The other highlander supposed or believed to have been either an unbeliever in the authenticity of Ossian's Poems, or at least sceptical about them, as translated, was Mr. Donald Macqueen, minister of Kilmuir, in Sky, a learned antiquary, and an excellent classical scholar. From his silence on a question put to him by Dr. Johnson. it has been inferred that he was not satisfied on the subject. But let us hear himself. In a letter to Dr. published in the Appendix to the Report of the Highland Society of Scotland, and dated Kilmuir, April 17, 1764, he shows the contrary. In his postscript to that letter, he adds, " I have a just esteem for the translator's genius ; and, be lieve me, after the narrowest searchl could make, that there is a foundation in the ancient songs for every part of his work ; but I am apt to believe, also, that he hath tack ed together into the poems, descriptions, similes, names, 3:c. from several detached pieces ; but of this lean give no demonstration, as I met only with fragments." From this letter, he was convinced that there was at least a foundation for the poems as translated by Mr. Macpherson. He believed that he used much freedom in the disposition of his materials. Upon this, however, he could not speak positively, as he only met fragments, that is, of the poems translated. One of them, the de scription of Cuchullin's chariot and horses, the most im probable of the whole collection, yet the authenticity of which is placed beyond the range of the most sceptical. Nay, we shall by and by prove, that Mr. Macpherson, so far from being the author, did not even understand it ; and we question if many Gaelic scholars at this moment can.
In a letter to Captain Alexander Morrison, Mr. Mac pherson's amanuensis, and an able Gaelic scholar, dated Kilmuir, August 18, 1784, and now in the possession of the writer of this article, among other matters, he says, " Though I am no correspondent of Dr. Johnson, I am made to believe that he is rather in the humour of being serviceable to —, and Mr. James Macpherson may per haps lend her a good word on account. of old Ossian, whose character 1 have on my finger ends, to defend with out entering into controversy, which my soul abhors." This abhorrence of controversy accounts tor his silence to Dr. Johnson's question. And, perhaps, having not had time to make up his mind on a subject on which he never before thought, he suspended his judgment till such time as he could come to a rational conviction. This at least indicated, that he himself was not credulous, and had no desire to deceive. It is a proof of his integrity. And yet this is the inference which the partial and illiberal mind of Dr. Johnson, so unlike himself in all the controversy, draws, for no assignable reason, but because in the height of his glory Macpherson treated his cavils with contempt. " I asked a very learned minister in Sky. who had used all arts to make me believe the genuineness of the book, whether at last he believed it himself ; but he would not answer. He wished me to be deceived, for the honour of his country, but would not directly and formally deceive me. Yet has this man's testimony been publicly produced, as of one, that held Fingal to be the work of Ossian."— J Gurney, 274, 275.
Now, me would ask any man open to conviction, whe ther, after all arts to make another believe the truth of a story, any answer could be given to such a question, without resenting the insult and impertinence implied in putting it ? Dr. Johnson did not perceive the politeness of Mr. Macqueen, and therefore drew a conclusion which his friends and admirers should wish expunged from his !Yorks.
Now, to come to a few particulars in the chain of testi mony by every individual Highlander who paid attention to the subject, we must surely reject all human testimony, if we do not admit that of witnesses sufficient to prove any other fact. Though our limits do not permit us to enter widely into the concurring evidence of so many cre dible witnesses, yet some parts of that evidence may be adverted to. This is the more necessary, because we are
persuaded that many, if not all of those, who affect to question the authenticity of the poems, never examined, probably never read, this evidence. If they had done so, they would find that Mr. Macpherson never could at tempt to impose upon those who either saw him receive the poems, or themselves furnished them. They who were most intimately acquainted with his labours in col lecting them, though distant from one another, and alto gether unknown to one another, uniformly concur as to his receiving these poems through the Highlands. " It was in my house," says Mr. Donald Macleod, minister of Glenelg, in a letter to Dr. Blair, dated Glenelg, 26th March, 1764, " that Mr. Macpherson got the description of Cuchullin's horses and car in book 1st, page 11, (Fin gal) from Allen Macashie, schoolmaster, and Rory Mac leod, both of this Glen. He has not taken in the whole of this description, and his translation of it, (spirited and pretty as it appears, as far as it goes,) falls so far short of the original in the picture it exhibits of Cuchullin's horses and car, their harness and trappings, &c. that in none of his translations is the inequality of Mr. Mac pherson's genius to that of Ossian so very conspicuous." To this description we shall again refer, in considering the internal evidence. In the mean time, suffice it to say, that Mr. Macpherson rejected what he could not under stand.
Mr. Macleod, who cannot be suspected of fraud, iden tifies the battle of Lena, Fingal, book 2d, with those varia tions which tend to prove the existence of Ossian's poems, also the poem, as he calls it, in book 3d, relating Fingal's voyage to Lochlin ; and the poem, book 4th, in which each of Fingal's chiefs singles out the chief among the enemy he was to fight, leaving to Fingal the honour of engaging the king of Lochlin. We refer for the rest, to his letter appended to Report, p. 28, rt seq. As it is im possible that we can find room for the full details of evi dence contained in the Appendix to the Highland Society's Report, and in the Report itself, we must refer to it. Par ticularly to Mr Gallie's letters, Mr. M•Aulay, Lieutenant Dun, Mr. Mac-Nicol, Dr. John MacpheVson, Mr. M'Leod of Ross in Mull, Mr Hope minister of Rea, in Caithness, Dr. John Smith, Ewan M'Pherson's declaration, Mr. Macpherson of Strathmashie's letter, dated Strathmashie, 22d October, 1763. His letter is peculiarly important, be cause Mr Macpherson himself was a superior Gaelic scholar, an excellent poet, and a most competent judge. Neither he, nor such men as Mr. M Aulay, could be im posed upon. They knew all the process of Mr. Mac pherson's labours. Though this article has extended far beyond our intentions, we must submit an extract from Strathmashie's letter to Dr Blair. " As I hear you have made application in this country for testimonies concerning the authenticity of Ossian's poems, I make bold to send you this letter, of which you may make what use you please. In the year 1760, I had the pleasure of accompanying my friend, Mr. Macpherson, during some part of his journey, in search of the poems of Ossian, through the Highlands. I assisted him in collecting them, and took down from oral tradition, and transcribed from old manuscripts, by far the greatest part of those pieces he has published, Since the publication, I have carefully compared the translation with the copies of the originals in my hands, and find it amazingly literal, even in such a degree, as to preserve, in some measure, the cadence of the Gaelic versification. I need not aver, Sir, that these poems arc taken in this country to be of the utmost antiquity." We also refer to the letters of Sir John Macpherson, and Sir James 1\4'Donald, both gentlemen of rank, edu cation, ability, and honour. The latter died several years ago in the flower of his youth, to the great regret of all men who loved genius, ability, refined taste, and moral worth ; the former only two years ago, after having at tained high distinction by his civil and military talents.