suggested. That season of the year, however, which we denominate autumn, is frequently mentioned by Ossian; but in no instance whatever, as relative to corr, and crops, and the operations of husbandry. That season is uniformly mentioned by Ossian, in relation to the appearances which Nature then presents, when the day shortens, when vegetables decay, when the leaves fall, and when the dark season (dùlach) approaches.

It is, at the same time, proper to observe, that there is a circumstance that has not hitherto been attended to, which may have, in some degree, affected the language of the remains of this ancient poetry, which are still preserved. Though the language of the Caledonians has continued, from the causes, of which notice has been taken al

* See the annexed new translation of the Seventh Book of Temora, ver. 367.

ready, less influenced by foreign mixture than any other language of Europe; yet, with the lapse of ages, it must have happened, that a few terms should become obsolete; and that others, of more recent origin, should be introduced in their stead. Of this substitution of modern terms, for others, which had, in some measure, become obsolete, I had a striking instance, under my own observation:-Robert Macneill, an old man, still alive, and residing in my neighbourhood, recited to me, within these few years, the long poem of Manos, as it is to be found in the Perth Collection, (p. 18.) in thirty-seven quatrains, which I took down in writing. I remarked, that when any term occurred, which I did not readily understand, and of which I required an explanation, he always adopted a method, which seemed to be easier to him than to give an explanation. He immediately began the stanza anew, and dextrously substitu

ted a more modern term, of similar import, and, what shewed considerable presence of mind, of the same measure: but this substitution extended only to a few particular terms; the sentiment was in no instance altered.

Thus a few, and but a few, questionable terms may have been introduced into these recitations; and thus their introduction may be accounted for. But, whatever may have been the origin of some of those terms, on which Mr Laing animadverts, it is certain, that Mr Macpherson had no share in the coinage of any one of them. Independently of the Poems of Ossian, we have, in other Gaelic poems of undoubted antiquity, and also in the fragments of ancient Welsh and Irish poetry, abundant proof of the use of those terms, from a very remote period. For this proof, I refer to all the collections of Irish and Welsh poetry, to Giraldus Cambrensis, and to Cambden. In

an ancient war song, which we know to be of A. D. 1411, we have the term borb, "barbarous," on which Mr Laing remarks so exultingly.*

* See Macdonald's Collection, p. 6.

SECTION V.

Mr Laing's alleged Imitations of ancient and modern Authors considered.--Avowed Imitations, and accidental coincidences of Thought and Expression, in Authors who could not possibly have had any Communication with each other.-Canons of Criticism, applicable to this Subject, with Examples.

THERE is no part of his Dissertation which Mr Laing has laboured more, and on which he seems to lay greater stress, than his alleged detection of Ossian's imitations of certain passages in the sacred scriptures, and in the ancient classics; and though the best judges of this subject, with whom I have had occasion to converse, agree, in accounting this part of his Treatise the most inconclusive, yet I have reason to believe, that