i hi!)} :,j 



Essat/ " To investigate the Authenticity of the Poems of Ossian, - 

 both as given in Macphersori's Translation, and as published in 

 Gaelic in 1807, under the Sanction of the Highland Society of 

 London; and, on the Supposition of such Poems not being of 

 ■recent Origin, to assign the probable Era and Country of the ori- 

 ginal Poet or Poets." Proposed by the Royal Irish Academy. 

 By EDWARD O'REILLY, Esq. 



Read 25th May, 1829. 



There is no literary controversy of modern times that has for so 

 long a period, and with so deep an interest, attracted the public at- 

 tention as that on the authenticity of those poems, published about 

 the middle of the last century, by Mr. James Macpherson, under the 

 name of the Poems of Ossian.* 



Those poems were ushered into the world under peculiarly favour- 

 able circumstances. They were patronized by the then Earl of Bute, 

 who took a leading part in the councils and government of the coun- 

 try, and by most of the Scottish nobility and gentry : a race of peo- 

 ple who have always been remarkable for a laudable patriotism, ever 

 anxious to support the honour and advance the interests of their 

 native country. The then prevailing taste of the public also was 



* Oisin is the true name of the ancient bard, christened by Mr. Macpherson, first Oscian', 

 and afterwards Ossian ; but as he is not known by this true name among English readers, we 

 shall in this Essay give up the real name, and call him by the fictitious one, Ossian. 



VOL. XVI. Z • 



