An Laoidheadair Gaelic na ain spioradail

BISHOP CAKSWELL, 95
tisod tis altnrs) prnving ihem beyond a iloubt to have
been the works of the Druids. 'lhere have bcen also at
certain distances from these Coirns^ large pillars of stone
standing erect, frora 9 to 12 in height, most of vvhich
have been in later times removed to make room for the
plough. The natives, time after time, within the last century,
demolished the greater part of these relicts or Cairns,
(which iheir forefathers considered to have been sacred to
the memnry of some holy men), and carried avvay the stone
to buihl their dykes and out-houses.
Some Inng time since, on removing the rubbish from
nne nf these Cairns to the bottom, 10 feet deep, an Urn
or Tunga was tumed up of a superior structure, apparently
of brass, supposed to contain the ashes of a dignified Druid.
When the Highland Society of Scotland were teased
by Dr Johnson, Mr Hume, Mr Laing, Mr Pinkerton,
and several hterary characters, regarding the authenticity
of the Poems of Ossian, they dispatched their Librarian,
Mr Dnnald M'Intosh, on a tour to the West Highlands,
in pursait of evidence to disprove the assertions of these
learned Controversialisto. Mr M'Intosh found in the
Island of Arran, a religious Gaelic Book published by
Bishop CarsweH, in 1560, nr thereabout, dedicated to
the Earl of Argjjle. In his dedicatory letter in Gaelic,
he introduces the names of the two heads Avho commanded
the Fingalian army, Fionn and Goll. The former commanded
Clanna Baoisge, the Irish tribe, and the latter
Clanna Moirnna the Caledonian tribe, with all the other
petty tribes composed of both nations, such as Clann
Uisnich— Clanna Ruiri'' — Clann Chuilgeadan, &c. &c.
In this letter the Bishop expresses his sorrow in the following
address to his Lordship. " That his people paid
mnre attention to idle tales, ludicrous songs, and to the
idìe tales and songs of Tionn Mac Cuthail, and Goll
Mac Moirnna, than to the word of God.'''' TÌVìs is certainly
one good evidence (along with many others promulgated)
from a pious Prelate, that IM'Pherson did not (as
has been alleged by many able CT\i\cs)fabricate the wholc
of Ossia?i^s Poems, from tales and legends, but also from
songs. ìMuch may be said of his having superadded to thrnri£rinal,
as well as omitted much of ihe beautifnl aud