Ossian Collection > Remarks on Dr. Samuel Johnson's Journey to the Hebrides

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our fenfes; whatever makes the paft, the
diftant, or the future predominate over the
prefent, advances us in the dignity of
thinking beings. Far from me and from
my friends be fuch frigid philofophy as
may conduct us indifferent and unmoved
over any ground which has been dignified
by wifdom, bravery, or virtue ! That man
is little to be envied, whofe patriotifm
would not gain force upon the plain of
Marathon., or whofe piety would not grow
warmer among the ruins of lona.^^
In thefe tranfports of a not unlaudable
enthufiafm, the celebrity of lona, as an
ancient feat of learning, is very flrongly
imprefled. That title to fame mufl, in-
deed, be allowed to be jufl, which could
extort fuch glowing flrokes of eulogy
from the pen of Dr. Johnfon ; whofe tefti-
mony, when favourable to Scotlandy no
one can have reafon to fufpe(^.
It