J. F. Campbell Collection > Report of the Committee of the Highland Society of Scotland, appointed to inquire into the nature and authenticity of the poems of Ossian

LETTERS TO MR. MACKENZIE. 13
iVe, and dress of our remote ancestors," and if it contains
any thing on the subject of your queries, I shall take care
to note it down. This MS. was found in Ireland ; but my
correspondent, who is a competent judge, thinks it is
Scotch and not Irish, and the composition of the fifth
or sixth century. I have reason to think that some an-
cient MSS. might still be found in the Highlands, if a pro-
per search should be made for them. I have seen some
myself, which was part of a large treasure left by a gen-
tleman who died 30 or 40 years ago. Much of it was
scattered before I saw it, and more of it I suppose since,
after a lapse of twenty years.
2. From Doctor John Smith, dated Edinhurghy
31st January 1798.
Sir,
When I was favoured with your letter, ac-
companied with the printed queries relative to Ossian's
poems, I thought it enough to refer you to what I had
formerly published on that subject. But since you wish
me to be more particular, I shall now write you at greater
length, although I do not suppose that any thing I have to
say will serve to convince those who are determined not to
believe \ nor do I apprehend the matter to be of very great
importance. I can only say that, from my earliest years,
I was accustomed to hear many of the poems of Ossian,
and many tales respecting Fingal and his heroes. In the
parish of Glenurchay, in which I was born, and lived till
the age of 17, there were many at that time who could re-, /7
peat a number of Ossian's poems, and there was particu^
larly an old man called Doncha (rioch) Macnicol, who
was noted for reciting the greatest store of them. That
apy of them had been translated, I did not know, till \