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rear of the rebels along their line of retreat by Penrith and
Carlisle。 Wade's army proceeded by forced marches into Scotland；
and at length came up with the Highlanders at Falkirk。 Metcalf
continued with Captain Thornton and his company throughout all
these marchings and countermarchings； determined to be of service
to his master if he could； and at all events to see the end of the
campaign。 At the battle of Falkirk he played his company to the
field； but it was a grossly…mismanaged battle on the part of the
Royalist General； and the result was a total defeat。 Twenty of
Thornton's men were made prisoners； with the lieutenant and
ensign。 The Captain himself only escaped by taking refuge in a
poor woman's house in the town of Falkirk； where he lay hidden for
many days； Metcalf returning to Edinburgh with the rest of the
defeated army。
Some of the Dragoon officers； hearing of Jack's escape； sent for
him to head…quarters at Holyrood； to question him about his
Captain。 One of them took occasion to speak ironically of
Thornton's men； and asked Metcalf how he had contrived to escape。
〃Oh！〃 said Jack； 〃I found it easy to follow the sound of the
Dragoons' horses they made such a clatter over the stones when
flying from the Highlandmen。 Another asked him how he； a blind
man； durst venture upon such a service； to which Metcalf replied；
that had he possessed a pair of good eyes； perhaps he would not
have come there to risk the loss of them by gunpowder。 No more
questions were asked； and Jack withdrew； but he was not satisfied
about the disappearance of Captain Thornton； and determined on
going back to Falkirk； within the enemy's lines； to get news of
him； and perhaps to rescue him； if that were still possible。
The rest of the company were very much disheartened at the loss of
their officers and so many of their comrades； and wished Metcalf to
furnish them with the means of returning home。 But he would not
hear of such a thing； and strongly encouraged them to remain until；
at all events； he had got news of the Captain。 He then set out for
Prince Charles's camp。 On reaching the outposts of the English
army； he was urged by the officer in command to lay aside his
project； which would certainly cost him his life。 But Metcalf was
not to be dissuaded； and he was permitted to proceed； which he did
in the company of one of the rebel spies； pretending that he wished
to be engaged as a musician in the Prince's army。 A woman whom
they met returning to Edinburgh from the field of Falkirk； laden
with plunder； gave Metcalf a token to her husband； who was Lord
George Murray's cook； and this secured him an access to the
Prince's quarters； but； notwithstanding a most diligent search；
he could hear nothing of his master。 Unfortunately for him； a person
who had seen him at Harrogate； pointed him out as a suspicions
character； and he was seized and put in confinement for three days；
after which he was tried by court martial； but as nothing could be
alleged against him； he was acquitted； and shortly after made his
escape from the rebel camp。 On reaching Edinburgh； very much to his
delight he found Captain Thornton had arrived there before him。
On the 30th of January； 1746； the Duke of Cumberland reached
Edinburgh； and put himself at the head of the Royal army； which
proceeded northward in pursuit of the Highlanders。 At Aberdeen；
where the Duke gave a ball； Metcalf was found to be the only
musician in camp who could play country dances； and he played to
the company； standing on a chair； for eight hours；the Duke
several times； as he passed him； shouting out 〃Thornton； play up！〃
Next morning the Duke sent him a present of two guineas； but as the
Captain would not allow him to receive such gifts while in his pay；
Metcalf spent the money； with his permission； in giving a treat to
the Duke's two body servants。 The battle of Culloden； so
disastrous to the poor Highlanders； shortly followed； after which
Captain Thornton； Metcalf； and the Yorkshire Volunteer Company；
proceeded homewards。 Metcalf's young wife had been in great fears
for the safety of her blind； fearless； and almost reckless partner；
but she received him with open arms； and his spirit of adventure
being now considerably allayed； he determined to settle quietly
down to the steady pursuit of business。
During his stay in Aberdeen； Metcalf had made himself familiar with
the articles of clothing manufactured at that place； and he came to
the conclusion that a profitable trade might be carried on by
buying them on the spot； and selling them by retail to customers in
Yorkshire。 He accordingly proceeded to Aberdeen in the following
spring； and bought a considerable stock of cotton and worsted
stockings； which he found he could readily dispose of on his return
home。 His knowledge of horsefleshin which he was； of course；
mainly guided by his acute sense of feelingalso proved highly
serviceable to him； and he bought considerable numbers of horses in
Yorkshire for sale in Scotland； bringing back galloways in return。
It is supposed that at the same time he carried on a profitable
contraband trade in tea and such like articles。
After this； Metcalf began a new line of business； that of common
carrier between York and Knaresborough； plying the first
stage…waggon on that road。 He made the journey twice a week in
summer and once a week in winter。 He also undertook the conveyance
of army baggage； most other owners of carts at that time being
afraid of soldiers； regarding them as a wild rough set； with whom
it was dangerous to have any dealings。 But the blind man knew them
better； and while he drove a profitable trade in carrying their
baggage from town to town； they never did him any harm。 By these
means； he very shortly succeeded in realising a considerable store
of savings； besides being able to maintain his family in
respectability and comfort。
Metcalf； however； had not yet entered upon the main business of his
life。 The reader will already have observed how strong of heart
and resolute of purpose he was。 During his adventurous career he
had acquired a more than ordinary share of experience of the
world。 Stone blind as he was from his childhood； he had not been
able to study books； but he had carefully studied men。 He could
read characters with wonderful quickness； rapidly taking stock； as
he called it； of those with whom he came in contact。 In his youth；
as we have seen； he could follow the hounds on horse or on foot；
and managed to be in at the death with the most expert riders。
His travels about the country as a guide to those who could see；
as a musician； soldier； chapman； fish…dealer； horse…dealer；
and waggoner； had given him a perfectly familiar acquaintance with
the northern roads。 He could measure timber or hay in the stack；
and rapidly reduce their contents to feet and inches after a mental
process of his own。 Withal he was endowed with an extraordinary
activity and spirit of enterprise； which； had his sight been spared
him； would probably have rendered him one of the most extraordinary
men of his age。 As it was； Metcalf now became one of the greatest
of its road…makers and bridge…builders。
＇Image＇ John Metcalf； the blind road…maker。
About the year 1765 an Act was passed empowering a turnpike…road to
be constructed between Harrogate and Boroughbridge。 The business
of contractor had not yet come into existence； nor was the art of
road…making much understood； and in a remote country place such as
Knaresborough the surveyor had some difficulty in finding persons
capable of executing the necessary work。 The shrewd Metcalf
discerned in the proposed enterprise the first of a series of
public roads of a similar kind throughout the northern counties；
for none knew better than he did how great was the need of them。
He determined； therefore； to enter upon this new line of business；
and offered to Mr。 Ostler； the master surveyor； to construct three
miles of the proposed road between Minskip and Fearnsby。 Ostler
knew the man well； and having the greatest confidence in his
abilities； he let him the contract。 Metcalf sold his stage…waggons
and his interest in the carrying business between York and
Knaresborough； and at once proceeded with his new undertaking。
The materials for metaling the road were to be obtained from one
gravel…pit for the whole length； and he made his arrangements on a
large scale accordingly； hauling out the ballast with unusual
expedition and economy； at the same time proceeding with the
formation of the road at all points； by which means he was enabled
the first to complete his contract； to the entire satisfaction of
the surveyor and trustees。
This was only the first of a vast number of similar projects on
which Metcalf was afterwards engaged； extending over a period of
more than thirty years。 By the time that he had fi