JOHN MF/IVALK, 1!<>.\!> MAKKK. 213 



Metealt' hud in liim 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 

 tli is 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 lie 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 

 1 1 ietr< >] x )lis. 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 before travelled upon, yet without once missing 

 his way. When he arrived at York it was the dead of 

 n in-lit, 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 

 l>\ Colour! Liddell, of Ravensworth Castle, who gave 

 him a general invitation to his house. During this visit, 

 \vhich was in 1730-1, Metcalf ranged freely over the 

 metropolis and visited Maidenhead and Reading, re- 

 turning by Windsor and Hampton Court, The Harro- 

 gate season being at hand, he prepared to proceed thither 



Colonel Liddell, who was also about setting out for 



