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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 meeting resolving that the
men should be retained at home for purposes merely of local
defence。 On this decision being come to； Mr。 Thornton determined
to raise a company of volunteers at his own expense； and to join
the Royal army with such force as he could muster。 He then went
abroad among his tenantry and servants； and endeavoured to induce
them to follow him； but without success。
Still determined on raising his company； Mr。 Thornton next cast
about him for other means； and who should he think of in his
emergency but Blind Jack！ Metcalf had often played to his family at
Christmas time； and the Squire knew him to be one of the most
popular men in the neighbourhood。 He accordingly proceeded to
Knaresborough to confer with Metcalf on the subject。 It was then
about the beginning of October； only a fortnight after the battle
of Prestonpans。 Sending for Jack to his inn； Mr。 Thornton told
him of the state of affairsthat the French were coming to join
the rebelsand that if the country were allowed to fall into their
hands； no man's wife； daughter； nor sister would be safe。 Jack's
loyalty was at once kindled。 If no one else would join the Squire；
he would！ Thus enlistedperhaps carried away by his love of
adventure not less than by his feeling of patriotism Metcalf
proceeded to enlist others； and in two days a hundred and forty men
were obtained； from whom Mr。 Thornton drafted sixty…four； the
intended number of his company。 The men were immediately drilled
and brought into a state of as much efficiency as was practicable
in the time； and when they marched off to join General Wade's army
at Boroughbridge； the Captain said to them on setting out；
〃My lads！ you are going to form part of a ring…fence to the finest
estate in the world！〃 Blind Jack played a march at the head of the
company； dressed in blue and buff； and in a gold…laced hat。
The Captain said he would willingly give a hundred guineas for only
one eye to put in Jack's head： he was such a useful； spirited； handy
fellow。
On arriving at Newcastle； Captain Thornton's company was united to
Pulteney's regiment； one of the weakest。 The army lay for a week
in tents on the Moor。 Winter had set in； and the snow lay thick
on the ground； but intelligence arriving that Prince Charles； with
his Highlanders； was proceeding southwards by way of Carlisle；
General Wade gave orders for the immediate advance of the army on
Hexham； in the hope of intercepting them by that route。 They set
out on their march amidst hail and snow； and in addition to the
obstruction caused by the weather； they had to overcome the
difficulties occasioned by the badness of the roads。 The men were
often three or four…hours in marching a mile； the pioneers having
to fill up ditches and clear away many obstructions in making a
practicable passage for the artillery and baggage。 The army was
only able to reach Ovingham； a distance of little more than ten
miles； after fifteen hours' marching。 The night was bitter cold；
the ground was frozen so hard that but few of the tent…pins could
be driven； and the men lay down upon the earth amongst their straw。
Metcalf； to keep up the spirits of his company for sleep was next
to impossible took out his fiddle and played lively tunes whilst
the men danced round the straw； which they set on fire。
Next day the army marched for Hexham； But the rebels having already
passed southward； General Wade retraced。 his steps to Newcastle to
gain the high road leading to Yorkshire； whither he marched in all
haste； and for a time his army lay before Leeds on fields now
covered with streets； some of which still bear the names of
Wade…lane； Camp…road； and Camp…field； in consequence of the event。
On the retreat of Prince Charles from Derby； General Wade again
proceeded to Newcastle； while the Duke of Cumberland hung upon the
rear of the rebels along their line of retreat by Penrith and
C