xxi

PAGE.

remaining monuments of a language unmixed with any foreign idiom, a phenomenon not to be met with elsewhere, at this day, in Western Europe, seem to present an important subject of speculation to philosophic minds.

It is only necessary to add, that, in the few translations of passages cited from ancient authors, which it has been sometimes thought proper to give, fidelity to the original has been studied, more than elegance of expression.

b

of this

Of the Period, in which these Poems were

composed.Connection with Roman

History. Carausius.-Caracalla.-Ap-

pellations of Places in Ossian's Poems.-

Orkneys.-Carrickthura,

SECTION II.

Of the State of Society, in the Ages in which

Fingal and Ossian are supposed to have

flourished.-Estimate of the Character

and Manners of the Caledonians, by Dion

Cassius, Herodian, Tacitus, Ælian, &c.

5

1

CONTENTS.

of thiruidical Institutions.-Silence con-

cerning Religion.--Domestic Circum-

stances,

PAGE.

16

SECTION III.

Of the Mode in which these Poems have

been preserved, and transmitted to us

through so many Ages,

PART I.

The Political Situation of Caledonia, during the

last Fifteen Centuries.-The Dominion

and Influence of the Celts.-The sup-

posed Invasion of Riada.-The Bardic

Order. Transmission of the Poetry of

Homer.-Recitations of ancient Gaelic

Poetry, by Persons still, or very lately,

alive, .

PART II.

The unaltered State of the Language in which

these Poems have been composed.--The

peculiar Character, and idiomatic Form,

of the Gaelic,

56

58

97

PAGE.

SECTION IV.

Of particular Terms and Expressions which

occur in these Poems; and which Mr

Laing argues to have been borrowed

from other Languages.-The Opinion of

Mr Pinkerton, and of the Edinburgh

Reviewers, examined, with regard to the

Gallic Invaders of the Italian Territory.

-The copiousness of the Gaelic, in Ex-

pressions, to denote the Appearances of

external Nature, and the Feelings and

Passions of the Human Mind.-Esti-

mate of Mr Laing's alleged Instances of

borrowed Expressions,

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.-Ca-

107