J. F. Campbell Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 3

OF CESAROTTl'ò DISSERTATION. 347
Note L, re/erred to p. 317.
Sliaw, in his reply lo Ciarii, qiialified tlie story of the scalioped shell,
by declaring that it was aii anecdote he set down on a blank page at
sonie distaiice from the Jìtiis of the MS. of his Enquiry into tlic Autlien-
ticitii qfOssian, for the salie of his own memory, as a laughable cir-
cumstance, vvithout any intention of pubiishing it. When he delivered
the MS. to be printed, he drew his pen across that anccdote, and con-
fesses he was much displeased and surprised when he saw that the
printer had brought it forward to the place where it stauds in print. He
laments his negiigence, and aslis pardon for the imputation, trusting that
the ingenuity of this confession wiU give him a right to credit in what
he shall affirm, and what he shall deny. It niay be proper to add, that
it was a custom araong the Highlanders to drink their beverage out of
scalloped shells. Heiice the e.xpression " a' cur n'a slige chreachain mu'n
cuaart," that is, " putting round the shell," was the coramon phrase for
drinking, or raaking merry. With regard lo the person (a Highland
clergyman) who asked him to translale Fingal, Shaw confesses that he
does not know that he seriously intended to have the experiment tried ;
for it was not at all likcly that he should embrace such a proposal.
Nufe M, rrferred to p. 318.
Wr. Shaw, in his reply to this part of Mr. Clark's answer, says, " It
is true, tliat upon a suppositioii which I then thought probable, I en-
couraged Mr. Clark to offcr to the public a genuine coUectioii of Higli-
land poetry ; for I was yet willing to believe that much Highland poetry
was somewhere to be found. But I am now convinced it is only in the
moon, for on earth I could never see it. The MSS. qf Blr, Clark, like
those of Mr. Macpherson, were alwai/s invisible."
Here again Mr. Shaw, as in most of his arguments, harps (as we arc
free lo confess, with some reason) on the silcnt and mysterious conduct
of Mr. Macpherson; for had the originals been published in the state
they now are, soou after his translation, Doctor Johnson and Mr.
Shaw would have been for ever silenced.
Nofe N, referred to p.3lS.
The JMSS. left at Beckel's for public inspection by Mr. Macpher-
son, were the originals now published, also a valuable miscellancous