Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

144 APPENDIX.
son's collection consisted entirely of authentic Highland
poems ; that he had lately heard several parts of them
repeated in the origin?!, in the island of Sky ; with
sonae variations from the printed translation, such as
iPiight natuially be expected from the circumstances o:
oral tradition; and some parts, in particular the epi-
sode of.Fainasollis, in the third book, of Fingal, vvhicl:
agree literally with the translation ; and added, that he
had heard recitations of other poems not translated b>
Mr Macpherson, but generally reputed to be of Ossian'.
composition, which were of the same spirit and straii
with such as are translated, and which he esteemec
not inferior to any of them in sublimity of description
dignity of sentiment, or any other of the beauties o
poetry. This last particular must have great weight
as it is well known how much the jadgment of Si
James Mncdonald deserves to be relied upon, in ever^
thing that relates to literature and taste.
The late reverend Mr Alexander Macfarlane, mini
ster of Arrachar, in Dumbartonshire, who was remark
ably eminent for his profound knowledge in Gaeli
learning and antiquities, wrote to me soon after th
publication of Mr Macpherson's work, term.ing it
masterly translation i informing rne, that he had ofte:
heard sever?.! of these poems in the original, and re
marked many passages so particularly striking beyon
any thing he had ever read in any human corppositior,
that he never expected to see a strength of genius abl
to do them that justice in a translation, which M;
IMacpherson has done.
Norman Macleod of Macleod, in the isknd of Skj
Esq. Waiter Macfarlane of Macfarlfine, in Dumbartor
shire, Jisq. Mr Alexander Macmillan, det.uty-keepe
of his Majesty's signet, Mr Adam Fergusson, piofei
sor of moral philosophy in the University of Edinburgli
and many other gentlemen, natives of the tlighlan
'ounties, whom t had occasion to converse with upo!
this subject, declare, that though they cannot now re
T>eat from memory any of these poems in the origina
' et from what they have heard in their youth, andfror