CHARACTERS: 
man, * but David Hume probably 
more truly describes him as ‘‘a 
modest sensible young man, not 
Settled in any living, but employed 
as a private tutor in Mr. Graham 
of Balgowan’s family, a way of 
life which he is not fond of.’? This 
was in the year 1760, when. he 
surprized the world by the publi- 
cation of ** Fragments of Ancient 
Poetry, colleéted in the Highlands 
of Scotiand, and translated from the 
Galic or Erse language.’? 8vo. 
These Fragments, which were de- 
clared to be genuine remains of 
ancient Scottish poetry, at their first 
appearance delighted every reader ; 
and some very good judges, and 
among the rest Mr. Gray, were 
extremely warm in their praises. 
As other specimens were said to be 
recoverable, a subscription was 
set on foot to enable our author 
to quit the family he was then in, 
and undertake a mission into the 
Highlands, to secure them. He 
engaged in the undertaking, and 
soon after produced the works 
whose authenticity has since occa- 
sioned so much controversy, but 
which now seem generally admit- 
ted to be the works of Mr. Mac- 
pherson himself. 
In 1762 he published ‘* Fingal, 
an ancient epic poem, in six 
books,’’ together with several other 
poems, composed by Ossian, the 
son of Fingal, translated from the 
Galic language, 4to. The subject 
ef this epic poem is an invasion 
of Ireland, by Swaran, king of 
Lochlin. Cuchullin, general of 
the Irish tribes during the mi- 
nority of Cormac, king of Ireland, 
upon intelligence of the invasion, 
assembled his forces near Tura, a 
-. [362 
csstle on the coast of Ulster, “The 
poem opens with ‘the landing of 
Swaran; councils are held, battles 
fought, and Cuchullin is at last 
totally defeated. In the mean time 
Fingal, king of the Highlands of 
Scotland, whose aid had been soli- 
cited before the enemy landed, ar- 
rived, and expelled them from the 
country. This war, which con- 
tinued but six days, and as many 
nights, is, including the episodes, 
the story of the poem. The scene 
the heath of Lena, near a moun. 
tain called Cromleach in Ulster. 
This poem also was received with 
equal applause as the preceding 
fragments. 
The next year he produced 
‘© Temora,’’ an ancient epic poem, 
in eight books: together with se. 
veral other poems composed by 
Ossian, son of Fingal, 4to. which, 
though well received, found the 
public somewhat less disposed to 
bestow the same measure-of ap- 
plause. Though these poems had 
been examined by Dr. Blair and 
others, and their authenticity as- 
serted, there were not wanting 
some of equal reputation for critical 
abilities, who either doubted or de- 
clared their disbelief of the genuine. 
ness of them. By this time the au- 
thor seems to have divested himself 
of ‘that modesty which Mr. Hume 
had formerly commended, and 
treated his antagonists in an arro- 
gant manner, not calculated to re. 
move any impressions they had re. 
ceived. ‘ 
«© Since the publication,’’ says 
he, ‘f of the last collection of Ose 
sian’s poems, many insinuations 
have been made, and doubts arisen, 
concerning their authenticity. I 
shall 
* Mason’s Life of Gray, 
