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must have been something exceedingly winning about the man；
possessed； as he was； of a strong； manly； and affectionate nature；
and we are not； therefore； surprised to learn that the land lord's
daughter of 〃The Granby〃 fairly fell in love with Blind Jack and
married him； much to the disgust of her relatives。 When asked how
it was that she could marry such a man； her woman…like reply was；
〃Because I could not be happy without him： his actions are so
singular； and his spirit so manly and enterprising； that I could
not help loving him。〃 But； after all； Dolly was not so far wrong in
the choice as her parents thought her。 As the result proved；
Metcalf had in him elements of success in life； which； even according
to the world's estimate； made him eventually a very 〃good match；〃
and the woman's clear sight in this case stood her in good stead。
But before this marriage was consummated； Metcalf had wandered far
and 〃seen〃 a good deal of the world； as he termed it。 He travelled
on horseback to Whitby； and from thence he sailed for London；
taking with him his fiddle； by the aid of which he continued to
earn enough to maintain himself for several weeks in the
metropolis。 Returning to Whitby； He sailed from thence to
Newcastle to 〃see〃 some friends there； whom he had known at
Harrogate while visiting that watering…place。 He was welcomed by
many families and spent an agreeable month； afterwards visiting
Sunderland； still supporting himself by his violin playing。
Then he returned to Whitby for his horse； and rode homeward alone to
Knaresborough by Pickering； Malton； and York； over very bad roads；
the greater part of which he had never travelled before； yet
without once missing his way。 When he arrived at York； it was the
dead of night； and he found the city gates at Middlethorp shut。
They were of strong planks； with iron spikes fixed on the top； but
throwing his horse's bridle…rein over one of the spikes； he climbed
up； and by the help of a corner of the wall that joined the gates；
he got safely over： then opening； them from the inside； he led his
horse through。
After another season at Harrogate； he made a second visit to
London； in the company of a North countryman who played the small
pipes。 He was kindly entertained by Colonel Liddell； of Ravensworth
Castle； who gave him a general invitation to his house。 During
this visit which was in 1730…1； Metcalf ranged freely over the
metropolis； visiting Maidenhead and Reading； and returning by
Windsor and Hampton Court。 The Harrogate season being at hand；
he prepared to proceed thither；Colonel Liddell； who was also about
setting out for Harrogate； offering him a seat behind his coach。
Metcalf thanked him； but declined the offer； observing that he
could； with great ease； walk as； far in a day as he； the Colonel；
was likely to travel in his carriage； besides； he preferred the
walking。 That a blind man should undertake to walk a distance of
two hundred miles over an unknown road； in the same time that it
took a gentleman to perform the same distance in his coach； dragged
by post…horses； seems almost incredible； yet Metcalf actually
arrived at Harrogate before the Colonel； and that without hurrying
by the way。 The circumstance is easily accounted for by the
deplorable state of the roads； which made travelling by foot on the
whole considerably more expeditious than travelling by coach。
The story is even extant of a man with a wooden leg being once offered
a lift upon a stage…coach； but he declined； with 〃Thank'ee； I can't
wait； I'm in a hurry。〃 And he stumped on； ahead of the coach。
The account of Metcalf's journey on foot from London to Harrogate
is not without a special bearing on our subject； as illustrative of
the state of the roads at the time。 He started on a Monday
morning； about an hour before the Colonel in his carriage； with his
suite； which consisted of sixteen servants on horseback。 It was
arranged that they should sleep that night at Welwyn； in
Hertfordshire。 Metcalf made his way to Barnet； but a little north
of that town； where the road branches off to St。 Albans； he took
the wrong way； and thus made a considerable detour。 Nevertheless
he arrived at Welwyn first； to the surprise of the Colonel。 Next
morning he set off as before； and reached Biggleswade； but there he
found the river swollen and no bridge provided to enable travellers
to cross to the further side。 He made a considerable circuit； in
the hope of finding some method of crossing the stream； and was so
fortunate as to fall in with a fellow wayfarer； who led the way
across some planks； Metcalf following the sound of his feet。
Arrived at the other side； Metcalf； taking some pence from his
pocket； said； 〃Here； my good fellow； take that and get a pint of beer。〃
The stranger declined； saying he was welcome to his services。
Metcalf； however； pressed upon his guide the small reward； when the
other asked； 〃Pray； can you see very well？〃 〃Not remarkably well；〃
said Metcalf。 〃My friend；〃 said the stranger； 〃I do not mean to
tithe you： I am the rector of this parish； so God bless you；
and I wish you a good journey。 〃 Metcalf set forward again with
the blessing； and reached his journey's end safely； again before the
Colonel。 On the Saturday after their setting out from London；
the travellers reached Wetherby； where Colonel Liddell desired to
rest until the Monday； but Metcalf proceeded on to Harrogate； thus
completing the journey in six days；the Colonel arriving two days
later。
He now renewed his musical performances at Harrogate； and was also
in considerable request at the Ripon assemblies； which were
attended by most of the families of distinction in that
neighbourhood。 When the season at Harrogate was over； he retired
to Knaresborough with his young wife； and having purchased an old
house； he had it pulled down and another built on its site；he
himself getting the requisite stones for the masonry out of the bed
of the adjoining river。 The uncertainty of the income derived from
musical performances led him to think of following some more
settled pursuit； now that he had a wife to maintain as well as
himself。 He accordingly set up a four…wheeled and a one…horse
chaise for the public accommodation；Harrogate up to that time
being without any vehicle for hire。 The innkeepers of the town
having followed his example； and abstracted most of his business；
Metcalf next took to fish…dealing。 He bought fish at the coast；
which he conveyed on horseback to Leeds and other towns for sale。
He continued indefatigable at this trade for some time； being on
the road often for nights together； but he was at length forced to
abandon it in consequence of the inadequacy of the returns。 He was
therefore under the necessity of again taking up his violin； and he
was employed as a musician in the Long Room at Harrogate； at the
time of the outbreak of the Rebellion of 1745。
The news of the rout of the Royal army at Prestonpans； and the
intended march of the Highlanders southwards； put a stop to
business as well as pleasure； and caused a general consternation
throughout the northern counties。 The great bulk of the people
were； however； comparatively indifferent to the measures of defence
which were adopted； and but for the energy displayed by the country
gentlemen in raising forces in support of the established
government； the Stuarts might again have been seated on the throne
of Britain。 Among the county gentlemen of York who distinguished
themselves on the occasion was William Thornton； Esq。； of
Thornville Royal。 The county having voted ninety thousand pounds
for raising； clothing； and maintaining a body of four thousand men；
Mr。 Thornton proposed； at a public meeting held at York； that they
should be embodied with the regulars and march with the King's
forces to meet the Pretender in the field。 This proposal was；
however； overruled； the majority of the mee