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

LETTER FROM MR. POPE. ^ 53
poems. We admired the purity of the stile ; we were
much charmed with the descriptions contained in them ; and
some of the sentiments were noble and sublime : to this
end, we informed ourselves as to those old people that
could repeat parts of them, and got their name, but we
could not, from the best information, learn that there was
any manuscript of them in this part of the kingdom. We
indeed got a long list of poems, said to be composed by
Ossian, and wrote some of them, viz. such as we found
to answer our expectations ; however that gentleman's
death put an end to that scheme. When I heard of Mr
Macpherson's translation, I was very curious to see it ; but
no copy came to this corner where I live till last summer,
and at last I had my curiosity gratified. And the very first
thing I did, was to examine if any part of these poems
Were in our collection ; answerably I found that what is
called Erragon in Mr Macpherson's Temora, is called
iDibird f li, in the Gaelic in our Highlands. " Dibird f li
gun drin fiun, in Alvi ri linn no laoich", so the poem be-
gins ; which pcetn some old women repeat with great spi-
rit. Also, Lathmon, v/e have fragmer.ts of it j and the
poem which mentions the death of Oscar, is called with
us, Ca Gaur. I followed the enquiry no farther then, nor
indeed could I do it now to any purpose, unless I could
collijct all these fragments that old people stili remember.
This could be done at a small expence ; and if Dr Blair
would but propose it to some generous people, they would
contribute ten pounds, which would execute the scheme,
and these venerable productions would be preserved.
Many of them indeed are lost, partly owing to our
clergy, who were declared enemies to these poems ; so that
the rising generation scarcely know any thing material of
them. However, we have still soiie that are famous for
repeating them, and these people never he^d of Mr Mac-
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