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

LETTER. 225
kVoiu which they derive slabilit}', every reader of
a candid mind will approve of your judgment. If
the accumulation of facts advanced in this, as well
as in anterior publications, may not lead to a di-
rect conclusion in favour of the subject, they will
at least amount to a high degree of presumption,
which is all that ought to be required, at our re-
mote distance from the primary source of informa_
tion. If the works of Ossian are a forgery, we
have sufficient grounds to beljeve tjiat t]he impo-
sition cannot be charged on modern times. An-
tiquity has ascribed the contents of your work to
Ossian, as far as we can rely on the faith of Celtic
manuscripts, and on traditions which we have im-
bibed w ith our maternal milk, and w hose impres-
sion on our minds will be as permanent as our ex-
istence; though we should not quarrel with any
of our southern neighbours, on whom the facts ad-
duced by the advocates of the cause, may not have
operated with the force of conclusive evidence.
With best wishes for the success of your Ossianic
collection, I remain,
" Dear Sir,
"Yours, Aery sincerely,
" EWEn'M'LACHLAN,
" Rector of the grammar school.
'' Old Aberdeen, \
Februarif 14, 18 10. 3
** To Hugh M'Culluin, Esq."