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第22章

the life of thomas telford-第22章

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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

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