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

138 OBSERVATIONS
the simplest deception that ever was practised, they retui-n-r
ed it v/ith a refined and courteous simulation.
*' I made it a part of my business (says cur author),
*' during my journey tirough the Highlands, to search
*' out the traditionary preservers of these songs ; and pro-
*' cure copies with as much attention and exactness as lay
" in the power of a foreigner, and a stranger to the lan-
" giiage. The absurd difficulties I had to encounter with
*' in this pursuit, it is not necessary to enumerate : some-
*' times I was obliged to dissemble a knowledge of the
" Erse, of which I scarcely understood six words ; some-
'* times I was forced to assume the character of a profest
" author, zealous to defend the honour of Ossian and Mr.
" Macphersonf."
The first fruits of this new species o£ Jinesse might con-
vince a less sanguine politician of its inefficacy. For the
first song of which he offers a translation, was sung with
ready civility by James Mac Lachlan, a very old man, and
a tailor, who did not understand his language ; and of so
little use were his six imperfect words of Erse in imposing
on the understanding of a cottager whom he called in to act
as interpreter, that he suspected him of having omitted to
translate a considerable part of the song.
Yet, in spite of this failure, he continues to dissemble,
and goes so far even as to pretend a knowledge in tj^e Erse
to a man whom he " found by no means deficient in inge-
nuity."
" By the assistance of Mr. Stuart (says our author^;, 1
" was afterwards directed to one James Maclauchan, a very
*' old man, much cekbrated for his knowledge of ancient
*' songs. Maclauchan was a tailor ; those artists being of
*' all men the most famous for this qualification. I found
** him in an old woman's cottage near Blair, entirely will-
f Ancient Erse Potms collected by Tho. Y. Hill, p 5, p-