Ossian 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 DR. BLAIR. 11
That the poems contained in the manuscripts belonging
to the Macmhurichs, were identically the same with those
published by Mr Macpherson, or nearly so, seems to be
abundantly probable. One reason that induces me to enter-
tain this opinion is this ; I have conversed with many diffe-
rent persons who had frequently rehearsed, from memory,
several parts of the poem's translated by that gentleman,
long before he was an author ; and I can affirm, that these
several parts, together with many more of the same kind,
and in the same manner, were rehearsed by the Macmhu-
rich's times without number. So m.uch in answer to your
first question.
I have, in obedience to your request, made enquiry for
all the persons around me who were able to rehearse from
memory any parts of the poems published by Mr Mac-
pherson, and have made them to rehearse, in my hearing,
the several fragments or detached pieces of these poems
which they were able to repeat. This done, I compared
with great care the pieces rehearsed by them with Mr Mac-
pherson's translation. These pieces, or fragments, are as
follows :
The Description of Cuchullin's Chariot ; Fingal, Book
1st, page 11. The rehearsers are, John Macdonald of
Breackish, in Strath, Isle of Sky, gentleman ; Martin
Macilivray, tenant in Slate ; and Allan IMacaskle, farmer,
in Glenelg.
The Episode relating to Faineasolis ; Fingal, Book 3d,
page 45. The rehearsers are, among m.any more, John
Macdonald of Breackish ; Alexander Macdonald, mer-
chant in Slate ; John Down, cow-herd there ; and John
Maclean, carpenter, in the parish of Strath.
The actions of Ossian at the lake of Lege, and his
courtship of Evcrallin; Fingal, Book 4th, page 50. The
rehearsers are, Alexander Macdonald, merchant, in Slate ^