Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

APPENDIX. 143
in Ln-erness-shire, Esq. and Ronald Macdonell of
Keappoch, in Lochaber, Esq. captain in the Syth regi-
aicnt, commanded by Colonel Fraser, all concur in
icstiiving that Mr Macpherson's collection consists of
rename Highland poems; known to them to be such,
301 h from the general report of the country where they
live, and from their own remembrance of the originals.
Coionel Mackay asserts very positively, upon per-
so'.K^l knowledge, that many of the poems published
bv Mr Macpherson are true and faithful translations,
iMr Ciinpbell declares that he has heard many of them,
md Captain Macdonnel, that he has heard jvirts of
evtry one of them recited in the original language.
James Grant of Rothieraurchus, Esq. and Alexan-
der Grant of Delrachny, Esq. both in the shire of In-
verness, desired to be named as vouchers for the poem
of Fingal in particular. They remember to have heard
it often in their younger days, and are posicive that
Mr Macpherson has given a just translation of it.
Lauchlan Macpherson of Strathmashie, in Inverness-
shire, Esq. gives a very full and explicit testimony,
from particular knowledge, in the following words :
That in the year 1760, he accompanied Mr Macpher-
son during some part of his journey through the High-
lands in search of the poems of Ossian ; that he assisted
him in collecting them ; that he took down from oral
tradition, and transcribed from old manuscripts, by
, far the greatest part of those pieces Mr Macpherson
-has published; that since the publication, he has care-
Ifully compared the translation with the copies of the
[Originals in his hands; and that he finds it amazingly
iliteral, even to such a degree as often to preserve the
■ i cadence of the Gaelic versification. He affirms, that
among the manuscripts which were at that time in Mr
Macpherson's possession, he saw one of as old a date
.as the year 1410.
Sir James Macdonald of Macdonald, in the island of
.Sky, Baronet, assured me, that after having made, at
my desire, all the enquiries he could in his part of the
I «©untry, he entertained no doubt that Mr Macpher-