It is fit, however, to notice the disadvantages under which it now makes its appearance;—and which, from circumstances, were unavoidable: The person whose task it was to render it, in some degree, fit for the press, had much difficulty to encounter in arranging the dates, scarce any attention having been paid to chronological order; and the various anecdotes having been set down, as the recollection of them arose in the mind of the narrator, by an amanuensis wholly unqualified for the purpose, and given in a language intelligible to those only who are well acquainted with the Yorkshire dialect.—To those inaccuracies was added, a literal _disrespect of persons_; the first and third being indiscriminately used throughout. To avoid constantly-recurring egotisms, the preference is here given to the third person; though it is feared even that will be found too often in the proper name, where it might have been, in many instances, supplied by the pronoun.—But a long absence having necessarily suspended the attention of the Editor, and the desire for publication before the close of the Harrogate season being urgent, he is not allowed time to correct his own errors. For the same reason, the part containing an account of the share which Metcalf bore under the late Colonel Thornton, in his expedition against the rebels; his various undertakings as a road-maker, &c. have received little other correction than what could be given by interlineation. Throughout, however, not the least violence is done to the facts; to insure the purity of which, the M. S. has been read over to Metcalf himself, and corrected by his desire, wherever any little accidental error has appeared. Though it was absolutely necessary to bring the style into something like grammatical order, and to purge it of barbarisms, yet pains have been taken to preserve its simplicity; and in some instances, where a few sentences of dialogue are introduced, the original words remain. Imperfect as it is, a hope is nevertheless entertained that it will prove amusing; and happy shall the Author of its Apology be, if the profits arising from the sale shall prove of sufficient value to smooth the decline of a life, which, though marked by eccentricity, has not been spent in vain. THE LIFE OF _JOHN METCALF_. John Metcalf was born at Knaresborough, on the 15th of August, 1717. When four years old, he was put to school by his parents, who were working people, and continued at school two years: He was then seized with the small-pox, which rendered him totally blind, though all possible means were used to preserve his sight.