23 



his own, not to a genuine translator, like Pope or Dryden, but to 

 one unwilling to forfeit by a pretended translation, all claim to his 

 own productions, or to the conscious merit of an original poet." 'a 



This work of Laing's was afterwards followed by the publication 

 of an edition of Ossian's Poems, with notes pointing out more parti- 

 cularly the sources from which Macpherson had replenished his poe- 

 tical urn. 



It might be supposed that such able exposures as these would 

 have brought the question to a conclusion, and afforded truth a 

 triumph in the complete extinction of all further belief in the authen- 

 ticity of the Scotch Ossian. But some were still found, and the race 

 is not yet extinct, who remained obstinately attached to their first 

 opinion, so hard is it to eradicate established error, or expel a favou- 

 rite prepossession. 



In 1805 was published the Report of the Committee of the High- 

 land Society of Scotland, appointed to inquire into the nature and 

 authenticity of the Poems of Ossian. This report was drawn up by 

 Henry Mackenzie, Esq. with considerable clearness and apparent 

 impartiality. The report is accompanied with a copious appendix, 

 containing letters addressed to Doctor Blair and Mr. Mackenzie, 

 from various persons in the Highlands, with affidavits and declara- 

 tions, and specimens of Gaelic poems both original and translated. 

 This work was followed in 1807 by an " Essay on the Authenticity 

 of Ossian's Poems, in which the objections of Malcolm Laing, Esq. 

 are particularly considered and refuted by Patrick Graham, D. D., 

 minister of Aberfoyle. To which is added, an Essay on the Mytho- 

 logy of Ossian's Poems, by Professor Richardson, of Glasgow Col- 

 lege." In this work the author pronounces a handsome eulogy on 

 the Highland Society, and lauds it for declining to enter into the 

 argument, and maintaining a becoming reserve. " Anxious only to 



