Ossian Collection > Celtic Mss. in relation to the Macpherson Fraud

in the Roman Catholic College at Douay, a
circumstance, as I think, not greatly to be
deplored, while the "illiterate descendant" of
the Seanochies attached to the family of
Clanranald describes the dispersion of the manu-
script library accumulated by his ancestors, and
the fate of certain parchments [? old leases]
which were cut down for tailors' measuring tapes.
"He himself" (the descendant of the Scanaddes)
"had possession of some parchments after his
father's death," but not being able to read, these
disappeared from view. A valuable witness
truly in the identification of doubtful MSS.
"Such acts of vandalism," we are told, "are
not likely to occur again." Probably not. Like
Joshua arresting the Sun and the Moon, they
are " things that have once been done but can
be done no more." The fact of the dispersion,
however, and the fate of the parchments, leases,
title deeds, literary treasures or by whatever name
they may be called, rests on the testimony
of this Celtic ignoramus who, it is to be feared,
would not be too particular in any relation
concerning the " glories and greatness " of
his country, his personal consequence, or the
departed grandeur of his clan. I well remember,
many years ago, meeting with an ignorant High-