"He gat my grandschir Gog Magog; "Ay when he dansit the warld wald schog; "Of hieland pladdis of hair."* The ingenious Lord Hailes remarks, that the above passage most probably alludes to the contest between Fingal and the Spirit of Loda, in the celebrated poem of Carricthura: and that learned judge, whose taste and critical acumen cannot be questioned, observes, "That to doubt of Fingal "and Temora being ancient compositions, is in"deed refinement in scepticism. They contain "various allusions to the manners of other times "which have escaped the observation of Macpherson himself."† In Lyndsay's Satyre of the Three Estates, written anno 1538, among the relicts produced by the Pardoner, is, "Heir is an relict lang and braid "Of Fyn Mac Cowl the richt chaft blaid *I was favoured with this passage, corrected from the copy in the Achinleck MS. and other extracts from ancient Scottish writers, regarding this subject, by George Chalmers, Esq. of the Board of Trade, whose extensive knowledge of Scottish antiquities, and other branches of literature, is well known. + See ancient Scottish Poems, p. 302. In Colville's Whigs' Supplication, published 1681, he says: "One man, quoth he, ofttimes hath stood, "And put to flight a multitude, "Like Samson, Wallace, and Sir Bewis Evidently ascribing Fingal to the Hebrides or Western Islands, in the number of which, it is well known the Isle of Lewis is included. An edition of the Psalms of David, was published at Edinburgh in Gaelic, anno 1684, by a learned clergyman, Kirk, minister of Balquhidder, in which, the author addresses his book in some Gaelic verses, of which the following is a literal translation: Little volume, go boldly forth, Raise whom you reach to pure and Godly strains; The Highland tracts and Isles of Hebrides.* Nicolson, in his Scottish Historical Library, written anno 1702, takes notice of an old romance of the valour and feats of Fin M'Coul, a giant of prodigious stature, in the days of king Ewain the Second. *The authority of Kirk is of the more importance, as he was a person of considerable merit and learning, and as such was distinguished by the correspondence of Bishop Nicolson, regarding literary subjects. See Nicolson's Scottish Library, Appendix No. 11. Colgan also, an Irish author, of great learning and research, after mentioning that St. Patrick had a convert who was dignified with the title of St. Ossin, or Ossian, and to whom, probably, the Irish ballads regarding St. Patrick and Ossian ought to be attributed, adds in a note to a passage, in which mention is made of Fingal, (or Finnius filius Cubhalli), that he was much celebrated in poems and tales inter suos; by which, he must necessarily mean, that he belonged to Scotland, and not to Ireland, as in that case he would have said inter nostrates.* What could induce so many authors, living at different periods, and who could have no object in view, in either recording or alluding to such a circumstance, and who did not think it a matter of any essential importance, to concur in the idea that Scotland was the country of Fingal and his heroes, unless they firmly believed that to be the truth. 2. All over the Highlands, the names of Ossian, Fingal, Comhal, Trenmor, Cuthullin and their other heroes, are still familiar, and held in the * Colgan's work is intitled Jo. Colgani Triades Thaumaturgæ. Lovaniæ 1647. Vit. S. Patr. See Nicolson's Irish Hist. Library, p. 40, 49. greatest respect. Straths, (or valleys), mountains, rocks, and rivers, are named after them.* There are a hundred places in the Highlands and Isles, which derive their names from the Feinne, and from circumstances connected with their history.† Every district retains traces of the generous hero, or of the mournful bard, and can boast of places, where some of the feats of arms, or instances of strength or agility, of some of the heroes of the race of Fingal, were exhibited. In the district of Morven, where Fingal is said frequently to have resided, there are a number of places called after him, as Dun 'inn, Fingal's fort, or hill; Kem-Fein, (or Ceum Fhinn), Fingal's steps or stairs.§ Glenlyon in Perthshire, was one of the principal abodes of the Fingalians, and in that country, there are many glens, lochs, islands, &c. denominated after them; and the remains of many great works of rude and ancient art, are attributed to * Report of the Highland Society, p. 41. As the hills of Cullin or Cuthullin in Sky, and many others. + Do. App. p. 48. Do. p. 31, Macdonald's Dissertation, p. 192. See Report of the Highland Society, p. 79. The well-known cave of Staffa, has its name from Fingal. In Blaeu's Atlas Scotiæ, published anno 1652, there is a whirlpool called Coire Fhin Mac Cowl, or the Gulf of Fion, the son of Comhal; and there is a hill in the Isle of Sky, known by the name of uite suidh Fhinn, or Fingal's seat. & Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol. X. p. 274. * them. The largest cairns or heaps of stones which abound in that neighbourhood, are said to be their sepulchral monuments. In the parish of Monivaird in particular, there was a stone seven feet high, and five broad, which was known by the name of Clach Ossian, or, in English, Ossian's stone or tomb. This stone, unfortunately, standing in the way of the military roads constructed under the direction of General Wade, was overturned by machinery. The great stone however, still remains, with four smaller gray stones, surrounded by an inclosure, called Carn Ossian, and sometimes known by the name of the Clach, or Carn na Huseoig, or, "the stone or heap of the lark;" a happy allusion to the tuneful lays, and the soaring powers, of a celebrated poet. † 66 * Situated in Glenamon, in the county of Perth. + See Lord Buchan's letter to the printer of the Caledonian Mercury, dated Edinburgh, 7th May, 1784. The Noble Lord, with his usual zeal for literature, proposed that Clach Ossian, which ignorance or malice had overturned, should be restored to its former place, and a further monument erected, with a suitable inscription. There was not then public spirit enough in Scotland, to raise the sum necessary for that purpose. It is to be hoped, however, that the time is not far distant, when that object will be accomplished. |