Ossian Collection > Enquiry into the authenticity of the poems ascribed to Ossian

[ 37 ]
may be difculTed without giving reafon-
abie offence to the fenlible, liberal, and
difcerning part of my countrymen ; and,
if I have their approbation, I {hall feel
little anxiety from the apprehenfion of
the malignant virulence and perfon-
alities that may ilTue from the illiberal
few. I never yet could dilfemble, nor
perfonate a hypocrite ; truth has al-
ways been dearer to me than my coun-
try ; nor (liall I ever fupport an ideal
national honour founded on an impof-
ture, though it wepe to my hindrance.
•^— I can fhew Dr. Johnfon that there is
one Scotchman who loves truth better
than his country, and that I am Z-Jlurdy
enough moraliji to declare it, though it
jQbould mortify my Caledonian vanity.
I would therefore wifli to be coniQdered
as a perfon who, though I have as much
of the amor patrice as I think is a vir-
tue, and though I have the honour to
mention the immortal name of Dodtor
Johnfon amongft my friends, and have
1)0 quarrel with Mr. Macpherfon, un-
D 3 biaffed