Ossian Collection > Critical dissertation on the poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

xvlii A DISSERTATION.
obliged to promife to my friends a larger collection. In a journey-
thro' the Highlands and ifles, and, by the affiftance of correfpon-
dents, fince I left that country, all the genuine remains of the
works of Oflian have come to my hands. In the publication of
laft year compleat poems were only given. Unfiniflied and imper-
fe£t poems were purpofely omitted ; even fome pieces were rejeded,
on account of their length, and others, that they might not break
in upon that thread of connection, which fubfifts in the lefTer
compofitions, fubjoined to Fmgal. — That the comparative merit of
pieces was not regarded, in the feledtion, will readily appear to thofc
who fliall read, attentively, the prefent colledtion. — It is ani-
mated with the fame fpirit of poetry, and the fame ftrength of
fentiment is fuftained throughout.
The opening of the poem of Temora made its appearance in the
laft coUeftion. The fecond book, and feveral other epifodes, have
only fallen into my hands lately. The ftory of the poem, with
which I had been long acquainted, enabled me to reduce the broken
members of the piece into the order in v/hich they now appear.
For the eafe of the reader, I have divided it myfelf into books, at
I had done before with the poem of Fingal. As to the merit of
the poem I fhall not anticipate the judgment of the public. My
impartiality might be fufpedted, in my accounts of a work, which,
in fome meafure, is become my own. If the poem of Fingal met
with the applaufe of perfons of genuine tafte, I fhould alfo hope,
d:iat Temora will not difpleafe them.
But what renders Temora infinitely more valuable than Fingal,
is the light it throws on the hillory of the times. The firft po-
pulation of Ireland, its firft kings, and feveral circumftances, which
»egard