134 



This topic has been dwelt on at much greater length than it 

 merits. But as it is of some importance in the controversy, it was 

 judged proper to shew on what flimsy grounds the advocates of Mac- 

 pherson's Ossian are contented to rest their belief, and how the very 

 arguments they employ to support, only subvert their cause. In not 

 one of the passages quoted by Sir John Sinclair, is Fin Mac-Cumhal 

 distinctly stated to be a native of Caledonia ; and as for Ossian, he is 

 not mentioned at all. A more abortive attempt to uphold a baseless 

 fabric, is not to be found in the annals of literature. 



Having marshalled his historical proof, Sir John has recourse to 

 tradition. He states that — 



" All over the Highlands, the names of Ossian, Fingal, Comhal, Trenmor, Cuchullinj 

 and the other heroes, are stiU familiar, and held in the greatest respect. Straths or valleys, 

 mountains, rocks, rivers, are named after them. There are a hundred places in the Highlands 

 and isles which derive their names from the Feinne, and from circumstances connected witli 

 their history." 



''''- Granting all this, what does it prove, when it can be shewn, on un- 

 deniable authority, that there are as many places in Ireland of which 

 the same may be predicated } Where is the spot, from Fin Mac- 

 Cumhal's quoit at the hill of Howth, to Cuchullin's leap, (Loop- 

 head,) at the mouth of the Shannon, and thence to Luirgeadan, and 

 the beautiful vale of Glenarriff, in the County of Antrim, that is not 

 familiar with such appellations ?* Their frequency in Scotland only 



* We have the great rock in the County of Meath, under the shelter of which Fin and 

 his faithful wolf-dog Bran once rested, after a fatiguing pursuit ;f and on the top of the hill 

 of Shanthamon, in the County of Cavan, may be seen his "Fingers," in the shape of five 

 enormous stones, each about five feet high, and of four tons weight. J 



f Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. xv. Antiq. p. 167. 



X Id. Tol. xiii. A&tiq. p. 127. 



