I saw him daily, and lived in intimacy with him for four months in each of those seasons, I never was able to dis cover, in his most unguarded moments, that he was any other than the collector and translator of the works of Ossian, or assumed any other merit than might be derived from thence. But I have heard him express the greatest contempt and disdain for those who thought him the fabricator of them. If there was any person who asserted that Macpherson had owned it to himself, even that would not shake my faith; for I knew him to be of a temper, when he was teased and fretted, to carry his indignation that far. This is all I have to say on the subject. If you think it of importance to establish your proof, you will communis cate it to the Society; if not, you will be so good as commit it to the flames. I have the honour to be, Dear Sir, With respect, yours, &c. 4. NOTE from Mr HOME. In the summer of the year 1758 or 1759, Mr Home met Mr James Macpherson and his pupil (Graham of Balgowan) at Moffat. Some years before he saw Mr Mac pherson, Professor Fergusson, who understood Gaelic, had told Mr Home that there were, in the Highlands, some re mains of ancient poetry in the Gnelic language, and men tioned one poem which he had heard repeated, and thought very beautiful. Conversing with Mr Macpherson, Mr Home found that he was an exceeding good classical scholar; and was not a little pleased that he had met with one who was a native of the remote Highlands, and likely to give him some information concerning the ancient poetry of his country. Accordingly, when Mr Macpherson was que stioned on that subject, he said that he had in his possession several pieces of antient poetry. When Mr Home desired to see them, Mr Macpherson asked if he understood the Gaelic? "Not one word." "Then, how can I show you them?" "Very easily," said Mr Home; "translate one of the poems which you think a good one, and I imagine that I shall be able to form some opinion of the genius and character of the Gaelic poetry." Mr Macpherson declined the task, saying, that his translation would give a very imperfect idea of the original. Mr Home, with some difficulty, persuaded him to try, and in a day or two he brought him the poem on the death of Oscar; with which Mr Home was so much pleased, that in a few days two or three more were brought him, which Mr Home carried to Edinburgh, and shewed them to Dr Blair, Dr Fergusson, Dr Robertson, and Lord Elibank, who were no less pleased with them than he had been. In the course of the year, Mr Home carried the translations which Mr Macpherson had given him to London, where they were equally admired. If Mr Home had been possessed of the second sight, and could have foreseen that the authenticity of the poems of Ossian would have ever been called in question, he might certainly have preserved a more distinct and accurate account of the manner in which they were brought to light. It is perhaps unnecessary to mention a circumstance which is probably known to many gentlemen of the Highland Society. Mr Home, in travelling through the Highlands, has met with several common people who repeated to him many hundred lines of the rhymes, as they called them. Mr Home having usually with him one or more who un derstood the Gaelic language, made the rhymes be repeated again, which the person who understood both languages translated, so as to leave no room to doubt that the tales and songs, sung by the boatmen and herds in the HighJands, are the poems of Ossian. No. V. LETTERS TO MR. MACKENZIE, 1. From Doctor JOHN SMITH, dated Campbelton, 16th SIR, September 1797, I HAD the honour of your letter of the 31st ult. with the printed queries circulated by the Highland Society of Scotland relative to Ossian's poems. On the subject of these queries, I advanced all I had to say long ago; and if any thing fell in my way since, pro or con, it was allowed to pass unnoticed, as I never intended to bestow any further thoughts upon the matter. If, however, upon recollection, any thing new, or more explicit, shall occur to my memory, I shall state it; but cannot help thinking, with all due deference to better judges, that the investigation set on foot by the Society, would do better after the poems should have been first published, and allowed to speak, at least in part, for themselves, The most formidable objections that have been urged against the authenticity of Ossian's poems, are those that are founded, or pretended to be founded, on history; so that, besides getting answers to the printed queries, even if these should be satisfactory, it would be necessary to employ considerable historical research, in order to answer such objections. You mention one made by Gibbon. Whether he may be right or wrong in his assertion, (for his assertions are not always to be trusted,) I have no opportunity of examining: at any rate, I think Ossian is clear of this objection; for the Gaelic word is obviously an epithet, (signifying fierce-eye,) and might be as applicable to any other as to the emperor Caracalla. If Mr Min applying this epithet to Caracalla, should be found in a mistake, as I apprehend he is in this, and in one or two similar cases; his mistakes, in my opinion, make rather for than against the authenticity of the poems, as a forger would not, by his own unnecessary commentaries or conjectures, abstract from the credit of his text. Fingal, according to the Irish histories, died Fingal could hardly have been intrusted with So that, at this rate, he must have lived to the age of... 25 97 Which does not appear credible, even from many passages of Ossian: so that Mr M' may have been mistaken in applying the above epithet to Caracalla; and if he was, the objection falls to the ground. The refinement of manners in Ossian's poems is, as you observe, a well known objection against this authenticity. But let our history be investigated, and I am satisfied this objection will be done away. What if we shall produce passages purely historical, and undeniably more than 1000 years old, that are no less refined and delicate? Take the first instance that occurs to my memory, and I think it would not disgrace even the man of feeling in the 18th century:- "See that crane coming towards our shore, in its flight over from Ireland. It is quite spent, and obliged to alight in the water. Run, take up the poor bird, bring it to the house, feed it, and take care of it for three days, till it be sufficiently refreshed, and able to return to its native land; and for thy kindness and hospitali:y, my son, God will bless thee." I quote from memory, and do not pretend to have the exact rendering of the words, but I am sure I have the exact rendering of the sentiment. Investigate our history, and it will give credibility to our poetry, in more respects than in delicacy of sentiment. We have but lately emerged from a long night of barbarism; but previous to that night, there existed, as there is much reason to believe, a period of considerable light and refinement. I have made some efforts, not as yet very successfully, to penetrate the darkness in which Highland history is involved. I hope more will be done by those who have more opportunity; and that the Highland Society will attend to the ancient history, as well as to the ancient poetry, of the Highlands. I am, with respect and esteem, Sir, Your most humble servant, I expect soon a transcript of a large and very ancient Gaelic MS. in which I am told there are many interesting particulars respecting the government, arts, arms, war |