Blair Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards > Volume 1

ADVERTISEMENT.
The influence of poetry on mankiad is confessedly great, particularly in the first
stages of society. A people, tlie nearer they are to a primitive state, are always
found the more susceptible of the inspiration of the muses. Unsophisticated
manners engender bold and original conceptions, and these produce poetry
characterized by natural, imaginary, graphic, and sublime descriptions, and an
irresistible power over the passions. It is in this stage, that the song commemo-
rative of prowess and moral worth has the effect of promoting and enlarging the
virtues it celebrates.
The Highlanders have been highly distinguished among the Keltic race for a
successful culture of the bardic science, and they possess very interesting remains
of ancient composition.
Such portions of Gaelic poetry as have been published amply display its
excellence: the poems of Ossian alone prove undeniably the poetical character
of the people with whom those beautiful productions originated, and b}' whom
they have been preserved, to be of a high order.
The compositions of different bards have been published either in whole or
in part; and, although none could ever equal the reuo^vned son of Fingal, many
exhibit surprising lalent and genius.
In order to meet the wishes of many of the most influential and patriotic
noblemen and gentlemen connected with the Highlands, as well as to gratify the
desire of the natives in general, the present work — being the " Beauties" selected
from the native bards, both ancient and modern, known and unknown to the
public at large — is now undertaken.
From what he has already published, the qualifications of the Editor, it is
believed, are well known to his countrymen. He has had peculiar facilities for
the preparation of the present work. Pursuing the subject for many years, — he
has traversed the Highlands in all directions, and has been fortunate enough to