MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 631 



stood you were in a situation not to communicate it to them first— that I never 

 wrote to any person here of it ; and the only correspondence I have had with your 

 capital of late, is an answer which I thought myself obliged to send to the Duke 

 of Gordon. I have likewise written to the Duchess this night. 



" Dr Caelyle's letter of to-day has set my mind more at ease. You have 

 naturally a good constitution ; and I place every hope in your Highland stamina, 

 your philosophy, and knowledge of nature. 



" My friend Carlyle has written me, with an interest in your welfare, and 

 all that belongs to you, that adds, if possible, to my attachment to him. There 

 is a circumstance which, with all his love for you and me, he is not fully known 

 to— it is that I met you when I lost my father, and that your children and I are 

 of but one family.— Farewell. May the power of affection be a power to give 

 health and happiness ! If you do not recover your health before I leave this 

 country, I leave it with half my spring of satisfaction and soul. — Yours ever, 



John M'Pherson." * 

 The intimate friendship between Ferguson and Sir John M'Pherson has 

 already been mentioned. It began in 1763, when the Honourable Charles and 

 Robert Greville, sons of the Earl of Warwick, were attending the University. 

 Sir John was son of the minister of Sleat, in Skye, and, when a student, had 

 been private tutor to these young noblemen while they lived under Ferguson's 

 care. 



A circumstance occurred at that time (1765) which singularly enough gave 

 rise to a controversy in 1781 between Ferguson and the celebrated Dr Percy, 

 Dean of Carlisle, afterwards Bishop of Dromore. The occasion of this contro- 

 versy was the keen discussion regarding the authenticity of the poems of Ossian, 

 in which the most eminent literary men were at this time engaged. 



As is well known, James M'Pherson, the translator of " Ossian," first published 

 his " Fragments of Ancient Poetry" in 1760. The work was anonymous; but 

 as it professed to give a specimen of a great amount of ancient Celtic poetry 

 still existing in the mainland and isles of Scotland, it was received with the 

 utmost enthusiasm. M'Pherson made a tour to obtain further materials, after 

 i which he gave to the world ' Fihgal,' an ancient epic poem in six books ; 

 shortly afterwards followed by ' Temora,' in eight books, with other poems 

 of ' Ossian.' 



These productions caused an immense sensation, and were translated into 

 several European languages, while M'Pherson was hailed as the preserver of 

 these relics of ancient culture. A few years later, however, a suspicion began to 

 be entertained that these poems were not authentic, and their genuineness 

 became the subject of as warm a controversy as ever was waged in the annals 

 of literature. 



* MSS. University of Edinburgh. 

 VOL. XXIIl. PART HL 8 H 



