Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

THE AUTHENTICITY of the POEMS of OSSIAN. 7
Fa(fl, it was thought proper to have Recourle to exprefs Tefti-
monies. I have accordingly applied to feveral Perfons of Credit
and Honour, both Gentlemen of Fortune, and Clergymen of
the eftablifhed Church, who are Natives of the Highlands or
IJlands of Scotland, and well acquainted with the Language of
the Country, defiring to know their real Opinion of the Tran-
flations publifhed by Mr. Macpherfon. Their original Letters
to me, in Return, are in my PolIelTion. I fhall give a fair and
faithful Account of the Refult of their Teftimony : And I have
full Authority to ufe the Names of thofe Gentlemen for what I
now advance.
I muft begin with affirming, that though among thofe with
whom I have correfponded, fome have had it in their Power to
be more particular and explicit in their Teftimony than others ;
there is not, however, one Perfon, who infmuates the molt re-
mote Sufpicion that Mr. Macpherfon has either forged, or adul-
terated any one of the Poems he has publifhed. If they make
any Complaints of him, it is on Account of his having omitted
other Poems, which they think of equal Merit with any which
he has publillied. They all, without Exception, concur in
holding his Tranflations to be genuine, and proceed upon their
Authenticity as a Fadl acknowledged throughout all thofe
northern Provinces ; affuring me that any one would be expoled
to Ridicule among them, who fliould call it in Queftion. I
muft obierve, that I had no Motive to diredl my Choice to the
Perfons to whom I applied for Information, preferably to others,
except their being pointed out to me, as the Perfons in their
different