323 



nal, differing materially from that given in the Report. It appears 

 that when the Society was printing its originals, the original of this 

 episode could not be found, but it was afterwards miraculously dis- 

 covered among Macpherson's papers, and Doctor Mc Arthur pub- 

 lished it in his "Supplemental Observations," vol. iii. p. 486 of the 

 Society's original. If we were not afraid to tire the reader by dwell- 

 ing too long upon these forgeries, we would give extracts from 

 Smith's Cento and the Society's original ; but, as we think that what 

 we have said in the former pages of this Essay, is fully sufficient to 

 convict Macpherson of plagiarism, and prove his originals forgeries, 

 we shall dismiss this episode without further obsenations. 



The next proof of plagiarism that we shall notice in the fourth 

 Book of Fingal, is the address of UUin to Gaul, exciting him to fight 

 courageously and overthrow his enemies. This is stolen from the 

 '• Rosg Catha Ghoill M/iic Morua," (Battle excitement to Goll, son 

 of Morna,) translated and published with the original by Miss 

 Brooke, in her Reliques of Irish Poetry, pp. 165, 298. The first line 

 of this address, given by Doctor Smith, is identically the same as 

 that given by Miss Brooke ; and the three following lines are nearly 

 the same in each, both preserving the correct measure and manner of 

 versification used in such compositions. The remaining nine lines 

 that the Doctor gives are not at all like the original. The measure 

 is completely lost, and the composition, in general, incorrect. Not 

 so Miss Brooke's copy, consisting of seventy-two lines, all correct in 

 versification, except in nine lines where the manuscript she used was 

 defective. The Gaelic lines given as originals by the Highland 

 Society, are not like either Smith's or Miss Brooke's in point of com- 

 position, and in every line they carry marks of their modern fabrica- 

 tion. The idea and some of the expressions are preserved, but the 

 theft is concealed as much as possible. Whoever has sufficient curio- 



VOL. XVI. iiaiibj u n;ui mtsi-J litui"": 'll ^ 



