149 



that it will be in vain to look for it any where else." But notwith- 

 standing this positive assertion, he differs from Macpherson three 

 pages after, and affirms, that the latter must be mistaken in making 

 Lora to be a small stream, as he describes it to be, in a note to the 

 fifth book of Temora. He concludes that "those who endeavour to 

 fix the origin of Ossian to any modern period, or ascribe the original 

 merit to any modern bard, can do it from no other reason than pre- 

 judice or ignorance." 



As this censure falls on a very numerous class, in which we include 

 ourselves, we may be allowed to express a wish that the learned 

 topographer had taken some more efficient mode of eradicating our 

 prejudice and instructing our ignorance, as we profess a willingness 

 to be informed. Since he describes the scenery of Selma so minutely, 

 by what unaccountable oversight has he forgotten to notice " Stru- 

 mon, stream of the hill, the name of the seat of the family of Gaul, 

 in the neighbourhood of Selma?" " Gordon, to favour a foolish 

 hypothesis, about Agricola's camp, asserted that the people of the 

 country call the spot Galgachan, to this day, which proved to be 

 an absolute falsehood."* Until we receive more satisfactory proof 

 than Mr. Stewart has laid before us, we shall adhere to our prejudice 

 and ignorance in believing with Shaw, that " no such kingdom as 

 Morven was ever known in the west of Scotland. The name of 

 Morven, although at home it is called Morairna, sounded well, and 

 for no other reason suited the author's plan, though it is never once 

 mentioned in any of their tales or songs. The district known at this 

 day by that name is only a part of the parish of that name. Selma 

 is not at all known in Scotland."-!* '■"' 



* Pinkerton's Essay on the Origin of Scotch Poetry, p. xxix. »•' ■■■'•-(■- 

 t Shaw's Inquiry, p. 63. 



