Ossian Collection > Notes on the authenticity of Ossian's poems

THE POEMS OF OSSIAN. 15
Again, writing to Mr M'Lagan from Edinburgh, 1 4 tli
January 1761, Macpherson says :*
" I was favoured with your letter enclosing the Gaelic
poems, for which I hold myself extremely obliged to
you. Duaii a Ghairbh is less poetical and more obscure
than Tiontach mor na Feine. The last is far from
beiug a bad poem were it complete, and is particularly
valuable for the ancient manners it contains. I shall
reckon myself much obliged to you for any other pieces
you can send me. It is true I have the most of them
from other hands, but the misfortune is that I find none
expert in the Irish orthography, so that an obscure poem
is rendered doubly so by their uncouth way of spelling.
" I have been lucky enough to lay my hands on a
pretty complete poem, and truly epic, concerning Fin-
gal. The antiquity of it is easily ascertained, and it
is not only superior to anything in that language, but
reckoned not inferior to the more polite performances
of other nations in that way. I have some thoughts of
publishing the original if it will not clog the work too
much."
Writing again to Mr M'Lagan from Edinburgh, on
8th February 1761, he says : t
" I am favoured with your last letter, enclosing four
poems, for which I am much obliged to you. I beg you
send me what more you can conveniently."
From this evidence it is plain that Macpherson was
not only diligent in his search, but that he also re-
covered in his tour and from friends many Gaelic
manuscripts containing Ossianic poetry, and some at
* H. S. R., App., p. 154. t Id., p. 156.