Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

APPENDIX.
The substance of the preceding dissertation was origi-
nally delivered, soon after the first tubhcation of Fin-
gal, m the course of my lectures in the University of
Edinburgh ; and, at the desire of several of the hearers,
s afterwards enlarged, and given to the public.
As the degree of antiquity belonging to the Poems
cf Ossian, appeared to be a point which might bear dis-
pute, I endeavoured from internal evidence, to show
th=Tt these poerns m.ust be referred to a very remote pe-
riod ; without pretending to ascertain precisely the date
of their composition. I had not the least suspicion,
"vvhrn this disserrgitKn was first published, that there was
y occasion for supporting their authenticity, as genu-
ine productions of the Highlands of Scotland, as trans-
lations from the Gaelic language; not forgeries cf a
supposed translator, in Scotland their authenticity was
never called in question. I myself had particular rea-
cr c to be fully satisfied concerning it. My knowledge
'Ir Macpherson's personal honour and integrity,
me full assurance of his being incapable of putting
a gross imposition, first upon his friends, and then
~ ^he public ; and if this had not been sufficient, I
. besides, that the manner in which these poems
(.■rought to light, was entirelv inconsistent with
■aud. Ail accidental conversation with a gentle-
x\\...\ distinguished in the literary woild, gave occasion
to Mr ?5'Iacpherson's translating literally one or two
small pieces of the old Gaelic poetry. These being
shewn to me and some others, rendered us very desi.
rou% of becoming miore acquainted with that poetry.
^Ir Macpherson, afraid of not doing justice to compo-