“ collection, arrangment and elegant translation of Ossian’s poems.

" these peices have been, and will I think during my life continue to be to me, the source of daily and exalted pleasures. the tender, and the sublime emotions of the mind were never before so finely wrought up by human hand. I am not ashamed to own that I think this rude bard of the North the greatest Poet that has ever existed. merely for the pleasure of reading his works I am become desirous of learning the language in which he sung and of possessing his songs in their original form. m ( ^~ r) Macpherson I think informs us he is possessed of the originals. indeed a gentleman has lately told me he had seen them in print; but I am afraid he has mistaken the specimen from Temora annexed to some of the editions of the translation, for the whole works. if they are printed, it will abridge my request and your trouble to the sending me a printed copy. but if there be none such, my petition is that you would be so good as to use your interest with m ( ^~ r) M ^c.pherson to obtain leave to take a manuscript copy of them; and procure it to be done. I would chuse it in a fair, round, hand, on fine paper, with a good margin, bound in parchment as elegantly as possible, lettered on the back and marbled or gilt on the edges of the leaves. I should not regard expence in doing this. I would further beg the favor of you to give me a catalogue of books written in that language, and to send me such of them as may be necessary for learning it. these will of course include a grammar and dictionary. the cost of these as well as of the copy of Ossian will be answered for me on demand by m ( ^~ r) Alex( ^~ r) M ^cCaul sometime of Virgã mercht but now of Glasgow, or by your friend m ( ^~ r) Ninian Minzies of Richmond in Virgã to whose care the books may be sent. you can perhaps tell me whether we may ever hope to see any more of those Celtic peices published. manuscript copies of any which are not in print would at any time give me the greatest happiness to receive. the glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money. I hear with pleasure from your friends that your path through life is likely to be smoothed by success. I wish the business and the pleasures of your situation could admit leisure now and then to scribble a line to one who wishes you every felicity and would willingly merit the appellation of D ^r Sir your friend and humble serv ^t ”

McPherson replied from Edinburgh on August 12: “I regret, exceedingly, that I have at this distance of time to answer your very polite letter of the 20 ^th. February. I only received it about the end of last month. It came under cover of a letter from M ^r. Ninian Minzies, dated the 20 ^th. May. I recollect, with pleasure, the acquaintance which I had with you in Virginia. I enjoy the thoughts of renewing that acquaintance; and I am much indebted to you, Sir, for favouring me with the opportunity.

Excepting the specimen of Temora, Ossians poems, in the original, never were in print. Sorry I am that a copy of the Gaelic manuscript, of these peoms, cannot be procured. I take the liberty of transmitting you M ^r. Macphersons letter to me upon the subject. Every thing, allow me to assure you, that depended upon me, was, with alacrity, done towards the indulging of your request. This much was due, setting my acquaintance with M ^r. Jefferson aside, to the elegant, the feeling admirer of the Voice of Cona . Ossian himself, from his cloud, might bend, and listen, with pleasure, to such praise. And the praise is due. For, if to melt, to transport the soul be an excellence, as sure it is, our venerable Bard possesses it in an eminent, a superlative degree. Elegant, however, and pleasant as these poems, in their present form, may appear; they, in common with other translations, have lost, considerably, of their native beauty and fire. This naturally creates a desire of becoming acquainted with the original.

"I do not at all wonder that you should be ‘desirous of learning the language, in which Ossian thought, in which he sung.’ But, alas, I am afraid that this will be attended with insuperable difficultys. A few religious Books excepted, we have no publication in the Gaelic Language; no dictionary, no grammar. I have sent you, to the care of M ^r Minzies, to whom this letter goes enclosed, a Gaelic New Testament, ”