Society of London, when applied to a second time by a Committee of that public-spirited Society, to print the originals, seems to put the question of authenticity beyond all possible doubt; his answer to the Secretary of the Committee, on that occasion, is couched in the following terms:

"

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Norfolk-street, 4th July, 1784.

"I received the favour of your letter dated yesterday, and I am sorry the gentlemen should think of giving themselves the trouble of waiting upon me, as a ceremony of that kind is altogether superfluous and unnecessary. I shall adhere to "the promise I made several years ago to a depu"tation of the same kind; that is, to employ my "first leisure time, and a considerable portion of "time it must be to do it accurately, in arranging "and printing the originals of the poems of Ossian, "AS THEY HAVE COME TO MY HANDS.* "Funds having been established for the expense, "there can be no excuse but want of leisure, for "not commencing the work in a very few months.

* It is striking the resemblance between this expression, and Macpherson's letter to Mr. Maclagan, dated 16th January, 1761, when he first had discovered the poem of Fingal. " I "have been lucky enough to lay my hands on a pretty com"plete poem, and truly epic, concerning Fingal." Report of the Highland Society, Appendix, p. 155.

“I am, with best respects to the Gentlemen of "the Committee," &c.*

Such a declaration, from Mr. Macpherson himself, when applied to in the manner which suited his peculiar temper and turn of mind, must put an end to all doubts regarding the authenticity of the poems collected by him, the originals of which he had pledged himself to prepare for the press, as they came to his hands, and which he actually left behind him for that purpose.

Having thus travelled over the grounds of this curious and important controversy, it is full time to bring this chapter to a conclusion; and for that purpose it is only necessary to add, that, if these poems were fabricated, Macpherson could not have effected it, without the knowledge and participation of the Rev. Mr. Gallie, of Macpherson of Strathmashie, and of Morison; all of whom give their positive testimony in favour of the authenticity. Mr. Gallie, the friend of his youth,

* See Appendix, No. 3, where there is a fac simile of this important document, fully authenticated to be the hand writing of Mr. Macpherson; and where the circumstances which led to its transmission are detailed. For the production of this most decisive evidence, we are much indebted to Sir John Macgregor Murray, who first furnished a copy of it, by means of which the original was traced among the papers of the Highland Society of London, and is now deposited in the British Museum.

declares, when on the brink of the grave, that at the most early stage of the business he was convinced that Fingal was no imposition, and that he continued to be so.* Mr. Macpherson of Strathmashie, who accompanied him to the Highlands; who assisted him in collecting the poems; who took down from oral tradition, and transcribed from old manuscripts, by far the greater part of the pieces he has published, makes a similar declaration.+ Captain Alexander Morison, who saw the several manuscripts, and who assisted in translating them, has lately declared, that he as firmly believed in the authenticity of Ossian's poems, as in the existence of soul and body; and that, at the advanced period of 86 years of age, when he made that declaration, he would not deliberately make such an averment, were it not perfectly consistent with the conviction of his own mind.‡

We shall conclude this chapter, with the solemn declaration of that truly respectable character, the late Dr. Blair, which ought to satisfy every

Report of the Highland Society, p. 34.

+ Report of the Highland Society, Appendix, p. 8. See also the declaration of Ewan Macpherson, Appendix, p. 96, who states, that he was for three or four weeks with Mr. Macpherson,taking down the poems of Ossian, from the recitation of several individuals, at different places.

See Appendix, No. IV.

impartial reader: "That, from his perfect knowledge of all the circumstances connected with "the discovery, and the translation of those poems, "it was impossible for him to entertain any doubts on the subject of their authenticity".*

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He adds this important observation, " that he "could not avoid considering the discovery of "the works of Ossian, as an important æra in the "annals of taste and literature; and the share, “which he had in contributing towards it, as a part of his life, by which he had deserved well, "both of his own age, and of posterity.”

* Dr. Blair's letter to Henry Mackenzie, Esq. dated 20th December, 1797, Report of the Highland Society, Appendix, p. 60.

CHAPTER II.

ACCOUNT OF THE GAELIC EDITION HEREWITH PRINTED, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HAVE HITHERTO PREVENTED THE PUBLICATION THEREOF; TOGETHER WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE BEAUTIES OF THE POEMS OF OSSIAN, AS ORIGINALLY COMPOSED.

THE

HE particulars, to which I now propose to call the attention of the reader, are the following: 1. The causes which have hitherto prevented the publication of the original Gaelic, and the circumstances owing to which some of the originals have been lost. 2. To ascertain, whether Mr. Macpherson, in his translation, does justice to the original. And 3. To consider, whether the Poems of Ossian are entitled to those praises, which have been bestowed upon them, both at home and in foreign. countries.

§ 1.

The circumstances which have hitherto prevented the Publication of Ossian in the original,

ABOVE forty years having now elapsed, since the poems of Ossian, as translated by Mr. Macpherson,