Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

PREFACE. t9
'* fome particular Paflage, bid him ceafe, and cried out to me,
" Tiber's nothing like that in Virgil or Homer." This Relation
will convince the Reader, that fbme Remains of the Bard Pro-
feffion were, till very lately, to be found in the North oi Scot-
land : For, though the general Encouragement formerly given
to that Order of Men was iriuch abated, yet many from Idlenefs
would ftill purfue an Occupation, at once beneficial to them-
felves and entertaining to their Hearers.
The Author of the Letters now quoted, not only mentions
the Orthography of the Highlanders, but even gives us the Al-
phabet, and Appellation of their Letters. He remarks, it is
true, that but few of the Natives can write thefe Charadlers.
However, it is plain that fome can ; and that, confequently,
they have had Writing among them. A very imperfed: Ortho-
graphy, with the Help of the Bards, was fully fufficient to
preferve, what of their Traditions and Poetry have come down
to us.
Having, by Way of Preamble, obferved thus much with
regard to the Bards and Orthography of the Highlanders, I {hall
proceed to the reft of Johnfon's Arguments, and taking Para-
graph by Paragraph, anfwer each with as much Order and Pre-
cifion, as the crowded and confufed Manner in which he has
arranged them will admit.
" Of the Earfe Language," fays he, " as I underfland no-
" thing, I cannot fay more than I have been told. It is the
" rude Speech of a barbarous People, who had few Thoughts
d 2 "to