Ossian Collection > Defence of the Scots Highlanders, in general; and some learned characters, in particular

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known, as they are frequently little adapted
tothe purpofc intended. TheWelfli andlrifli
writers might lead Mr. P. to exprefs himfelf
fo unguardedly ignorant ; but no real Scotch
Highlander would believe him, or them.
' Some late ruperficial dreamers, contl-
* nues Mr. P. have afferted, that the Gaelic
* in Scotland, among the Highlanders, is
* the purefl dialed of the Celtic : this opi-
* nion was unhappily advanced by people
* who tell us, that poeiiiS yet repeated in ihe
* Highlands are in the fame words as in the
* third century. Au miracle ! au miracle !
' Immortal languages of the Greeks and Ro-
* mans, what are your glories to thefe ? All
* the eternal monuments of your authors
* could not fix the fpoken languages half fo
* long as that of thefe favages has flood
' upon its own bottom — the favourite fpot
* where eternity has fixed its ovv-n ned for its
* own phoznix.'
' Among the mountains of Scotland, the
' mutability of human affairs has no power.
' No doubt a Celtic underftanding Vv'ili be a!-
' ways a Celtic underftanding; and that foliy
C 4 ' imputed