JOHN METCALF. 59 



travelled in those days, about 1740, it is only necessary 

 to say that JMetcalf once paid a visit to a Colonel 

 Liddell at Ravensworth Casde. He met this gende- 

 man in London when about to start for Harrogate, 

 in Yorkshire. The Colonel offered him a seat in his 

 coach ; Metcalf thanked him, but declined the offer, 

 observing that he could walk as far in a day as the 

 Colonel could drive in his carriage ; and he did not 

 say so without reason, since he walked two hundred 

 miles over an unknown road in less time than it took 

 the Colonel's coach drawn by four post-horses ; 

 he arrived at Harrogate before the carriage, and 

 that without hurrying himself by the way. The story 

 is even told of a man v/ith a wooden leg who, w^hen 

 asked by a stage-coachman in those days whether he 

 should give him a lift, replied, " No, thank you, I am 

 in a hurry," and stumped on far ahead of the coach, 

 which arrived at its destination long after the lame 

 man had had his supper and gone to bed. 



Shortly after the battle of Preston Pans, October, 

 1745, Metcalf enlisted as a soldier with the Duke 

 of Cumberland's army. After the defeat of the 

 Pretender, the regiment to which he belonged was 

 disbanded ; Metcalf then became a carrier between 

 York and Knaresborough, at which latter place he 

 was born. His stage-waggon was the first that plied 

 on that road ; he made the journey twice a week in 

 summer, and once in winter. 



Besides the various accomplishments I have named, 

 he used to measure timber in bulk, and hay and straw 

 in stacks, and ascertain their cubical contents by a 

 process of his own. Metcalf afterwards becamxe one 

 of the greatest road and bridge constructors of the 

 age. 



