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

THE POEMS OF OSSIAN. 23
" Mr Macpherso.n, in his journey through the High-
lands, put it upon me to look out for the poem called
Cath, or the Battle of Benedin. I have since got it,
but not till after the book was published. The battle
is the most memorable of Fingal's exploits, and I hum-
bly think the poem is the most finished of Ossian's *£i
works.
" One thing I am sorry for, his having omitted the ^ MuT
description which Ossian gives of Fingal's ships, their * * ,
sails, masts, and rigging, their extraordinary feats in , h
sailing, the skill and dexterity of his men in working c*4^
them, and their intrepidity in the greatest storms, of {u <w<*^+S .
which he gives the most striking description. I can rloi^) /<q/q
account for it in no other way than his having been fas—fr-C
born in Badenoch, one of the most inland parts of this
kingdom, where, not having access to, he was unac- ^^ ' ^t,
quainted with that kind of imagery ; he did not, there- , Leanf-^
fore, perhaps understand the original poems." (£)■ tWce /^u
Dr Adam Ferguson, writing from Hallyards, near L/ti'r
Peebles, 26th March 1798, says :* /C*e*o^?
" In answer to the first query, the Committee will '
please to know that about the year 1740 I heard John *^ %^<.
Fleming, a taylor, who, in the manner of the country, kvC* fttaX,
worked with journeymen at my father's house, repeat, / 7 ' c< {/i 7( j.
kind of chiming measure, heroic strains relating to £^ U L
in a
an arrival or landing of an host, and a subsequent battle,
with a single combat of two chiefs. This I took down
in writing and kept for some time, but was not in
possession of when Mr Macpherson's publications ap-
peared. I had no doubt, however, in recognising the
* H. S. R, App., p. 03.