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



This letter was sent to Ferguson, who wrote the following answer to Dr 

 Blair :— 



" Edinburgh, I5th September, 1781. 

 " Dear Sir, — I return Dr Percy's letter of the 10th inst., on this disagreeable 

 subject, of the recital of Erse poetry. I am sorry he has had so much trouble ; 

 but cannot blame myself, as I am satisfied the trouble did not originate with me. 

 I have in what is past, and shall continue in what may follow, to confine myself 

 strictly to what is necessary in my own defence. I found it alledged in print, 

 that Dr Percy had a cheat put upon him when at Edinburgh, to which I was 

 accessory. In such cases it is often argued that until such or such assertions be 

 contradicted they must be supposed true ; and I did not choose that my character 

 should rest upon that footing. I was free to deny any concurrence in the cheat, 

 and even free to deny my having ever been present at any such scene as that in 

 which the cheat was said to be practised. With respect to the last point, indeed, 

 it may be thought that I could speak only negatively, and den}'^ my having any 

 memory of the transaction ; and so it is no doubt of all past transactions. But 

 there are circumstances which entitle a person to be more or less positive. In 

 this case the cheat that is said to have been put upon Dr Percy could not be 

 practised in my presence without my concurrence ; and this every feeling of my 

 mind warrants me in denying in the most positive terms. As I never questioned 

 the fidelity of Mr James M'Pherson in his publications, I was none of those who 

 busied themselves in finding evidence of it. It has happened to me, indeed, to 

 mention a very few particulars of Erse poetry that were known to myself ; and 

 from my knowledge of which I had taken a very early impression of what mere 

 genius, Avithout the aid of literature or foreign models, may do where the human 

 mind is free and the passions have scope in recital as well as in action. I 

 imagined that evidence of its power might have been found in every country 

 if collected before language and manners had so far changed as to obliterate or 

 efface its productions. There being any remnants of it in the Highlands of Scot- 

 land, I imputed to the manners and language having changed less than they 

 have done elsewhere in equal periods of time. Whether or no this be honourable 

 for the people I will not at present try to determine. It appeared to me matter 

 of some curiosity in the history of mankind, but very little as matter of vanity 

 to one corner of this island, much less of jealousy to any other corner of it. The 

 scraps I showed to Dr Percy had a reference to this idea, not the fidelity of Mr 

 M'Pherson's publications. And I was surprised to find myself, contrary to the 

 general tenor of my feelings, stated as a fabricator of evidence on that subject. 

 I thought myself free to deny in very positive terms my having ever been present 

 at the repetition of verses to Dr Percy by a student from the Highlands ; because 

 I never knew a student who pretended to repeat any part or specimen of Ossian's 

 heroic poetry. And the mention of Mr John M'Pherson's name does not at all 



