Colonel arriving, -ordered Metcalf into his room, and proposed halting till Monday; -but Metcalf replied, “With your leave, Sir, I shall go to Harrogate -to-night, and meet you there on Monday.” In truth, he was anxious to -know the worst respecting the woman who had been the cause of his -journey; and was much pleased to find matters in a better train than -he expected, for being in a comfortable way, and not inclined to be -farther troublesome. Many friends visited him on Sunday, and the next -day the Colonel arrived. But of all his friends, the dearest was at the -Royal Oak: with her he had an affectionate meeting, after an absence -of seven months. During this interval a young man had been paying his -addresses to her; and knowing that Metcalf was acquainted with the -family, he solicited him to use what interest he had in his behalf: -this, when made known to the lady by the man of her heart, afforded -them both great entertainment. - -Metcalf became now in great request as a performer at Ripon assembly, -which was resorted to by many families of distinction, such as those -of Sir Walter Blacket of Newby, Sir John Wray, Sir R. Graham, ’Squire -Rhodes, ’Squire Aislaby of Studley, and many others. When he played -alone, it was usual with him, after the assembly, to set off for -Harrogate or Knaresborough; but when he had an assistant, he remained -all night at Ripon to keep him company, his partner being afraid to -ride in the dark. - -Finding himself worth fifteen pounds, (a larger sum than he ever before -had to spare) he made his favourite Miss Benson his treasurer; but as -he had not yet begun to speculate in the purchase of _land_, and a -main of cocks being made in the neighbourhood, he became a party, and -drawing his cash from the hands of his fair banker, he lost two-thirds -of his whole fortune.—The remaining five pounds he laid on a horse -which was to run at York a few days after; and though he had the good -fortune to win the last wager, his general imprudence in this way -produced a little shyness from his sweetheart. - -His competitor (not suspecting the intimacy between Metcalf -and the young lady) pushed his suit briskly; and after a short -time, banns were published in the churches of Knaresborough and -Kirby-Overblow.—Metcalf was much surprised, having long thought -himself secure of her affection. He now began to believe that she had -laid more stress on his late follies than he had been aware of, and the -remembrance of them gave him exquisite pain, for he loved her tenderly, -and was restrained from proposing marriage to her only by the doubts he -had of being able to support her in the manner she had been accustomed -to. On the other hand, his pride made him disdain to shew that he was -hurt, or to take any measures to prevent the match. The publication -of banns being complete, the wedding-day was appointed.—The supposed -bridegroom had provided an entertainment at his house for upwards of -two hundred people; and going with a few friends to Harrogate on the -Sunday, proposed the following day for the nuptials, which were to -be solemnized at Knaresborough, intending to return to Harrogate to -breakfast, where a bride-cake was ready, with a hamper of wine, which -latter was to have been carried to Kirby, for the use of the guests he -had invited. - -On the Sunday, Metcalf riding pretty smartly past the Royal Oak, -towards the Queen’s Head, was loudly accosted in these words—“One -wants to speak with you.” He turned immediately to the stables of the -Oak, and, to his joyful surprise, found there his favourite, who had -sent her mother’s maid to call him. “Well, lass,” said he, “thou’s -going to have a merry day to-morrow; am I to be the fidler?”—“Thou -never shalt fiddle at my wedding,” replied she. “What’s the matter? -What have I done?” said Metcalf.—“Matters may not end,” said she, “as -some folks wish they should.” “What!” said he, “hadst thou rather have -me? Canst thou bear starving?”—“Yes,” said she, “with _thee_ I can!” -“Give me thy hand, then, lass,—skin for skin, it’s all done!” - -The girl who had called him being present, he told her, that as she -and his horse were the only witnesses to what had passed, he would -kill the first who should divulge it.—The immediate concern was to -fix on some plan, as Miss Benson was apprehensive of being missed -by her friends.—Jack, ever prompt at an expedient, desired that she -would that night place a lighted candle in one of the windows of the -old house, as soon as the coast was clear, and herself ready to set -off, which will doubtless appear to the reader a very extraordinary -signal to a blind man; but he had conceived measures for carrying the -projected elopement into effect by the assistance of a third person. -This being approved of, she went into the house, and in a short time -was followed by Metcalf, who was warmly received by the supposed -bridegroom and company. The tankard went briskly round with “Success -to the intended couple;” in which toast, it may be readily believed, -Metcalf joined them most cordially. - -Having stayed till it was near dark, he thought it time for putting -business into a proper train. Going then to a public house known by -the name of the World’s End, he inquired for the ostler, whom he knew -to be a steady fellow; and after obtaining from this man a promise -either to serve him in an affair of moment in which he was engaged, or -keep the secret, he related the particulars of his assignation, and the -intended elopement; to forward which, he desired him to let them have -his master’s mare, which he knew would carry double.—This agreed on, -he requested the further service of meeting him at the Raffle Shop (now -the Library) at ten o’clock: a whistle was to be given by the first who -got there, as a signal. They met pretty punctually; and Metcalf asked -him if he saw a star, meaning the light before mentioned: he said, he -did not; but in less than half an hour the _star_ was in the place -appointed. They then left the horses at a little distance from the -house, not choosing to venture into the court-yard, it being paved. On -the door being opened by the lady, he asked her if the was ready; to -which she replied in the affirmative.—He advised her, however, to pack -up a gown or two, as she probably might not see her mother again for -some time. The ostler having recommended the lady’s pillion to Metcalf, -in preference to that of his mistress, he asked her for it:—“O dear!” -said she, “it is in the other house; but we must have it.” She then -went to the window and called up her sister, who let her in. The -pillion and cloth were in the room where the supposed bridegroom slept; -and on his seeing her enter, she said, “I’ll take this and brush it, -that it may be ready in the morning.” “That’s well thought on, my -dear,” said he. She then came down, and all three went to the horses. -Metcalf mounted her behind his friend, then got upon his own horse, and -away they went. At that time it was not a matter of so much difficulty -to get married as it is at present; and they, with only the trouble of -riding twelve miles, and at a small expence, were united. - -Metcalf left his bride, on his return, at a friend’s house within five -miles of Harrogate, but did not dismount, being in haste to return -the mare he had borrowed with _French leave_. A few minutes after -their return, Mr. Body, the landlord, called for his mare, to go to -Knaresborough, and fortunately she was ready for him. - -Metcalf now went to the Queen’s Head, to perform the usual service of -playing during the breakfast half hour. His overnight’s excursion made -him rather thoughtful, having got a _bird_, but no _cage_ for it. While -he was musing on this subject, an acquaintance, who made one of the -intended bridegroom’s company the evening before, came up, and asked -him to take a glass with him. Metcalf quickly guessed what his business -was, but adjourned with him to a private room, seemingly unconcerned. -“Metcalf,” said he “a strange thing has happened since you were with -us last night, concerning Dolly Benson, who was to have been married -this morning to Anthony Dickinson.—You are suspected of knowing -something about the former; and I shall briefly state to you the -consternation which her disappearance has occasioned, and the reasons -why suspicion falls upon you. This morning, early, the bridegroom went -to Knaresborough, and informed the Rev. Mr. Collins that he and his -intended wife were coming that forenoon to be married. In his absence -Mrs. Benson and her other daughter began to prepare for breakfast; and -observing that Dolly lay very long in bed, her mother desired that she -might be called; but her usual bedfellow declaring that she had not -slept with her, she was ordered to seek her in some of the other rooms. -This was done, but in vain. They then took it for granted that she -had taken a ride with Mr. Dickinson; but he returning, could give no -account of her. All her friends began now to be very seriously alarmed; -and, amongst other fearful conjectures, supposed that she might have -fallen into the well, in attempting to draw water for breakfast; and -actually got some iron creepers, and searched the well. Her brother -then took horse, and rode to Burton-Leonard, to a young man who had -slightly paid his addresses to her, and, informing him of the distress -of the family, begged he would give information, if in his power. -The young man immediately asked him if he had seen Blind Jack; he -answered, that you were at the Oak last night, but did not in the least -suspect you.—The other, however, persisted in the opinion that you -were most likely to know where the girl was, and gave the following -incident as a reason: Being, not long since, at a dance, where Miss -Benson made one, he observed her wiping a profuse perspiration from -your face, with an handkerchief; and this act was accompanied by a look -so tender, as left no doubt in his mind of her being strongly attached -to you.” - -This narrative (a part of which was no news to Metcalf) was scarcely -finished, when young Benson appeared; and Metcalf put an end to -all inquiry, by declaring the truth: and thinking it his duty to -conciliate, if possible, those whom he had offended, he employed the -softest phrases he was master of on the occasion. He begged pardon, -through their son, of Mr. and Mrs. Benson, whom he did not presume to -call father and mother, and wished them to believe that the warmth of -his passion for their daughter, with the despair of obtaining their -consent, had led him to the measures he had taken; and that he would -make them the best amends in his power, by the affectionate conduct he -should observe to his wife. - -The son, in part pacified, left Metcalf, and reported this declaration -to his parents: but they were just as well pleased at it, as they would -have been at the sight of their building in flames; and, in the height -of passion, declared they would put him to death, if they met with him. - -The poor forlorn Dickinson then departed, accompanied by one of Mr. -Benson’s sons. When they got near his home, they heard two sets -of bells, viz. those of Folifoot and Kirby Overblow, ringing, in -expectation of the arrival of the bride and groom; but the sound -was more like that of a knell to Dickinson, who fell from his horse -through anguish, but was relieved by the attention of his friend. The -company were surprised at not seeing the bride; but matters were soon -explained, and they were desired to partake of the fare provided for -them. - -Metcalf not being able, at once, to procure a _Palace_ for his _Queen_, -took a small house at Knaresborough. It now became matter of wonder -that she should have preferred a blind man to Dickinson, she being -as handsome a woman as any in the country. A lady having asked her -why she had refused so many good offers for Blind Jack; she answered, -“Because I could not be happy without him:” And being more particularly -questioned, she replied, “His actions are so singular, and his spirit -so manly and enterprising, that I could not help liking him.” Metcalf -being interrogated, on his part, how he had contrived to obtain the -lady, replied, That many women were like liquor-merchants, who purchase -spirits above proof, knowing that they can _lower_ them at home; and -this, he thought, would account why many a rake got a wife, while your -plodding sons of phlegm were doomed to celibacy. - -He now went to Harrogate, as usual, with the exception of _one_ -house. Meeting with a butcher there one day, and drinking pretty -freely, a wager was proposed to Metcalf, that he durst not visit his -mother-in-law. He took the wager, mounted his horse, and riding up to -the kitchen-door, called for a pint of wine. There being then only -women in the house, they all ran up stairs in a fright. He then rode -into the kitchen, through the house, and out at the hall door, no one -molesting him. As there were many evidences to this act of _heroism_, -he returned, and demanding the stakes, received them without opposition. - -The Harrogate season being on the decline, he retired to Knaresborough, -where he purchased an old house, intending to build on its scite the -next summer. Assisted by another stout man, he began to get stones up -from the river; and being much used to the water, took great delight -in this sort of work. Meeting with some workmen, he told them the -intended dimensions of his house, and they named a price, by the rood, -for building it: but Metcalf, calculating from his own head, found -that their estimate would not do; so letting them the job by lump -agreement, they completed it at about half the sum which they would -have got by the rood. - -He now went to the Oak, to demand his wife’s cloaths, but was refused: -on a second application, however, he succeeded. His wife having brought -him a boy, and some genteel people being the sponsors, they employed -their good offices to heal the breach between the families, and were so -fortunate as to succeed. On the birth of a daughter (the second child) -Mrs. Benson herself was godmother, and presented Metcalf with fifty -guineas. - -He continued to play at Harrogate in the season; and set up a -four-wheel chaise, and a one-horse chair, for public accommodation, -there having been nothing of the kind there before.—He kept those -vehicles two summers, when the innkeepers beginning to run chaises, he -gave them up; as he also did racing, and hunting; but still wanting -employment, he bought horses, and went to the coast for fish, which -he took to Leeds and Manchester; and so indefatigable was he, that he -would frequently walk for two nights and a day, with little or no rest. - -Going from Knaresborough to Leeds in a snow-storm, and crossing a -brook, the ice gave way under one of his horses, and he was under the -necessity of unloading to get him out; but the horse as soon as free -ran back to Knaresborough, leaving him with two panniers of fish, -and three other loaded horses, which, together with the badness of -the night, greatly perplexed him:—After much difficulty, however, -he divided the weight amongst the others, and pursuing his journey, -arrived at Leeds by break of day. - -Once passing through Halifax, he stopped at an inn called the Broad -Stone. The landlord’s son and some others who frequented Harrogate -seeing Metcalf come in, and having often heard of his exploits, -signified a wish to play at cards with him: he agreed, and accordingly -they sent for a pack, which he desired to examine a little. The man -of the house being his friend, he could depend upon his honour in -preventing deception. They began, and Metcalf beat four of them in -turn; playing for liquor only. Not satisfied with this, some of the -company proposed playing for money; when engaging at shilling whist, -Metcalf won fifteen shillings. The party who lost then proposed to play -double or quit, but Metcalf declined playing for more than shilling -points; till at last yielding to much importunity, he got engaged for -guineas, and, favoured by fortune, won ten, the whole sum late in -the possession of the loser, who took up the cards, and going out, -soon returned with eight guineas more: Metcalf’s friend examined the -cards, to see that they were not marked; and finding all fair, they -went on again, until those eight pieces followed the other ten. They -then drank freely at Metcalf’s cost, he being in good circumstances -to treat. About ten at night he took his leave, saying he must be at -Knaresborough in the morning, having sent his horses before. On his -way he crossed the river Wharfe about a mile below Poole: the water -being high, his horse swam, but he got safe home; and this ended his -pursuits as a fishmonger, the profits being small, and his fatigue very -considerable. - -From the period of his discontinuing the business of fishmonger, -Metcalf continued in the practice of attending Harrogate, as a player -on the violin in the Long-room, until the commencement of the Rebellion -in 1745. - -The events of that period having been so numerously and so minutely -detailed, that any one the least conversant in the history of this -country cannot be unacquainted with the origin, progress, and -termination of the civil commotions which agitated it,—it would appear -unnecessary to obtrude the narration of them here, further than may -seem needful to introduce the part in which Metcalf bore a personal -share. The circumstance of his commencing soldier, was at that time, -and will still by the reader, be looked upon as a very extraordinary -proceeding of one in his situation. - -The alarm which took place, in consequence of that event, was general; -and loyalty to the reigning Sovereign, and Government, with measures -for resistance to the Rebel Party, shone no where more conspicuous than -in the County of York. - -Amongst the many instances which mark this, none were more striking -than the signally gallant conduct of the late WILLIAM THORNTON, Esq; of -Thornville. - -The opinion of that gentleman, as delivered at the General County -Meeting held at the Castle of York, was, that the four thousand men, -(for the raising, cloathing, and maintaining of which _ninety thousand -pounds_ had been subscribed) should be embodied in companies with the -regulars, and march with the King’s forces to any part where their -services might be required.—This mode of proceeding, however, not -meeting the opinion of the majority of the gentlemen present, he -determined to raise a company at his own expence. - -In consequence of that resolution, Mr. Thornton went to Knaresborough -about the first of October, 1745; and Metcalf having for several -years been in the practice of visiting that gentleman’s mansion, -(particularly at the festive season of Christmas, where, with his -violin and hautboy, he assisted to entertain the family) Mr. Thornton -was well acquainted with his extraordinary disposition, and, imagining -that he might be of service to him in his present undertaking, sent -for our blind hero to his inn, treated him liberally with punch, and, -informing him “that the French were coming to join the Scotch rebels, -the consequence of which would be, that if not vigourously opposed, -they would violate all our wives, daughters, and sisters,” asked him if -he had spirit to join the company about to be raised. Metcalf instantly -giving an affirmative answer, was asked whether he knew of any spirited -fellows who were likely to make good soldiers; and having satisfied his -patron on this head also, he was appointed an assistant to a serjeant -already procured, with orders to begin recruiting the next day. This -service went on with rapid success: several carpenters, smiths, and -other artificers were engaged, to all of whom Metcalf promised great -military advancement, or, in default of that, places of vast profit -under Government, as soon as the matter was over, which he called only -a _bustle_; thus following the example of other _decoy ducks_, by -promising very unlikely things. - -Such was their success, that in two days only they enlisted one hundred -and forty men, out of whom the Captain drafted sixty-four, (the number -of privates he wanted) and sent immediately to Leeds for cloth of a -good quality for their cloathing. The coats were blue, trimmed and -faced with buff; and buff waistcoats. The taylors he had employed -refusing to work on a Sunday, he rebuked their fanatical scruples in -these words: “You rascals! if your houses were on fire, would you not -be glad to extinguish the flames on a _Sunday_?” which had the desired -effect. Arms being procured from the Tower, the men were constantly and -regularly drilled. Such of them as had relations in the public line, -would frequently bring their companions to drink, for the benefit of -the respective houses; and Metcalf never failed to attend one or other -of those parties, his fiddle and hautboy contributing to make the time -pass agreeably: and the worthy Captain was liberal in his allowance -of money for such festive purposes, insomuch that had he wanted five -hundred men, he could easily have obtained them. Soon after he brought -them to Thornville, where he ordered every other day a fat ox to be -killed for their entertainment, and gave them beer seven years old, -expressing a great pleasure at its being reserved for so good a purpose. - -He now began to sound the company as to their attachment to the cause -and to himself. “My lads,” said he, “you are going to form a part of -a ring-fence to the finest estate in the world! The King’s army is on -its march to the Northward; and I have the pleasing confidence that -all of you are willing to join them.”—They replied, as if one soul had -animated them, “We will follow you to the world’s end!” - -All matters being adjusted, the company was drawn up, and amongst them -BLIND JACK made no _small_ figure, being near six feet two inches -high, and, like his companions, dressed in blue and buff, with a large -gold-laced hat: So well pleased was the Captain with his appearance, -that he said he would give an hundred guineas for only _one eye_ to -stick in the head of his _dark_ champion. - -Jack now played a march of the Captain’s choosing, and off they moved -for Boroughbridge. Capt. Thornton having a discretionary route, took -his march over the moors, in expectation of meeting some of the -straggling parties of the rebel army; and quartered at several villages -in his way, where he was kindly received, and visited by the heads of -the genteelest families in the neighbourhood, who generally spent the -evenings with him. Metcalf being always at the Captain’s quarters, -played on the violin, accompanied by a good voice, “_Britons! strike -home_,” and other loyal and popular airs, much to the satisfaction of -the visitors, who frequently offered him money, but this he always -refused, knowing that his acceptance of it would displease his -commander. - -Arriving at Newcastle, they joined the army under the command of -General Wade, by whose order they were united with Pulteney’s regiment, -which, having suffered much in some late actions abroad, was thought -the weakest. Captain Thornton gave orders for tents for his men, and a -marquee for himself, for which he paid the upholsterer eighty guineas. -He pitched them on Newcastle Moor, and gave a pair of blankets to each -tent. Jack observed to his Captain, “Sir, I live next door to you: -but it is a custom, on coming to a new house, to have it warmed.” The -Captain knowing his meaning, said, “How much will do?”—Jack answered, -“Three shillings a tent;” which the Captain generously gave, and said, -“As you join Pulteney’s regiment, they will smell your breath;” so he -gave them ten guineas, being one to each company. On the night of their -entertainment, the snow fell six inches. - -After stopping here for about a week, the General received intelligence -of the motions of the rebels, and gave orders to march by break of day -for Hexham, in three columns, wishing to intercept them upon the West -road, as their route seemed to be for England that way. The tents were -instantly struck; but the Swiss troops having the van, and not being -willing to move at so early an hour, it was half past ten before they -left the ground, and the snow by that time was become extremely deep in -several places: it also proved a very severe day for hail and frost. -They were often three or four hours in marching a mile, the pioneers -having to lower the hills, and fill up several ditches, to make a -passage for the artillery and baggage. - -About ten at night they arrived at Ovington, the place marked out for -them, with straw to rest on; but the ground was frozen so hard, that -but few of the tent-pins would enter it, and in those few tents which -were pitched, the men lay one upon another, greatly fatigued with their -march, it having been fifteen hours from the time of their striking the -tents, till their arrival at this place, although the distance is only -seven miles. - -At eleven o’clock at night Captain Thornton left the camp, and went -to Hexham, to visit his relation. Sir Edward Blacket, and with a view -of getting provisions and necessaries for his men: he was only nine -hours absent, as, although it was Sunday morning, the march was to be -continued. It having been customary to burn the straw, to warm the -men before they set off, orders were here given to preserve it, in -case it might be wanted on their return. However, Captain Thornton -and the Lieutenant being absent, and the Ensign having died at -Newcastle, Metcalf took it upon him to say, “My lads, get the straw -together, to burn; our Captain will pay for more, if we should want -it:” which being done, he took, out his fiddle, notwithstanding the -day, and played to the men whilst they danced round the fire; which -made the rest of the army observe them, though they did not follow -their example. The Captain and Lieutenant arriving in the midst of the -business, expressed much pleasure and satisfaction in seeing the men -thus recreate themselves. - -That day they reached Hexham, where they halted. On Monday night, about -ten o’clock, the army was put in motion by a false alarm. Here General -Wade resolved to return; and immediately began the march for York, -by way of Piersebridge, Catterick, and Boroughbridge; and continuing -his route Southward, encamped his men on Clifford Moor, where they -halted a few days, and then moved to a ground between Ferrybridge and -Knottingley. The rebels had now penetrated Southward as far as Derby; -but the General having heard that they had received a check from the -Duke of Cumberland, sent General Oglethorpe with a thousand horse -towards Manchester, either to harrass the enemy in their retreat, or -to join the Duke’s forces; and returned himself with the remainder, by -Wakefield, Outwood, and Leeds, to Newcastle. - -In the mean time the Duke came up with the rebels at Clifton, on -the borders of Westmoreland, of which Lord George Murray, with the -rear guard, had taken possession, whilst another party had fortified -themselves behind three hedges and a ditch. - -The Duke coming upon the open moor after sun-set, gave orders for three -hundred dragoons to dismount, and advance to the brink of the ditch; -when the rebels fired upon them from behind the hedges, which they -returned, and fell a few paces back: the rebels mistaking this for -flight, rushed over the ditch, but meeting a warmer reception than they -expected, were glad to retreat, and continued their route to Penrith. - -The Duke’s army was not able to follow, owing to the badness of the -roads, and the fatigue of a tedious march; but the next morning he -pursued them to Penrith; and from thence to Carlisle, where they left -part of their army. - -His Royal Highness thought it advisable to reduce this place, and -accordingly sent for heavy artillery from Whitehaven, which arriving -on the 25th of December, the garrison surrendered on the 30th, and -his Royal Highness returned to London. General Wade continued his -march for the North, dismissing all the foreigners from his army; and -General Hawley on coming from London to take the command, was joined -by some regiments which had been withdrawn from Flanders. They marched -to Edinburgh; from thence to Falkirk, and pitched their tents on the -North-East side of the town, on the 16th of January. - -The Highland army being at Torwood, about mid-way between Falkirk and -Stirling, and distant from the English camp only about three miles, -they could easily discover each other’s camp-lights. The English army -lay all night on their arms, in expectation of being attacked; but -the van and picquet guards came in on the morning of the 17th, having -observed no motions in the rebel camp which shewed any signs of an -attack, although they were as near them as safety would permit. Soon -after, the enemy were observed to move some of their colours from -Torwood, towards Stirling, which made the English suppose that they -were retreating; but this motion was a feint to deceive them. However, -upon this appearance, the soldiers were ordered to pile their arms, -and take some refreshment; and although Lord Kilmarnock was in the -rebel army, General Hawley went to breakfast with Lady Kilmarnock, -at Callendar House. The enemy, in the mean time, stole a march down -a valley Northward, unperceived; but just before the army discovered -them, they were seen by a person who ran into the camp, exclaiming, -“Gentlemen! what are you about? the Highlanders will be upon you:” on -which some of the officers said, “Seize that rascal, he is spreading a -false alarm.”—“Will you, then, believe your own eyes?” replied the man; -when instantly the truth of his assertion became apparent, by their -advancing to the highest ground upon Falkirk moor, the wind blowing -strongly in the faces of the English, with a severe rain. At this -moment several had left the field as well as the General; but the drums -beat to arms, which caused those who were absent to repair instantly to -the camp, and the lines were immediately formed. - -Captain Thornton’s company was embodied with the matrosses, who were -thought too weak; and this was a great disappointment to him, whose -intention was to be in the front, whenever an engagement should take -place. Metcalf played before them to the field; but the flag cannon -sinking in a bog, Captain Thornton exclaimed, “D—n this accident; -we shall see no sport to-day:” and leaving his troop to assist the -matrosses in bringing up the cannon to their station, he rode up -opposite to the horse which were going to engage. The regiments of -Hamilton and Gardner were put in the front; and the Highlanders, after -firing their pieces, threw them down, and discharged their pistols in -the horses’ faces, which caused them to retreat, much confused: and -on the Duke of Perth exclaiming aloud, “Although the horse have given -way, yet the work is not accomplished,” the enemy pursued with their -broad swords, cutting down the men as they fled; and the horses did -great mischief, by breaking through their own foot, the men crying out -at the same time, “Dear brethren, we shall all be massacred this day!” -On their passing the artillery, the Captain of the matrosses seeing -their perilous situation, gave orders for all the train horses to be -cut from the cannon. General Huske at this time came up with three -regiments, and engaged the left wing of the Highlanders, ordering the -rear and centre to keep firing, and the front to reserve. The rebels, -as was their custom, after the discharge of their pieces, flung them -away, and advanced with their broad swords close up to the first line; -when the front instantly fired, and being so near, did more than double -execution; which caused them to retreat, leaving a great number dead -upon the spot. - -The General observing a vast body of the rebels on the right, drew up -his men nearer Falkirk, and gave orders to keep the town until morning: -however, on examining the powder, they had the mortification to find -that the heavy rains had damaged it to such a degree, that but few -pieces could be fired; and the village being open on all sides, was -a circumstance so favourable to the enemy, as induced that General -to form the resolution of quitting the town with all expedition, and -march to Linlithgow, where there was more shelter under the walls, in -case of an attack.—This measure was fully justified by the event; for -the enemy pursued so closely, that many were taken by surprise, as, in -consequence of the order to keep the town all night, several had gone -into the houses to put off their wet cloathes; and those who were -apprised of the retreat had no sooner left the place, than the rebels -took possession, and made a great many prisoners, amongst whom were -twenty of Captain Thornton’s men, with the Lieutenant and Ensign. - -Mr. Crofts, the Lieutenant, having eighty guineas in his pocket, begged -to make Lord George Murray his treasurer; which office his Lordship -accepted, and had afterwards the _generosity_ to return him SIX! - -Captain Thornton, also, was in one of the houses, for the purpose -before-mentioned, but had not time sufficient to effect his escape; -and being alarmed by the bagpipes at the door, he retreated up stairs: -in a few minutes several of the rebels rushed up, in search of the -fugitives; when one of them came to the very room door behind which he -had taken refuge, and overlooking him, said, “There are none of the -rascals here.” The woman of the house having seen the Captain go up -stairs, went to him soon after, and opening a closet door, entreated -him to enter, which he did.—She then brought a dresser, and placed -dishes, &c. upon it, which prevented all appearance of a door in that -place; and fortunately there was no bed in the room. About ten minutes -after he had been fixed in his new quarters, a great number of people, -consisting chiefly of Highland officers, amongst whom was Secretary -Murray, took possession of the apartment, which being large, they -proposed making use of for business during their stay. - -We will there leave Captain Thornton, and return to Metcalf, who with -the matrosses was retiring from the field of battle. - -Knowing that two of his master’s horses had been left at a widow’s -house a short distance from the town, he made his way to the place, -with intent to secure them. This woman had in the morning expressed -great seeming loyalty to King George; but when Metcalf returned in the -evening, the wind had changed:—She now extolled prince Charles, and -said the defeat of _George’s folk_ was a just judgment. - -Metcalf went into the stable and found the horses, saddled them, and -was leading out the first, when he was surrounded by a few stragglers -of the Highland army: “We must have that beast,” said they; but Metcalf -refusing to give him up, they said to one another, “Shoot him.” On -hearing two of them cock their pieces, he asked, “What do you want with -him?” They answered, that they wanted him for their Prince: “If so, you -must have him,” replied he. They took him, and immediately went off. -Metcalf then brought out the other; but as he was about to mount, the -Captain’s coachman (whose name was Snowden) joined him, and Metcalf -inquiring of him the fate of his master, was answered, that he had not -seen him since he left the artillery, when he rode up with the horse -which were going to engage: this induced them to think that the worst -had befallen him. They then thought it advisable to attempt falling in -with the rear of the army, and endeavoured to slant the ground for that -purpose; but before they had proceeded many yards, their horse sunk up -to the saddle-skirts in a bog: however, being strong and plunging out, -they mounted again, and soon joined it as they wished; where on making -diligent inquiry after their Captain, they were told that he was left -behind; on which Snowden returned as far as he could with safety, but -without gaining any intelligence, and Metcalf walked on with the army. - -They arrived at Linlithgow, where they halted; and the next day they -marched to Edinburgh. There the mob, and lower orders of people, were -very free in their expressions, and some of the higher also spoke very -warmly, in favour of Prince Charles; making it appear clearly, _by -their own account_, that nothing could prevent his coming to the Crown. - -The next morning as many of Captain Thornton’s men as had escaped being -taken prisoners, (about forty-eight in number,) assembled; and none of -them being quite certain of having seen the Captain since he left them -with the cannon in the bog, they supposed him to have shared the fate -of many other brave men who had fallen in the action of that day, and -which they all sincerely lamented—not only on account of the favours -he had individually conferred on them, but for the great and liberal -example which he had invariably shewn to his brother officers, in the -care and attention which he paid to his men in general; the natural -consequence of which was, that he possessed the love and confidence -of the soldiery. The disappearance, also, of the two other officers, -and twenty of their men, greatly dispirited them; and, together with -the suspension from their regular pay, induced some of them to apply -to Metcalf for a supply, in order to carry them home; but he laudably -refused any aid he might have afforded them, on being informed of the -purpose for which it was required. - -The army being fixed at Edinburgh, the head-quarters were at the -Abbey. The superior officers sent for Metcalf, thinking it a singular -circumstance that a person deprived of sight should enter into the -army; and knowing that his master was missing, they desired to converse -with him. One of the officers belonging to the dragoons who retreated -from Falkirk speaking ironically of Thornton’s men, asked Jack how -_he_ got off the field of battle.—Metcalf answered, “I found it very -easy to follow by the sound of the dragoon horses, they made such a -_clatter_ over the stones.” This reply made the gentlemen turn the -laugh against him. Colonel Cockayne likewise asked how he durst venture -into the service, blind as he was; to which he replied, “that had he -possessed a pair of good eyes, he would never have come there to have -risked the loss of them by gunpowder.” Then making his obeisance, he -withdrew: For Metcalf, though he had not _read books_, had read _men_; -and received his knowledge from the school of the world. - -He now determined upon a journey to Falkirk, in search of his Captain; -but this being attended with difficulty, he applied to a Knaresborough -man who lived at Edinburgh and was of the rebel party, telling him -that he wished to be a musician to Prince Charles, as he found it was -all over with the English. The man informed him that they had a spy, -an Irishman, going to the Prince; on which Metcalf set forward with -him, and he promised to recommend him on their arrival at Falkirk; but -on coming up to the English out-sentries, they were stopped:—Metcalf -inquired for the Captain, and informed him of the real cause of his -journey: by him he was kindly advised to lay aside his project, and -told that he would lose his life; but still persisting, he proceeded -with the spy, and arrived at Linlithgow, where they stayed all night. -They met with several women who had been upon plunder, and were then -on their return to Edinburgh; and the spy instructed them how to avoid -the English sentries. Metcalf was very careful to examine the cloathes -they had got, thinking that by chance he might meet with some of his -Captain’s, ignorant as he was of his fate. One of the women sent a -token by Metcalf to her husband, who was Lord George Murray’s cook: -this woman’s guide was a horse-dealer, who soon became acquainted with -Metcalf, having frequented the fairs in Yorkshire; and at this time by -some means had got introduced to the heads of both armies, and obtained -a protection from each to press horses occasionally.—This man’s fate -was remarkable; for going into Stirling, where the King’s army lay, -he found that orders were given to let no strangers pass without an -examination, which he underwent, and said that he had a protection from -General Huske: being ordered to produce it, he had the misfortune to -take that out of his pocket which he had got from the Pretender; and -when informed of his mistake, instantly produced the other—but too -late; for he was tied up by the neck to a lamp-iron, without giving him -time to put off his boots. - -A short time before Metcalf and the spy left the ’Change-house -at Linlithgow, some of the van guard of the rebels came in, and -called for whiskey; and it was supposed that they dropped there a -silver-mounted pistol, which, on their setting out, the spy picked up, -and offered to Metcalf; but he refused it, saying, he thought it not -proper to have fire-arms about him, as he expected to be searched: -so they pursued their journey and presently fell in with the rebels -out-guard, several of whom, accosted Metcalf, and as all seemed well, -they were allowed to pass, and arrived at Falkirk, where he inquired -for Lord George Murray’s cook, to deliver his present, and was -afterwards introduced to and conversed with his Lordship, Secretary -Murray, and other gentlemen. Lord George gave him part of a glass of -wine, an article at that time of great value; for as the rebels had -been there three times, and the English twice, they had almost _swept -the cupboard clean of its crumbs_. - -Whilst conversing with them, he was very circumspect, knowing that -his life was in danger, if the real purpose of his journey should be -discovered. - -He then made his way towards the market-place, where a number of -Highlanders were assembled.—This was on Wednesday the 22d; but it -happened that his master had left the place that morning, about four -hours before his arrival. - -We will now return to Captain Thornton, whom we left on Friday in the -closet, in close neighbourhood with the Highland Chiefs, who every day -transacted business in the room. The Quarter-Masters of the rebel army -having taken the house, had given the woman to whom it belonged a small -apartment backward; but every night she took care to carry him such -provisions as she could convey through a crevice at the bottom of the -door; and this mode she used for fear of alarming these who slept in -the adjoining rooms. The closet was only a yard and a half square; and -the Captain’s cloathes being wet when he entered, made his situation -the more uncomfortable, as he had got a severe cold, and sometimes -could not forbear coughing, even when the rebels were in their room. -Once in particular, hearing a cough, they said one to another “what -is that?” but one of them answered, that it was somebody in another -room;—not in the least suspecting a door in the place where the closet -was. - -On Monday night the woman of the house went to the door to carry -provisions as usual, when the Captain said to her, “I am determined to -come out, let the consequence be what it may; for I will not die like -a dog in this hole;” but she begged that he would bear his confinement -till the next night, and she would adopt some plan to effect his -escape. She accordingly consulted an old carpenter, who was true to -the Royal cause, and he came the next night, removed the dresser, and -liberated the Captain. They proceeded down stairs in the dark, to the -woman’s apartment, where she made tea, whilst the carpenter concerted -their plan of operation. They dressed him in a pladdie and brogues, -with a black wig, and the carpenter packed him up a bag of tools, as -if he was going with his master to work as soon as it was light. The -Captain had only ten guineas about him, (having lost his cash with -his Lieutenant, Mr. Crofts) eight of which he gave to the woman who -had so faithfully preserved him, and two to the carpenter, who, to -secrete them, put them into his mouth along with his tobacco, fearful -of a search by the Highlanders, who would have suspected him had they -found more than a shilling. Every thing being ready, they set out, the -Captain with his bag of tools following his supposed master. On coming -into the croud, he looked about, and was rather behind; and although in -disguise, did not look like a common workman which making the old man -dread a discovery, he called out to him, “Come alang, ye filthy loon: -ye have had half a bannock and a mutchkin of drink in your wame—we -shall be too late for our day’s wark.” Whether this artifice served -him or not, is uncertain; but they got safe through the throng, and, -leaving the high-road, pursued their journey across the country. Having -come to a rising ground, the Captain took a view of Falkirk moor, and -said, “Yonder’s the place where such a sad piece of work was made of it -on Friday last.” The old man at the same time looking the other way, -saw two or three hundred Highlanders, who had been on plunder, coming -down a lane which led from Callendar-House (Lord Kilmarnock’s seat) -into the main road; and being desirous of passing the end of this lane -before they came up, in order to avoid them, said, “We shall have a -worse piece of work of it than we had on Friday, if you do not hasten -your pace;” and begged the Captain to come forward, which he did; but -walking briskly up a hill, he suddenly stopped, and said, “I am sick:” -however they gained their point, and passed the Highlanders; for had -they come up with them, the least injury would have been a march back -to Falkirk, as prisoners. On going two miles farther, they arrived at -a house belonging to a friend of the carpenter’s, and which had been -plundered: there the old man got an egg, but not being able to find -a pan to boil it, he roasted it in peat-ashes, and gave it to the -Captain, to put in his _wame_, for so he called his stomach. Proceeding -a few miles farther, they arrived at another house, where they procured -a horse for the Captain.—He arrived at the English out-posts, and -making himself known was permitted to pass, and reached Edinburgh in -safety. - -With respect to Metcalf, whom we left at Falkirk, as his dress was a -plaid waistcoat laced with gold, which he had borrowed of a friend at -Edinburgh, together with a blue regimental coat faced with buff, he -told the Highlanders, in answer to their inquiries, that he had been -fiddling for the English officers, and that they had given him that -coat, which had belonged to a man who was killed; and also that his -intention was to serve in the same capacity with Prince Charles.—But -a person coming up who had seen Jack at Harrogate, said, “That fellow -ought to be taken up, for he has something more than common in his -proceedings;” on which Metcalf was taken to the guard-room, and -searched for letters, but none were found, having only a pack of cards -in his pocket, which they split, to see whether they contained any -writing in the folds, but finding none, he was put into a loft in the -roof of the building, (where the snow came in very much) along with -a dragoon, and some other prisoners, where for three days they were -suffered to remain in confinement. - -In a short time Metcalf and his fellow-prisoners were tried by a -court-martial, at which he was acquitted, and had permission given -to go to the Prince; but wanting to borrow a clean shirt, they asked -him where his own were; he said, at Linlithgow, but that he durst -not go there, on account of _George’s devils_. They told him that -he might safely go with the Irishman he came with. He knew that his -companion had letters for the Highlanders’ friends at Edinburgh, but -had no intention to pass the English sentries. Metcalf amused him with -assurances that he had ten pounds at Edinburgh, for which he should -have no occasion if he joined the Prince, and that he might have the -greatest part of it: the spy, on this, became extremely desirous of his -company to Edinburgh, wishing to finger the money, and proposed going -across the country; but Metcalf said that _he_ could pass the English -sentries, by saying that he was going to Captain Thornton. They then -proceeded, and after going two miles, they met an officer, who was -reconnoitring, and he knowing Metcalf, told him that his master was -arrived at Edinburgh, which news was highly pleasing to him. On leaving -the officer, the spy accosted him with “So, what you _are_ going to -him.”—“No,” said Metcalf, “nor to any such fellows.” They then passed -the sentry, as Metcalf proposed, and arrived at Edinburgh, where they -parted, but promised to meet the next evening at nine o’clock. Jack -went directly to his Captain, who rejoiced at so unexpected a meeting. -Metcalf told him that he had given him a great deal of trouble; -adding, that he thought people might come home from market without -fetching.—The Captain smiled, and said, “What is to be done, for I -have neither money or cloathes, having left all behind at Falkirk; but -I have bills upon the road to the amount of three hundred pounds?” This -proved fortunate; for had they been a few days sooner, they might by -chance have been lost also;—but the reason of this delay was, that all -letters, directed to Scotland, were at this time sent to London, to be -examined at the General Post-Office. Metcalf told the Captain that he -could get him some money, which the other thought impossible: however -he went to a known friend, and obtained thirty pounds.—Taylors were -instantly set to work, and next morning the Captain was enabled to -visit his brother officers at the Abbey. - -The army still quartered at Edinburgh, while part of the rebels were -in Falkirk, and another part at Stirling, where they raised several -batteries, and besieged Stirling Castle. The governor, General -Blakeney, made little opposition; and a shot from the batteries -killing two or three men, some of the officers were greatly enraged, -and threatened to confine the Governor: But a little time shewed that -he was right in his conduct; for letting the rebels come pretty near -the walls, on a sudden he began so hot a fire, as to kill several of -their men, demolishing their batteries, and dismounting their guns, -which made them glad to retreat, and raise the siege: and the General -having destroyed the bridge, they were obliged to make a circuitous -march before they were able to ford the river. - -The Duke of Cumberland arrived at Edinburgh on the 30th of January, -1746; and two days afterwards marched out at the head of the army, -towards Falkirk, the rebels leaving it a little time before. Captain -Thornton visited the Duke often: his Royal Highness took notice of -Metcalf, and spoke to him several times on the march, observing how -well by the sound of the drum he was able to keep his pace. On the -army’s arrival at Linlithgow, intelligence was received that the -rebels were on their march to give them battle; upon which the army was -drawn up in order, and the Duke rode through the lines, and addressed -the men as follows: “If there be any who think themselves in a bad -cause, or are afraid to engage, thinking they may might against any of -their relations, let them now turn out, receive pardon, and go about -their business, without any farther question.”—On this, the whole army -gave three huzzas. But the intelligence proving false, they proceeded -to Falkirk, and continued their route through Stirling, Perth, -Montrose, Briffin, and Stonehive, to Aberdeen, where they halted. The -rebel army lay now at Strathbogie. - -At Aberdeen the Duke gave a ball to the ladies, and personally -solicited Captain Thornton for his fidler, there being at that time no -music in the army except Colonel Howard’s, (the Old Buffs) and which -being wind music were unaccustomed to country dances. As the rebel -army was only twenty miles distant, no invitations were sent till -five o’clock, tho’ the ball was to begin at six. Twenty-five couples -danced for eight hours, and his Royal Highness made one of the set, -and several times, as he passed Metcalf, who stood on a chair to play, -shouted “Thornton, play up:” but Jack needed no exhortation, for he was -very well practised, and better inclined. - -Next morning the Duke sent him two guineas; but as he was not permitted -to take money, he informed his Captain, who said, that as it was the -Duke’s money, he might take it; but observed, that he should give his -Royal Highness’s servants a treat. He had only three servants with him, -(viz. his gentleman, cook, and groom.) So the next night two of them -paid Metcalf a visit, and a merry party they made, the Captain ordering -them great plenty of liquor. - -In a little time they proceeded on their march, and engaged the rebels -on Culloden moor, giving them a total defeat, although they had targets -to ward off the bayonet, whilst they cut away with their broad swords, -yet the Duke found a method of frustrating their plan, by pushing the -bayonet over the right arm, which rendered their targets of no use. -Kingston’s Light Horse pursued them in their disorder and flight, and -made a great slaughter amongst them. - -The English prisoners were now all liberated.—Two or three of Captain -Thornton’s men had died in prison; and the rest returned home. - -The rebellion being completely suppressed, Captain Thornton returned -home also, accompanied by Metcalf, of whose family it is full time to -take some notice.—He had the happiness to find his faithful partner -and children in good health; and although the former confessed that -she had entertained many fears for her poor blind adventurer, yet -knowing that a spirit of enterprize made a part of his nature, she -was often comforted by the hope, that he would, in some degree, -signalize himself, notwithstanding the misfortune under which he -laboured.—This declaration, following a most cordial reception, gave -full confirmation to an opinion which Metcalf had ever held, viz. that -the caresses and approbation of the softer sex, are the highest reward -a soldier can deserve or obtain. - -The notice with which the Duke of Cumberland had honoured Metcalf, gave -him much reason to believe, that, had he followed him to London, he -would have received more marks of his Royal favour.—But Metcalf was -deficient to himself in this instance; neglecting to solicit further -notice till it was judged too late to make application. - -About a year after their return, a vacancy happening in the -representation for the city of York, the citizens sent for Mr. -Thornton, and unanimously elected him, free of all expence. - -A short time after this, the militia was raised, and he was, as his -merit well entitled him to be, appointed Colonel of the West-York -battalion; which situation he held, with advantage to the service, and -honour to himself, for the remainder of his life. - -Blind Jack being now at liberty to choose his occupation, attended -Harrogate as usual; but having, in the course of his Scotch expedition, -become acquainted with the various articles manufactured in that -country, and judging that some of those might answer for him to -traffic with in England, he repaired, in the spring, to Scotland, and -supplied himself with various articles in the cotton and worsted way, -particularly Aberdeen stockings. For all those articles he found a -ready sale at the houses of gentlemen in the extensive County of York; -and being personally known to most of the families, was ever very -kindly received. He never was at a loss to know, amongst a thousand -articles, what each had cost him, from a particular mode of marking. - -It was also customary with him to buy horses, for sale in Scotland, -bringing back galloways in return; and in this traffic he depended on -feeling the animals, to direct his choice. - -He also engaged pretty deeply in the contraband trade, the profits of -which were at that time much more considerable than the risk. - -One time in particular, having received a pressing letter from -Newcastle-upon-Tyne, requiring his speedy attendance, he set out on -horseback from Knaresborough at three in the morning, and got into -Newcastle in the evening about six o’clock, the distance nearly -seventy-four miles, and did not feel the least fatigued. - -Having received some packages, he employed a few soldiers to convey -them to a carrier, judging that men of their description were least -liable to suspicion. After sending off his goods, he stayed two nights -with some relations he had there, and then set off for home. He had -with him about an hundred weight of tea, cased over with tow, and -tightly corded up; this he put into a wallet, which he laid across his -saddle. - -Coming to Chester-le-Street, (about half-way between Newcastle and -Durham) he met at the inn an exciseman, who knew him as soon as he had -dismounted, and asked him what he had got there. Metcalf answered, “It -is some tow and line for my aunt, who lives a few miles distant;—I -wish she was far enough for giving me the trouble to fetch it.” The -officer asking him to bring it in, he replied, “For the time I shall -stay it may as well remain on the horsing-stone.” By this seeming -indifference about his package, he removed suspicion from the mind of -the exciseman, who assisted in re-placing it across the saddle; when he -pursued his journey, and got home in safety. - -Once having disposed of a string of horses, he bought, with the -produce, a quantity of rum, brandy, and tea, to the amount of 200_l._, -put them on board a vessel for Leith, and travelled over-land, on -foot, to meet the vessel there. He had about thirty miles to walk, and -carried near five stone weight of goods which he did not choose to put -on shipboard. At Leith he had the mortification to wait six weeks, -without receiving any tidings of the vessel, which many supposed to -have been lost, there having been a storm in the interval. The distress -of mind resulting from this, induced him once to say, “If she is lost, -I wish I had been in her; for she had all my property on board.” Soon -after, however, the ship got into Leith harbour. He there went on -board, and set sail for Newcastle; but another storm arising, the mate -was washed overboard, the mainsail carried away, and the ship driven -near the coast of Norway. Despair now became general; the prospect of -going to the bottom seeming almost certain. He now reflected on the -impiety of his wish respecting the former storm; and so effectually -was his way of thinking changed, that had he had all the current coin -of the universe, he would have given it to have been on shore. It now -appeared to him a dreadful thing to leave the world in the midst of -health and vigour; but the wind changing, hope began to return, and the -Captain put about for the Scotch coast, intending to make Arbrothie. -A signal of distress was put up, but the sea ran so high, that no -boat could venture out with a pilot. He then stood in for the harbour, -but struck against the pier end, owing to the unmanageable state of -the vessel, from the loss of her mainsail: she narrowly escaped being -bulged; but having got to the back of the pier, was towed round into -the harbour, with near five feet water in her hold. Her escape from the -merciless elements, however, did not seem to terminate her dangers, -the country people shewing a disposition to seize her as a wreck, and -plunder her; but fortunately there was at hand a party, consisting of -an officer and twenty men, of Pulteney’s regiment, who had been in -pursuit of some smugglers; and Metcalf knowing them well, (Colonel -Thornton’s company being attached to that regiment) the officer sent -three files of men to protect the vessel, while the crew were removing -the goods to a warehouse. - -As this vessel stood in need of repairs, Metcalf put his goods on -board another, and in her got to Newcastle. There he met with an -acquaintance; and from the seeming cordiality at the meeting, he -thought he might have trusted his life in the hands of this man. With -this impression, Metcalf opened to him the state of his affairs; -informing him that he had got four hundred gallons of gin and brandy, -for which he had a permit, and about thirty gallons for which he had -none, and which he wanted to land; telling him, at the same time, -of the harrassing voyage he had just finished: But, it seems, his -misfortunes were only about to commence; for, in a quarter of an hour, -he found that the man whom he had taken for a friend had gone down to -the quay side, and, giving information of what he knew, had all the -goods seized, and brought on shore. Metcalf imagined that none were -seizable but the small part for which he had not obtained a permit; but -was soon undeceived, the whole being liable to seizure, as not agreeing -with the specified quantity. - -He then repaired to the Custom-House, and applied to Mr. Sunderland, -the Collector. This gentleman knew Metcalf, (being in the habit of -visiting Harrogate) and received him very kindly; but informed him, -with much concern, that it was not in his power to serve him, the -captors being the excise people, and not of his department.—He, -however, suggested, that some good might result from an application -to Alderman Peireth, with whom Metcalf was acquainted, and who -was particularly intimate with the Collector of the Excise. The -good Alderman gave him a letter to the Collector; representing, -as instructed by Metcalf, that the bearer had bought four hundred -gallons of spirits, at the Custom-House at Aberdeen; and that the -extra quantity was for the purpose of treating the sailors and other -friends, as well as for sea-stock for himself. At first the Collector -told him that nothing could be done for him, until he should write up -to the Board, and receive an answer; but Metcalf remonstrating on the -inconvenience of the delay, and the other re-considering the letter, -he agreed to come down to the quay at four o’clock in the afternoon, -which he accordingly did, and released every thing without expence. - -A short time after the regiment called the Queen’s Bays were raised, -they were quartered at Knaresborough and the adjacent towns; but, after -a short stay, they were ordered to the North. The country people seemed -extremely unwilling to supply carriages for conveying the baggage; the -King’s allowance being but nine-pence a mile, per ton; that of the -County, one shilling in the West Riding, and fifteen-pence, in the -North Riding. Metcalf having two waggons, (one of them covered) had a -mind to try this new business; and, to make sure of the job, got the -soldiers to _press_ his two carriages, which were accordingly loaded, -himself attending them to Durham. Previous to loading, however, the -country people, who knew the advantage of carrying for the army, and -who had kept back, in hopes of an advance in the price, came forward -with their waggons, in opposition to Metcalf; but the soldiers would -employ no other. - -Arriving at Durham, he met Bland’s Dragoons, on their march from the -North to York: they loaded his waggons again for Northallerton, and -would willingly have engaged them to York; but this he was obliged -to decline, having promised to bring twenty-three wool-packs to -Knaresborough. He was just six days in performing this journey; and -cleared, with eight horses and the one he rode, no less a sum than -twenty pounds; though many people were afraid to travel with soldiers. - -Some time after the Queen’s regiment had got to Durham, it received the -usual annual recruit of four horses to a troop. The regiment having -been so lately raised, had no old horses: nevertheless, four were to -be sold from each. Metcalf had notice sent him of the sale, but did -not receive the letter until the day before it commenced.—He set off, -however, that afternoon, for Durham, and riding all night, got there by -day-break. - -His first business was to become acquainted with the farriers; so -getting about half-a-dozen of them together, and plying them heartily -with gin, he began to question them as to the horses which were to be -sold. - -Amongst the number to be disposed of, was a grey one, belonging to -one of the drums. The man who had the charge of him not having been -sufficiently careful in trimming him, had burnt him severely, which -caused a prodigious swelling. Had this careless conduct been known to -his superiors, he would have been punished for it: upon that account -the matter was hushed up. Metcalf, however, being apprized of the real -cause, in the course of his conversation with the farriers, determined -to purchase him, judging that they would be desirous to part with him -at any price; and in this conjecture he was not mistaken. - -The sale began by bringing out seven bay horses; six of which a -gentleman bought for a carriage, and Metcalf purchased the seventh. - -They then brought forward the grey horse with his swelled sheath, which -excited many jokes and much laughter among the spectators.—Our chapman -bought him also, at the very low price of 3_l._ 15_s._ 0_d._ which was -first affixed by the auctioneer, but which, however, the people said -was very much beyond his value. - -Having used such applications as he thought efficacious for his -recovery, by the time he had got him home he had the satisfaction to -find him perfectly sound; and within a week afterwards refused fifteen -guineas for him.—He kept him many years as a draught-horse; and the -other horse also was sold to a profit, by which he thought himself very -well paid for his journey to Durham. - -In the year 1751 Metcalf commenced a new employ:—He set up a -stage-waggon between York and Knaresborough, being the first on that -road, and conducted it constantly himself, twice a week in the summer -season, and once in winter; and this business, together with the -occasional conveyance of army baggage, employed his attention until the -period of his first contracting for the making of roads, which suiting -him better, he disposed of his draught, and interest in the road, to -one Guiseley. - -An act of Parliament having been obtained to make a turnpike-road -from Harrogate to Boroughbridge, a person of the name of Ostler, of -Farnham, was appointed surveyor; and Metcalf falling into company with -him, agreed to make about three miles of it, viz. between Minskip and -Fearnsby.—The materials were to be procured from one gravel pit for -the whole length: he therefore provided deal boards, and erected a -temporary house at the pit, took a dozen horses to the place, fixed -racks and mangers; and hired a house for his men at Minskip, which -was distant about three-quarters of a mile. He often walked from -Knaresborough in the morning, with four or five stone of meat on his -shoulders, and joined his men by six o’clock: and by the means he used, -he completed the work much sooner than was expected, to the entire -satisfaction of the surveyor and trustees. - -During his leisure hours he studied measurement in a way of his own; -and when certain of the girt and length of any piece of timber, he was -able to reduce its true contents to feet and inches; and would bring -the dimensions of any building into yards or feet. - -Near the time of his finishing this road, the building of a bridge -was advertised to be contracted for, at Boroughbridge; and a number -of gentlemen met for that purpose at the Crown inn there. Metcalf, -amongst others, went also. The masons varied considerably in their -estimates. Ostler, the surveyor of the roads, was appointed to survey -the bridge; and Metcalf told him that he wished to undertake it, though -he had never done any thing of the kind before. On this, the surveyor -acquainted the gentlemen with what Metcalf had proposed; when he was -sent for, and asked what he knew about a bridge: he told them, that he -could readily describe it, if they would take the trouble of writing -down his plan, which was as follows: “The span of the arch, 18 feet, -being a semi-circle, makes 27: the arch-stones must be a foot deep, -which if multiplied by 27, will be 486; and the bases will be 72 feet -more.—This for the arch: it will require good backing; for which -purpose there are proper stones in the old Roman wall at Aldborough, -which may be brought, if you please to give directions to that effect.” -The gentlemen were surprised at his readiness, and agreed with him for -building the bridge. The persons who had given in their estimates, -were much offended; and as the stone was to be procured from Renton, -a sale-quarry belonging to one of the masons who were there, he was -unwilling to sell any to Metcalf; upon which he went to Farnham, and -found good stones, which the lime-burners had left, (being too strong -for their purpose,) got them dressed at the place for little money, -conveyed them to Boroughbridge, and having men to take them off the -carriages, set them, and completed the arch in one day; and finished -the whole in a very short period. - -Soon after, there was a mile and an half of turnpike-road to be made -between Knaresborough-Bridge and Harrogate, which Metcalf also agreed -for. Going one day over a place covered with grass, he told his men -that he thought it different from the ground adjoining, and would have -them try for stone or gravel, which they immediately did, and found an -old causeway, supposed to have been made in the time of the Romans, -which afforded many materials proper for the purpose of making the -road. Between the Forest-Lane head and Knaresborough-Bridge, there was -a bog, in a low piece of ground, over which to have passed was the -nearest way; and the surveyor thought it impossible to make a road over -it: but Metcalf assured him that he could readily accomplish it.—The -other then told him, that if so, he should be paid for the same length -as if he had gone round. Jack set about it, cast the road up, and -covered it with whin, and ling; and made it as good, or better, than -any part he had undertaken. He received about four hundred pounds for -the road and a small bridge which he had built over a brook called -Stanbeck. - -There was an old house at Harrogate, with some fields belonging to it, -and denominated a messuage, which was of more value, as having common -right upon the Forest. It belonged to an old woman, and at her decease -to her husband. Metcalf went to the latter, and bought his contingent -right in the house and land; and the old woman came to him soon after, -to sell her life-estate in it also. They agreed; and including both -the net sum amounted to eighty pounds. In about three weeks after this -purchase, he sold it for upwards of two hundred pounds. - -A road being projected between Harrogate and Harewood-Bridge, six -miles in length, a meeting was held, (the late Lord Harewood, then Mr. -Lascelles, being one of the party) to contract with any person who -might be thought proper to make it. A great number of estimates were -delivered, but Metcalf obtained the contract. It was to be completed -before the winter set in; and being a stiff-clay soil, it was judged -expedient to cast the whole length before they began to stone it: on -these accounts he agreed with the gentlemen, that no carriages should -pass whilst the road was making; and, by way of prevention, had sluices -cut at each end of the lane, and wooden bridges, which he took up -occasionally, thrown across, for his own carriages to pass over with -the materials. He also hired two houses, at a distance from each other -on the road, to entertain strangers who travelled on horseback, and the -people employed in the undertaking, as there were not sufficient in the -country. The short period he had contracted to complete the work in, -obliging him to use the readiest methods, he had a wheel-plough drawn -by nine horses through the forest, as the best and most expeditious -way to get up the roots of whin and ling, in parts where they were -strong; and being obliged to superintend the progress of the work, he -obtained leave from the innkeepers at Harrogate to engage a substitute -in his absence. He completed his contract in the time allowed, to -the satisfaction of the gentlemen trustees, and of the surveyor; and -received for the work, twelve hundred pounds. - -There then being about a mile and an half of road to be made through -part of Chapel-Town to Leeds, Lord Harewood and other gentlemen met at -the Bowling-Green in Chapel-Town, to receive estimates;—and Metcalf -got the contract. He also widened the arch of Sheepscar-Bridge; and -received for that and the road together near four hundred pounds. - -Between Skipton and Colne in Lancashire there were four miles of road -to be made, and estimates were advertised for. A number of gentlemen -met, and Metcalf’s proposals had the preference. The materials were -at a greater distance, and more difficult to be procured, than he -expected; and a wet season coming on, made this a bad bargain; yet he -completed it according to contract. - -He next engaged for two miles on the Burnleigh road, which he -completed; but was not more a gainer. - -He then agreed for two miles of road which lay through Broughton to -Martin; and two miles more which lay through Addingham, and over part -of Romell’s Moor. The same trustees acted for those roads, as for that -of Colne. These he completed, and received one thousand three hundred -and fifty pounds from Mr. Ingham of Burnleigh and Mr. Alcock of Skipton. - -After this, a meeting was held at Wakefield, to contract for making -part of the road between that town and Halifax.—Metcalf engaged for -four miles which lay between Mill-Bridge and Belly-Bridge; and finished -this also, though it was an extremely wet summer.—He then took three -miles more which lay between Belly-Bridge and Halifax, and completed -it.—And also agreed for five miles which lay between Wakefield and -Checkingley-Beck, near Dewsbury. - -The trustees of the road, (Sir Rowland Winn, —— Smith and W. Roebuck, -Esqrs.) meeting at Wakefield, to let part of the road leading to -Pontefract, and likewise from Wakefield to Doncaster, Metcalf took -three miles and an half which lay between Hag-Bridge and Pontefract, -and one mile and an half on the Doncaster road, from Crofton through -Foulby; all which he completed. The road from Wakefield, to Pontefract, -Doncaster, and Halifax, being under the management of one company of -trustees, Mr. Allen Johnson was treasurer for one part, John Mills, -Esq; for another, both of Wakefield; and Mr. Valentine Stead, and -Mr. William Cook, for the other parts: By the payment of these four -gentlemen he received six thousand four hundred pounds. - -A road was then advertised to be let from Wakefield to Austerland, -intended to lead through Horbury, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Marsden, -and Saddleworth. A meeting was held at Huddersfield, for the purpose. -Sir John Kaye, Colonel Radcliffe, ’Squire Farrer, and several other -gentlemen attended, and Metcalf agreed with them from Black-Moor Foot -to Marsden, and from thence to Standish-Foot; also from Lupset-Gate, -thro’ Horbury, about two miles and an half. At that time none of the -road was marked out, except between Marsden and Standish-Foot, leading -over a common called Pule and Standish: the surveyor took it over -deep marshes; but Metcalf not expecting it to have been carried that -way, thought it a great hardship, and complained to the gentlemen, -alledging it would be a much greater expence: they answered, that if he -could make a complete road, he should not be a loser; and they were of -opinion, that it would be necessary to dig the earth quite out of the -marshes, until they came to a solid bottom.—Metcalf, on calculating -that each marsh, upon an average, being three yards deep, and fourteen -broad, would make two hundred and ninety-four solid yards of earth -in every rood, which, to have carried away, would have been extremely -tedious and expensive—and not only so, but that the road lying East -and West, would fill with snow in winter, (as it usually falls in that -direction, when the wind is in the North)—argued the point privately -with the surveyor and several of the gentlemen: but they all seemed -immoveable in their former opinion. Metcalf then appeared at the public -meeting, and the subject was again brought forward; but knowing that -it would be to little purpose to hold a contest with them, he said, -“Gentlemen, as you seem to have a great deal of business before you -to-day, it appears quite unnecessary to trespass upon your time on -this head:—I propose to make the road over the marshes, after my own -plan; and if it does not answer, I will be at the expence of making -it over again, after your’s:” which was consented to. And as he had -engaged to make nine miles of the road in ten months, he began in six -different parts, with near four hundred men employed. One of the -places was Pule and Standish common, which he cast fourteen yards wide, -and raised in a circular form. Water in several places ran across the -road, which he carried off by drains; but found the greatest difficulty -in conveying stones to the places for the purpose, on account of the -softness of the ground. Numbers of clothiers usually going that way to -Huddersfield market, were by no means sparing in their censure, and -held much diversity of opinion relative to its completion. But Metcalf -got the piece levelled to the end, and then ordered his men to bind -heather, or ling, in round bundles, and directed them to lay it on the -intended road, by placing the bundles in squares of four, and laying -another upon each square, pressing them well down. He then brought -broad-wheeled carts, and began to load stone and gravel for covering. -When the first load was brought and laid on, and the horses had gone -off in safety, the company huzza’d from surprise. They completed the -whole of this length, which was about half a mile; and it was so -particularly fine, that any person might have gone over it in winter, -unshod, without being wet. This piece of road needed no repairs for -twelve years afterwards. Having finished the nine miles within the -limited time, he took three miles from Standish to Thurston Clough, -which he completed;—and afterwards six miles and an half from Sir John -Kaye’s seat to Huddersfield; and from thence to Longroyd and Bridge -toll-bar, about a mile and an half;—also four bridges, their spans -twenty-four feet each; together with six bridges, the spans of which -were nine feet each. When all this work was finished, (the gentlemen -having promised that he should be no loser) a meeting was called, -and Metcalf attended: he assured them that the work he had completed -extra to his first bargain, in the marshes and other places, deserved -five hundred pounds: after some debate, he was allowed three hundred -pounds; though it was well worth the first-named sum. He had made about -twenty-one miles in the whole, for which he received four thousand five -hundred pounds. - -In the building of bridges, where the foundations were bad, he laid -on a sufficient thickness of ling where it could be got, otherwise -of wheat straw; he next laid planks five inches thick, with square -mortises cut through; and driving in a number of piles, he made the -foundation secure.—He then laid springs for the arch upon the planks, -which caused all to settle regularly when the weight came on. And -though he built many arches, of different sizes, by taking this method -none ever fell. - -He undertook three turnpike-houses upon the Wakefield and Austerland -roads, and completed them all. Believing there was a stone-quarry on -the South-East side of Huddersfield, in ground belonging to Sir John -Ramsden, he bored secretly in the night-time before he undertook the -road, and was successful in finding it. After finishing the road, -having some vacant time, and having likewise discovered the quarry, Sir -John gave him liberty to lead away stone. He now took houses to build, -particularly one belonging to Mr. Marmaduke Hebdin, nine yards wide, -twenty-three yards long, and twenty-one feet from the foundation to the -square of the building;—it had twenty chimnies or pipes: And this he -also completed. - -He undertook the road from Dock-Lane head, in Yorkshire, to -Ashton-under-Line, in Lancashire; also from the guide-post near the -latter place, to Stockport, in Cheshire; and also between Stockport and -Mottram-Longdale: the whole length being eighteen miles. He set men to -work in different parts, with horses and carts to each company; and -though he lost twenty horses in one winter, he was not discouraged; -observing that “horse-leather had been dear a long time, but he hoped -now to reduce the price.” Notwithstanding this misfortune, he completed -the whole, including a great number of drains and arches, which were -all done to the satisfaction of the trustees and surveyor; and received -for the work four thousand five hundred pounds. - -He then took eight miles more which required several drains and -arches.—He raised one hollow nine yards, and built sufficiently on -each side to keep up the earth, with battlements on the top; for which -he received two thousand pounds. - -One day being met by Sir Geo. Warren, who inquired if he was at -leisure, and being answered in the affirmative, he desired to see him -at his house at Poynton. Metcalf went, and agreed to make about five -miles of a private road through the Park.—He took twelve or fourteen -horses of his own, and brought large quantities of stone into Sir -George’s grounds, for the use of draining. For this he received several -hundred pounds, and great favours also from Sir George and his lady. - -A road was to be made between Whaley and Buxton, in Derbyshire, to -avoid a hill: it went over a tedious piece of ground called Peeling -Moss; the whole road being four miles in length, with some part -strong rock, which was to be blasted with gunpowder.—In taking this -road, Metcalf met with strong opposition from a son of one of the -commissioners; but Peter Legh, Esq; of Lyme, and another gentleman, -supporting Metcalf, he gained the point, and completed the undertaking, -with several drains and fence walls; for which he received near eleven -hundred pounds. - -He next took a mile and an half of High-Flats, between Huddersfield and -Sheffield; and finished it likewise, to the amount of three hundred -pounds. - -Eight miles of road were next advertised to be made between -Huddersfield and Halifax. A meeting was held, and several persons -attended with estimates for making it. One part was very rocky, and -full of hollows, and the ground in a very bad situation, particularly -between Elland and Saltershebble, and through a place called Grimscar -Wood, which was very boggy and rough. Many were of opinion that it was -impossible to make a road over that ground. But by building up the -hollows, and lowering the hills, Metcalf accomplished it:—And it is -worthy of remark, that he never undertook any road which he did not -complete, altho’ he has taken many which persons who had their sight -durst not engage in. He finished the road, with a great number of fence -walls and drains, to the satisfaction of the surveyors and trustees, -and received for it two thousand seven hundred and eleven pounds. - -A little after this, a road was advertised to be made between Congleton -and the Red-Bull Inn, in Cheshire, about six miles in length; but the -materials were about three miles distant in several places. A meeting -for letting this road was held at a place called Audersley, which -Metcalf attended; and being a stranger in that part, he fortunately met -with three gentlemen who knew him, viz. —— Clows of Macclesfield, -—— Downs of Sigleigh, and —— Wright of Mottram, Esqrs. two of them -Justices of the Peace.—They said to the trustees, “Gentlemen, you -have only to agree with this man, and you may be assured of having -your work well done.” The road, however, was not let that day, the -business being deferred until another meeting to be held at Congleton, -where Metcalf and others attended with estimates.—“Gentlemen,” said -Metcalf, “I am a stranger to you, and you may with reason question my -performing the bargain; but to prevent any doubt, I will first do one -hundred pounds worth of work, and afterwards be reasonably paid as it -goes forward; the hundred pounds may lay in the treasurer’s hands till -the whole is completed, and then to be paid.” On this proposal, and the -three gentlemen’s recommendation at the former meeting, they agreed -with him, although there was an estimate given in lower than his by two -hundred pounds. He completed the road, to the great satisfaction of the -surveyor and trustees, and received three thousand pounds. - -During the time that Metcalf was engaged in making this road, having -one day occasion to stop at Congleton, he met, at the Swan inn there, -one Warburton, a capital farmer, who lived about a mile distant. This -man was remarkable for sporting large sums in various ways, and no -sooner saw Metcalf, than he accosted him thus: “I understand that you -play at cards.”—Metcalf replied, “Sometimes, but not often;” being -much surprised that a stranger should know he had that propensity. -Warburton offered to play him for five or ten pounds, the best of five -games at put; but this he thought fit to decline: in the presence of -his friends he would not have feared to play for twenty; but being -in a strange place, and having a large undertaking relative to the -turnpikes, he concluded that it would be highly imprudent to game. The -farmer, however, persisting in his desire for play, Metcalf, after a -little consideration, determined to try the effect of ridicule on his -new acquaintance, saying, “I have not now time; but if you will meet me -here this day fortnight, I will play you, the best of five games, for -a leg of mutton, four-pennyworth of cabbage, and five shillings worth -of punch.” The farmer, pleased with any prospect of engaging him, -agreed to the wager, and insisted that the money should be deposited -with the landlord; which was accordingly done. During the interval, -Warburton spread the story of his engagement to play with a blind -man; and, thinking it a good joke, invited many of his friends to the -entertainment. Metcalf came at the time fixed, having first engaged -a friend from Buxton to accompany him, whose chief business it was -to see that his adversary did not play tricks with the cards. Three -guineas to two were offered to be laid on Warburton; and Metcalf’s -friend observing this, expressed a wish to take the odds, if agreeable -to him: to this, Metcalf replied, that he meant only to amuse himself -by playing for mutton and cabbage; and, that if any sums were laid, he -would forfeit his wager. When all parties were assembled, Metcalf, out -of joke, proposed to his adversary to club for all the articles, and -treat the company; but this he positively refused, alledging that he -had collected his friends for the purpose of seeing the match played. -On this, Metcalf called to the landlord for a fiddle, and playing on it -for a little while, was asked by the farmer what he meant: “To enable -you,” said he, “to tell your children, that when you played with a -blind man, you _played to some tune_!” They then went into a large -room, and were followed by a crowd of people, amongst whom were two -Justices of the Peace, and several clergymen. The game now began, and -Metcalf won the two first; his adversary got the third, and pulling -out his purse, offered to lay five guineas on the rubber: this was a -tickling offer to Metcalf, but having resolved against playing for -money, he made shift to overcome the temptation. Metcalf won the next -game; and, of course, the rubber. On this the farmer laid a large sum -on the table, and offered to play for the amount; but Metcalf would -only play for liquor, for the good of the company. The farmer agreeing, -they began again, and Metcalf presently won two games, when a gentleman -present shewed a great desire to play with him for money, but in vain; -so winning this rubber also, he saddled his antagonist with the whole -score, and not satisfied with the triumph already gained, began to -banter him sorely on his _childish_ manner of playing, and telling him, -that when the road work should cease for the Christmas holidays, he -would come to his house, and teach him to play like a _man_. - -The quantity of liquor yet to come in being large, detained many of the -company until five in the morning; and Warburton, who had got pretty -drunk, by way of comfort, declared before parting, that of twenty-two -fine cows, he would rather have lost the best, than have been beaten so -publicly. - -Metcalf apprehending that he might now be solicited by many to engage -in play, and considering the importance of his other engagements, -called aside Mr. Rolle, the surveyor of the road, and begged of him to -give sixpence, upon condition of receiving five pounds, if he (Metcalf) -should play any more at cards for eighteen months, the time allotted to -finish the road. Mr. Rolle approving highly of this, they returned to -the company, and Metcalf making the proposal, received the surveyor’s -sixpence publicly; and thus put an end to all further importunity. - -Here Metcalf finds it his duty to suspend, for a while, his road-making -narrative, to introduce, for the last time, the mention of the -much-loved Partner of his cares, whom he had brought into Cheshire, -and left at Stockport, that she might avail herself of the medical -advice of a person there, famed for the cure of rheumatic complaints, -of which description her’s was thought to be:—But human aid proving -ineffectual, she there died, in the summer 1778, after thirty-nine -years of conjugal felicity, which was never interrupted but by her -illness or his occasional absence. - -In his treatment of her, Metcalf never lost sight of the original -distinction in their circumstances, always indulging her to the utmost -that his own would allow; but she had no unreasonable desires to -gratify. She died in the sixty-first year of her age, leaving four -children; and was buried in Stockport church-yard. - -In 1781 the road between Wetherby and Knaresborough was let.—He -undertook that part which led through Ribston and Kirk-Deighten, till -it joined the great North road, leading from Boroughbridge to Wetherby; -and also built two toll-houses upon the road; and received about three -hundred and eighty pounds. - -Metcalf had a daughter married in Cheshire, to a person in the stocking -business. The manufacturers in this line, in the neighbourhood of -Stockport, talked of getting loads of money; and Metcalf thought that -he would have a portion of it also: he accordingly got six jennies and -a carding engine made, with other utensils proper for the business; -bought a quantity of cotton, and spun yarn for sale, as several others -did in the country. But it cost him much trouble and expence, before -he got all his utensils fixed: the speculation, likewise failed; and -a time came when no yarn could be sold without loss. Then Metcalf -got looms, and other implements proper for weaving calicoes, jeans, -and velverets:—for having made the cotton business an object of -particular attention, he was become very well acquainted with the -various branches of it. He got a quantity of calicoes whitened and -printed, his velverets cut, dyed, &c. and having spun up all his -cotton, he set off with about eight hundred yards of finished goods, -intending to sell them in Yorkshire, which he did at Knaresborough and -in the neighbourhood; and his son-in-law was to employ his jennies -until he came back. On his return, coming to Marsden near Huddersfield, -where he had made a road some years before, he found that there was -to be a meeting, to let the making of a mile and an half of road, and -the building of a bridge over; the river that runs by the town, so as -to leave the former road, in order to avoid the steepness of a hill. -At the persuasion of some of his friends, he staid till the meeting, -and agreed with the trustees. The bridge was to be twelve yards in the -span, and nine yards in breadth. These too he completed, and received -a thousand pounds; but the season being wet, and the ground over which -he had to bring his materials very swampy, and at a distance from the -road, he lost considerably by it. - -In 1789 he was informed that there was a great quantity of road to be -let in Lancashire: he accordingly went, and took a part between Bury -and Eslington, and another part from Eslington to Ackrington; as also -a branch from that to Blackburn. There were such hollows to fill, and -hills to be taken down, to form the level, as was never done before: -in several of the hollows the walls were ten yards high, before the -battlements were put on the top. He had two summers allowed to finish -this work in; but the trade in Lancashire being brisk, made wages very -high, and the navigation at that time cutting through the country so -employed the men, that it was a very difficult matter to procure a -sufficiency of hands. The first summer the rains were so perpetual, -that he lost about two hundred pounds; but in the next he completed the -whole work, and received by the hands of Mr. Carr of Blackburn three -thousand five hundred pounds; and, after all, was forty pounds loser by -it. - -In the year 1792 he returned into Yorkshire; and having no engagement -to employ his attention, he bought hay to sell again, measuring the -stacks with his arms; and having learnt the height, he could readily -tell what number of square yards were contained, from five to one -hundred pounds value. Sometimes he bought a little wood standing; -and if he could get the girth and height, would calculate the solid -contents. - -From that period he has settled on a small holding at Spofforth, near -Wetherby; and his house is kept by a daughter and son-in-law. - -At Christmas, 1794, he paid a visit to the present Colonel Thornton, -and his mother, at Thornville-Royal; and the reception he met with was -such as fully reminded him of former days at Old Thornville, where he -had spent many Christmasses. The truly respectable Relict, and the -worthy Representative, of his late Commander, always receive Blind Jack -with a condescending affability, highly flattering to one in his humble -station. - -Having known the streets of York very accurately in the earlier part of -his life, he determined, on the commencement of the last year, to visit -once more that ancient city, where he had not been for the space of -thirty-two years: He found alterations for the better in Spurriergate, -Blakestreet, the Pavement, &c. and being now in the neighbourhood of -Middlethorp, where he had, in the year 1735, spent a half-year so -happily, he resolved to have another _look_ at it, in the possession -of its present worthy master. From Mr. Barlow’s house there is a road -which leads to Bishopthorpe; and this road he clearly recollected, -though sixty years had elapsed since he had gone that way before: -so retentive was his memory on this occasion, that he discovered an -alteration in the hanging of two gates by a wall-side near the above -mansion. At Mr. Barlow’s he staid several nights, which, he scarcely -need add, were spent most agreeably, he endeavouring to make his fiddle -speak the satisfaction and hilarity felt by its owner. Returning to -York, he spent a few nights at the house of another friend; and setting -out on the 10th of January, 1795, he walked to Green Hammerton, in his -way to Thornville-Royal, in about three hours and an half, being ten -miles; proceeded to Thornville that night, and to Knaresborough next -morning the 10th, which being the birth-day of Sir Thomas Slingsby’s -eldest son, and which was kept with the utmost festivity, he resolved -to spend at the worthy Baronet’s. Here he closed the festive season -of Christmas, after a tour of some weeks amongst his friends;—to -whom, in particular, he submits, with the utmost deference, this -imperfect Sketch of a LIFE, with which only can terminate his grateful -remembrance of their numerous favours. - - -_FINIS._ - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes. - - 1. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical - errors. - - 2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - - 3. For clarity the l. s. d. currency symbols have been _italicised_. - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF JOHN METCALF, -COMMONLY CALLED BLIND JACK OF KNARESBOROUGH *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. 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