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
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LETTERS TO I\IR. MACKENZIE. 13
fare, and dress of our remote ancestors," and if it contains
a.ny 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
Scolch 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 Edinhurgh,
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
tlie age of 17, there were many at that time who could re-
peat a number of Ossian's poems, and there was particu-
larly an old man called Doncha (rioch) Macnicol, wh»
Vvas noted for reciting the greatest store of them. That
any of them had been translated, I did not know, till \
fare, and dress of our remote ancestors," and if it contains
a.ny 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
Scolch 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 Edinhurgh,
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
tlie age of 17, there were many at that time who could re-
peat a number of Ossian's poems, and there was particu-
larly an old man called Doncha (rioch) Macnicol, wh»
Vvas noted for reciting the greatest store of them. That
any of them had been translated, I did not know, till \
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Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/76522732 |
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Description | Selected books from the Ossian Collection of 327 volumes, originally assembled by J. Norman Methven of Perth. Different editions and translations of James MacPherson's epic poem 'Ossian', some with a map of the 'Kingdom of Connor'. Also secondary material relating to Ossianic poetry and the Ossian controversy. |
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Description | Selected items from five 'Special and Named Printed Collections'. Includes books in Gaelic and other Celtic languages, works about the Gaels, their languages, literature, culture and history. |
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