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

A DISSERTATION. xxxili
for fome ages before the coiiqueft, had pofl'efTed a competent fliare
of that kind of learning, which then prevailed in Europe, found it
no difficult matter to impofe their own fidlions on the ignorant
Highland fenachics. By flattering the vanity of the Highlanders,
with their long lift of Heremonian kings and heroes, they, without
contradiftion, affumed to themfelves the charafter of being the mo-
ther-nation of the Scots of Britain. At this time, certainly, was efta-
bliftied that Hibernian fyftem of the original of the Scots, which af-
terwards, for want of any other, was univerlally received. The Scots, of
the low-country, who, by lofing the language of their anceftors, loft,
together with it, their national traditions, received, implicitly, the
hiftory of their country, from Irifli refugees, or from Highland fena-
chies, perfuaded over into the Hibernian fyftem.
These circumftances, are fir from being ideal. We have re-
maining many particular traditions, which bear teftimony to a fadl,
of itfelf abundantly probable. What makes the matter inconteftible
is, that the antient traditional accounts of the genuine origin of the
Scots, have been handed down without interruption. Tho' a few
ignorant fenachies might be perfuaded out of their own opinion, by
the fmoothnefs of an Irifti tale, it was impoffible to eradicate, from
among the bulk of the people, their own national traditions. Thefe
traditions afterwards fo much prevailed, that the Highlanders con-
tinue totally unacquainted with the pretended Hibernian extradl af
the Scots nation. Ignorant chronicle writers, ftrangers to the an-
tient language of their country, preferved only from falling to the
ground, fo improbable a ftory.
It was, during the period I have mentioned, that the Irifti be-
came acquainted with, and carried into their country, the comDofi-
tions of Oflian. The fcene-of many of the pieces being in Ireland,
fuggefted firft to them a hint, of making both heroes and poet na-
^ tive»