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

PREFACE. Ixxv
poems, they have been challenged, with all the ex-
ultation of superior virtue, and conscious iruth to
this discussion. Poor Finkerton exhibited, in his
hideous aspect, all that rancour could invent, or
vulgarity and audacity could utter: he polluted
the annals of history with such detestable false-
hoods, in what he advanced concerning Ossian and
Caledonia, some passages of which were sufficient
to excite aversion in a kraal of Hottentots. In the
performance of his part, he resembles some stupid
injudicious actor, to whom a piece of low humour
is assigned, which he so abominably out-herods,
as to become intolerable even to the up})er galleries,
l>y whom he is pelted off the stage, amidst the
groans and hisses of the people. In his nauseou^^
tract we decline to follow, for here even victory
w ere disgrace, and the laurels like those acquired
in. wrestling with a chimney sweep. Therefore,
we shall allow his arguments, regarding the High-
landers, to remain a venemous bog of filthy slan-
ders— amonument of derision and contempt to suc-
ceeding ages.
Dr. Johnson founded his objections on a few
superficial enquiries. Mr. Laing admits that his
arguments may be easily answered. Finkerton
assigns a longevity of more than three centuries,
and the objections of others are equally inconsis-
tent and tri\ial. The truth is that nothing will
satisfy these sceptics, unless v.e raise up from tlie
dead fifty generations, to prove iu what maniu r