From that period he has settled on a small holding at Spofforth, near Wetherby; and his house is kept by a daughter and son-in-law.
At Christmas, 1794, he paid a visit to the present Colonel Thornton, and his mother, at Thornville-Royal; and the reception he met with was such as fully reminded him of former days at Old Thornville, where he had spent many Christmasses. The truly respectable Relict, and the worthy Representative, of his late Commander, always receive Blind Jack with a condescending affability, highly flattering to one in his humble station.
Having known the streets of York very accurately in the earlier part of his life, he determined, on the commencement of the last year, to visit once more that ancient city, where he had not been for the space of thirty-two years: He found alterations for the better in Spurriergate, Blakestreet, the Pavement, &c. and being now in the neighbourhood of Middlethorp, where he had, in the year 1735, spent a half-year so happily, he resolved to have another look at it, in the possession of its present worthy master. From Mr. Barlow’s house there is a road which leads to Bishopthorpe; and this road he clearly recollected, though sixty years had elapsed since he had gone that way before: so retentive was his memory on this occasion, that he discovered an alteration in the hanging of two gates by a wall-side near the above mansion. At Mr. Barlow’s he staid several nights, which, he scarcely need add, were spent most agreeably, he endeavouring to make his fiddle speak the satisfaction and hilarity felt by its owner. Returning to York, he spent a few nights at the house of another friend; and setting out on the 10th of January, 1795, he walked to Green Hammerton, in his way to Thornville-Royal, in about three hours and an half, being ten miles; proceeded to Thornville that night, and to Knaresborough next morning the 10th, which being the birth-day of Sir Thomas Slingsby’s eldest son, and which was kept with the utmost festivity, he resolved to spend at the worthy Baronet’s. Here he closed the festive season of Christmas, after a tour of some weeks amongst his friends;—to whom, in particular, he submits, with the utmost deference, this imperfect Sketch of a LIFE, with which only can terminate his grateful remembrance of their numerous favours.
FINIS.
Transcriber’s Notes.
1. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors.
2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.
3. For clarity the l. s. d. currency symbols have been italicised.