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

A
Critical DISSERTATION
O N T H E
POEMS OF OSSIAN,
THE
SON OF F I N G A L.
AMONG the monuments remaining of the ancient ftate of
nations, few are more valuable than their poems or fongs.
Hiftory, when it treats of remote and dark ages, is feldom
very inftrudlive. The beginnings of fociety, in every country, are
involved in fabulous confuiion ; and though they were not, they
would furnilli few events worth recording. But, in every period of
fociety, human manners are a curious fpedacle ; and the moft natural
pidlures of ancient manners are exhibited in the ancient poems of
nations. Thefe prefent to us, what is much more valuable than the
hiftory of fuch tranfadions as a rude age can afford. The hiftory of
human imagination and paftion. They make us acquainted with
the notions and feelings of our fellow-creatures in the moft artlefs
ages; difcovering what objeils they admired, and what pleafures
tb.ey purfued, before thofe refinements of fociety had taken place,
which enlarge indeed, and diverfify the tranfadions, but diiguife
ihe manners of mankind.
B Befides