Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

PREFACE. f7
** I have yet fuppofed no Impofture but in the Publifher,
* yet am far from Certainty, that feme Tranflations have not
been lately made, that may now be obtruded as Parts of the
original Work. Credulity on one Part is a ftrong Tempta-
tion to Deceit on the other, efpecially to Deceit of which no
perfonal Injury is the Confequence, and which flatters the
Author with his own Ingenuity. The Scots have fomething
to plead for their eafy Reception of an improbable Fidlion :
They are feduced by their Fondnefs for their fuppofed An-
ceftors. A Scotchman muft be a very fturdy Moralifl:, who
does not love Scotland better than Truth ; he will always
love it better than Inquiry : And if Falfehood flatters his
Vanity, will not be very diligent to detedl it. Neither ought
the EngliJJj to be much influenced by Scotch Authority ; for
of the pall and prefent State of the whole Earfe Nation, the
Lowlandcrs are at leaft as ignorant as ourfelves. To be ig-
norant is painful ; but it is dangerous to quiet our Uneafinef&
by the delufive Opiate of hafty Credulity."
Dodor 'Johnfon, after every Attempt to overthrow the Au-
thenticity of OJian, here malicioufly endeavours to invalidate
whatever may hereafter be produced in his Favour. But the
Suppofltion that fome have been employed in making an Earfe
Verfion to obtrude upon the Public for the Original, is as^
groundlefs as it is invidious. The Tranflator produced the
Original, and, had he met with any Encouragement, would
have printed it, when the firfl: Publication made its Appearance.
Though John/on is ignorant of the Galic Language, all in the
Kingdom are not : fF, Cambrenjis, already quoted, profefles to
know