ing with four or five stone of meat on his shoulders, and joined his men by six o'clock. He completed the road much sooner than was expected, to the entire satisfaction of the surveyor and trustees.

Soon after this, he contracted for building a bridge, at Boroughbridge, which he completed with great credit to his abilities. The business of making roads, and building and repairing bridges in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire, he continued with great success till the year 1792, when he returned to his native country.

In the summer of 1788, he lost his wife in the sixty-first year of her age, and the fortieth of their union, leaving four children. She was interred in the church-yard of Stockport, in Cheshire, where she then resided.

After some unsuccessful speculations in the cotton trade, Metcalf returned to Yorkshire, and, for want of other engagements, he bought hay to sell again, measuring the stacks with his arms, and having learned the height, he could readily tell what number of square yards were contained in a stack of any value between five and one hundred pounds. Sometimes he bought a little wood standing, and if he could get the girth and height, would calculate the solid contents.

In addition to this brief history of the life of this singular character, the reader will not be displeased to find the following anecdotes,

which are of a nature too extraordinary to be omitted:

Metcalf had learned to walk and ride very readily through most of the streets of York; and being once in that city, as he was passing the George, the landlord called to him, and informed him, that a gentleman in the house wanted a guide to Harrowgate, adding, “I know you can do as well as any one." To this proposal Metcalf agreed, upon condition that his situation should be kept secret from the gentleman, who might otherwise be afraid to trust him. The stranger was soon ready, and they set off on horseback, Metcalf taking the lead. When they came to Allerton-Mauleverer, the gentleman inquired whose large house that was on the right, to which Metcalf replied without the least hesitation. A little farther on, the road is crossed by that from Wetherby to Boroughbridge, and runs along by the lofty brick wall of Allerton Park. A road led out of the park opposite to the gate upon the Knaresborough road, which Metcalf was afraid of missing; but perceiving the current of wind that came through the park gate, he readily turned his horse towards the opposite one. Here he found some difficulty in opening the gate, in consequence, as he imagined, of some alteration that had been made in the hanging of it, as he had not been that way for several months. Therefore, backing his horse, he exclaimed, "Confound thee,

thou always goes to the heel of the gate instead of the head." The gentleman observed, that his horse was rather awkward, but that his own mare was good at coming up to a gate, on which Metcalf cheerfully permitted him to perform that office. Passing through Knaresborough, they entered the forest, which was then unenclosed, nor was there, as yet, any turnpike road upon it. Having proceeded a little way upon the forest, the gentleman observed a light, and asked what it was. Metcalf took it for granted, that his companion. had seen what is called a Will-o'-the-Wisp, which frequently appears in a low and swampy spot, near the road; but fearful of betraying himself, did not ask in what direction the light lay. To divert his attention from this object, he asked him if he did not see two lights, one to the right, the other to the left. The stranger replied, that he saw but one on the right "Well then, sir," says Metcalf, "that is Harrowgate." Having arrived at their journey's end, they stopped at the house now called the Granby, where Metcalf, being well acquainted with the place, led both horses into the stable, and then went into the house, where he found his fellow traveller comfortably seated over a tankard of negus, in which he pledged his guide. Metcalf took it of him very readily the first time, but the second time he was rather wide of his mark. He therefore withdrew, leaving the landlord to explain

what his companion was yet ignorant of. The latter hinted to the landlord his suspicions that his guide must have taken a great quantity of spirits since their arrival; upon which the landlord inquired his reason for entertaining such an opinion. "I judge so," replied the traveller, "from the appearance of his eyes."-"Eyes! bless you, sir! do not you know that he is blind?" "What do you mean by that?"-"I mean, sir, that he cannot see." "vhat! my guide blind?"-"Yes, sir, as blind as a stone, on my word!" The stranger desired Metcalf to be called, and upon his confirming the landlord's account, "Had I known that," said he, "I would not have ventured with you for a hundred pounds."-"And I, sir," said Metcalf, "would not have lost my way for a thousand."-The services of the evening were rewarded with two guineas, and a plentiful entertainment the next day by the gentleman, who considered this circumstance as the most extraordinary adventure he had ever met with.

Metcalf happened once to be at Scriven, at the house of one Green, an innkeeper, where two persons had a dispute concerning some sheep, which one of them had put into the pen-fold. The owner of the sheep, a townsman of Metcalf's, appeared to be ill-treated by the other party, who wished to take an unfair advantage. Metcalf, perceiving that they were not likely to agree about the damages,

departed. It being about midnight, he resolved to perform a good turn for his friend before he went home. The pen-fold being walled round, he climbed over, and laying hold of the sheep one after the other, he fairly threw them over the wall. The difficulty of the undertaking increased as the number diminished, as they were not so ready to catch; but not deterred by that circumstance, he completed the business. On the return of day, when the pen-fold was found untenanted, though the door was fast locked, a considerable degree of surprise was excited, and various conjectures were formed relative to the rogues who had liberated the sheep; but Metcalf passed unsuspected, and enjoyed the joke in silence.

Passing once through Halifax, he stopped at an inn called the Broad Stone. The landlord's son, and some others who frequented Harrowgate, having heard of Metcalf's exploits, expressed a wish to play at cards with him. He consented, and a pack was sent for, which he requested permission to examine; but as the landlord was his friend, he could rely upon him to prevent any deception. They began, and Metcalf beat four of them in turn, playing for liquor only. Not satisfied. with this, some of the company proposed to play for money, and at shilling whist, Metcalf won fifteen shillings. The losing party then proposed to play double or quit, but he declined playing for more than half a guinea