Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

14 The ATTESTATIONS of many GENTLEMEN to
compared with the oral Editions of any who had Parts of the
Original diftin<5lly on their Memory, I applied to feveral Cler-
gymen to make Inquiry in their refpedlive Parifhes concerning
fuch Perfons ; and to compare what they rehearfed with the
printed Verfion. Accordingly, from the Reverend Mr. "John
Macpherfon, Minlfter of Slate, in Sky ; Mr. Neil Macleod, Ml-,
nifter of i?«5/}, \n Mull ; Mr. Angus Macneil, Minifter of South
WJi -, Mr. Donald Macqueen, Minider o£ Ki'lmuir, in Sijy ; and
Mr. Donald Macleod, Minifter of Glenelg ; I have had Reports
on this Head, containing diftindl and explicit Teftimonies to
almoft: the whole Epic Poem of Fingal, from Beginning to End,
and to feveral alfo of the lefler Poems, as rehearfed in the Ori-
ginal, in their Prefence, by Perfons whofe Names and Places
of Abode they mention, and compared by themfelves with the
printed Tranflation. In fome Places they found Variations from
it, and Variations even among different Rehearfers of the fame
Poem in the Original ; as Words and Stanzas omitted by fome,
which others repeated, and the Order and Connexion in fome
Places changed. But they remark, that thefe Variations are on
the Whole not very material j and that Mr. Macpherfon feemed
to them to follow the moft juft and authentic Copy of the
Senfe of his Author. Some of thefe Clergymen, particularly
Mr. Neil Macleod, can themfelves repeat from Memory feveral
Paflages of -F/»^^/ } the Tranflation of which they afTure me is
exadl. Mr. Donald Macleod acquaints me, that it was in his
Houfe Mr. Macpherfon had the Defcription of Cuthullin'& Horfes
and Chariot, in the Firft Book of Fingal, given him by Allan-
Macafkill, Schoolmafter. Mr. Angus Macneil writes, that Mr.
Macdonald, a Parifhioner of his, declares, that he has often feten
and