Ossian Collection > Original collection of the poems of Ossian, Orrann, Ulin, and other bards, who flourished in the same age

PREFACE. Ivii
press mention of the Druids, in the wars of Cal-
gacus.
Mr. Laing asserts, that of the numerous attes-
tations of those who have heard, or remembered
to have known the originals, none, it is observa-
ble, ever presumed to assert that they possessed
them in writing, much less that they originally fur-
nished a single fragment of the poems which Mr.
M'Pherson had translated.
We are at a loss to determine whether our au-
thor has ever read Dr. Blairs Appendix to the
](yissertation on Ossian, or whether he wilfully
misrepresents it. A¥hen any one peruses the re-
spectable list of clergymen and gentlemen men-
tioned in that Appendix, and compares the facts
they attest, with this affirmation of Mr. Laing,
what degree of credit will he account due to the
fidelity of our historian : moreover, the col-
lection of documents published by the High-
land Society of Scotland, might convince the most
incredulous sceptic.
We cannot help remarking a very characteris-
tic ti'ait in Mr. Laing's method of disputation.
He passes in silence over the numerous attesta-
tions we have mentioned, and nnder this head
only brings forward the testimonies of a few Eng-
lish and Irish travellers — a schoolmaster, who
died whilt! n young man, and the author of a Gae-
lic dictionary whose gross blunders are laughed
at by ev ry »'J:ielic scholur. These persons, he