Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

THE AUTHENTICITY ok the POEMS of OSSIAN. 13
Particular muft have great Weight ; as it is well known how
much the Judgment of Sir 'James Macdonald deferves to be relied
upon, in every Thing that relates to Literature and Tafle.
The late Reverend Mr. Alexander Macfarlane, Minifter of
Arrachar, in DiimbartonJJnre, who was remarkably eminent for
his profound Knowledge in Galic Learning and Antiquities,
wrote to me foon after the Publication of MrJ Macpherfon's
Work, terming it, a maflerly Tranflation ; informing me that
he had often heard feveral of thefe in the Original, and remark-
ed fo many PafTages fo particularly ftriking, beyond any Thing
he had ever read in any human Compofition, that he never ex-
pedted to fee a Strength of Genius able to do them that Juflice
in a Tranflation, which Mr. Macpherfon has done.
Norma}i Macleod, of Macleod, in the IJlarid of Sky, Efq.
Walter Macfarlane, of Macfarlane, in T)iimbartotiJJoire, Efq.
Mr. Alexander Macmillan, Deputy Keeper of his Majefly's Sig-
net ; Mr. Adam Fergufon, ProfefTor of Moral Philofophy in the
Univerfity of Edinburgh ; and many other Gentlemen, Natives
of the Highland Counties, whom I had Occafton to converfe
with upon this Subjed:, declare, that though they cannot now
repeat from Memory any of thefe Poems in the Original, yet
from what they have heard in their Youth, and from the Im-
prefTion of the Subjed; ftill remaining on their Minds, they
firmly believe thofe which Mr. Macpheifon has publifhed, to be
the old Poems of OJjian current in the Country.
Defirous, however, to have this Tranflation particularly
b 2 compared