Transcriber’s Note: Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. [Illustration: JOHN METCALF AGED 78. _Drawn by J.R. Smith._ _Published as the Act directs Augᵗ. 31. 1795 by E & R Peck, York._] THE LIFE OF JOHN METCALF, COMMONLY CALLED _Blind Jack of Knaresborough_. WITH, Many Entertaining ANECDOTES of his EXPLOITS in _Hunting_, _Card-Playing_, _&c._ Some PARTICULARS relative to the Expedition against the REBELS in 1745, _IN WHICH HE BORE A PERSONAL SHARE_; AND ALSO A Succinct ACCOUNT of his various CONTRACTS for Making ROADS, Erecting BRIDGES, AND OTHER UNDERTAKINGS, IN _Yorkshire_, _Lancashire_, _Derbyshire_, _and Cheshire_; Which, for a Series of Years, have brought him into PUBLIC NOTICE, as a most _EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER_. EMBELLISHED WITH A STRIKING HALF-LENGTH PORTRAIT. YORK: PRINTED AND SOLD BY E. AND R. PECK. 1795. [_Entered at Stationers’ Hall._] ADVERTISEMENT. To a generous public little apology will be necessary for offering to their patronage the Story of an Individual, who, under circumstances the most depressing in their nature, has been, for a considerable part of a long life, their assiduous and useful servant. The Blind, in all ages and countries, have engaged, in a peculiar degree, the sympathy of mankind;—and, where original poverty has been annexed to their misfortune, it has been esteemed the utmost exertion in their favour, to enable them to minister to the amusement of society, as the only means for keeping them independent of it: To this general rule, however, a surprising exception is here shewn; and it is fortunate for the credibility of this little piece, that it is given to the world during the life-time not only of its HERO, but of many others who were witnesses of the various extraordinary _facts_ it contains.