THE

CLAIMS OF OSSIAN,
Examined and Appreciated:

AN ESSAY

ON THE

SCOTTISH AND IRISH POEMS

PUBLISHED UNDER THAT NAME;

IN WHICH

THE QUESTION OF THEIR GENUINENESS AND HISTORICAL
CREDIT IS FREELY DISCUSSED:

TOGETHER WITH

SOME CURIOUS. PARTICULARS

RELATIVE TO THE

STRUCTURE AND STATE OF POETRY IN THE CELTIC
DIALECTS OF SCOTLAND AND IRELAND.

By the REV. EDWARD DAVIES, F. R. S. L.,

CHANCELLOR OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE IN BRECON,

AND RECTOR OF ST. MARY'S IN THE GROVE, AND BISHOPSTON.

Printed for the Author, by H. Griffith, 17, Wind-street :

AND SOLD BY LONGMAN AND CO. PATERNOSTER-ROW,

LONDON.

1825.

THENEW YORK
PUBLICLIBRARY

EM AOKA IBKYBA

ASTOR, LENOX AND
HILDES POTINDATIONS

1897.

TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,

THOMAS BURGESS, D. D.

LORD BISHIP OF ST. DAVID'S, PRESIDENT;

AND TO

THE VICE-PRESIDENTS AND COUNCIL

OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE,

THIS VOLUME,

WITH THE TRUEST SENTIMENTS: OF

GRATITUDE AND RESPECT,

IS SUBMISSIVELY INSCRIBED AND DEDICATED,

BY THEIR MUCH OBLIGED,

AND MOST HUMBLE SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.