tradition, that Finn, Oisin, Goll, Osgar, and all the other Finnian heroes were Irish, not Albans. What avails it, then, to produce the attested decla rations of illiterate, and the laboured essays of literary men, in opposition to an historical fact, otherwise generally acknowledged? The similarity of a few names, and the likeness of some cirumstances in the modern figments, to those in the ancient poems, have imposed on the ignorance of the one, while the ability displayed in the execution of imposture, has fascinated and deluded the other. The following anecdotes confirm the position here laid down; That eminently ingenious, and profoundly erudite prelate, the Rev. Dr. Young, the late amiable and benevolent bishop of Clonfert, but previously a most respectable and respected senior fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, (in which University I had the happiness of spending nearly twelve years under his kind and generous tutelage,) was warmly affected towards the cultivation of Irish literature. In the summer of 1784, he traversed the Highlands in search of Gaelic poetry. He was directed to a bookseller in Perth, with whom, it was asserted, that the original of Mr. M Pherson's poems were deposited. On inspection, however, it proved to be an ancient Irish manuscript, on vellum, containing taining historic tracts, and several genealogies; particularly one of the illustrious house of O'Neill. Upon being introduced to a literary Lady, a widow, of the name of Mac Donald, who taught her daughters Gaelic, she was pleased to ask him, Pray, Sir, are you an Irishman ?" "I am, "Madam," was the answer. "that," said she. "I shall soon prove Upon which she handed him an Irish Testament, and requested him to read two or three verses in it. He did accordingly, and she said, "I clearly see you are, Sir." He then asked, "Madam, is it in this you teach these young "Ladies ?"-Her daughters were present. “Yes, "Sir," answered she. Why not instruct them "in the bible published by authority of the synod "of Argyle?" resumed the doctor. "O! Sir, why "should I teach them a corrupt dialect, when I can "instruct them in the pure mother tongue?" was her answer. In like manner, talking to an old Gentleman who repeated some Finnian poetry to him, he asked him, “Where, Sir, or whence have you got these?" The old Gentleman replied, "We have got them traditionally from our ancestors, "who originally came from Ireland." The veracity of this amiable prelate, will never be called in question. It would be notorious to all the world, if if Gaelic literature were more cultivated, that it is only of late the modern Scotch shew shame of their origin. Gadhaltacht Alban, the Gadelicity of Alba, is the old expression for the Highlands; and Gaelic Albanach, Aalbanian Gaelic, for Erse, even among themselves, to distingush them from their original Irish nativity. For the present, farewel, Mr. McPherson. FINIS. ADVERTISEMENT. IN the compilation of the foregoing sheets, some inadvertencies have escaped, which it is deemed necessary here to rectify. In page 10, of "The "Death of the Children of Usnach," the Latin quotation in the note is, by mistake of memory, attributed to Silius Italicus, instead of audian. But to compensate the Reader for this error, let him accept another proof from the same Author of the position there laid down. Britain is made to boast of Stilicho's protection : Illius effectum curis ne bella timeren Scotica, ne Pictum tremerem, ne littore toto By his effectual care I need not fear The Scotic wars, nor tremble at the Pict, The Saxon coming with the dubious winds. |