the real author-a notion with which, as appears from what has been called his Confession, he was evidently flattered. The controversy on this subject has been nearly exhausted, and the evidence and arguments for the authenticity of the poems ascribed to Ossian, will be found in the Report of a Committee of the Highland Society, and in papers published, together with the alleged originals of the poems; and, on the other side, the evidence is stated, and the arguments powerfully enforced, in Mr. Laing's Dissertation, and in his Ossian; to all which, together with a work on the subject by Dr. Graham, of Aberfoyle, those who feel much interested about the question are referred; but as the public, when called upon for its assent, had a right to demand the best evidence of which the subject admitted, and as that was withheld by the translator, supposing him to be such, who alone had the power to produce it, the general conclusion seems to be that the whole is a forgery; and, although many may see reason not to be perfectly confident in that conclusion, nothing can now effectually destroy the impression except the very improbable event of the appearance of some ancient manuscript of unquestionable authenticity. If it be true, as related, that some of the Iona manu

scripts were conveyed to Rome, it might, perhaps, be worth while to cause the Vatican library to be searched by persons, thoroughly acquainted with the original language and the old character in which it was written. Some, especially those who possess that particular kind of knowledge, which is necessary to enable any one to understand the full force of such evidence for the authenticity as has been brought forward, may have rational grounds for the opinion that the poems are in substance authentic; but as the translator has left them no means of knowing what portions of the compositions rest on the authority of old manuscripts, and what on the evidence of modern reciters, or of forming their own judgement as to what ought to be rejected as spurious, or retained as genuine and authentic, among the several recitations of the same poem, and what might be the most proper arrangement of the scattered pieces; even they cannot reasonably deny that the works of Ossian remain at present in an unsatisfactory state. But by those who can indulge the belief" that Fingal fought and Ossian sung," as they are represented in the published poems to have done for that the one fought, and the other sung, in some manner,

cannot reasonably be questioned-Glenco, supposing its stream to be the Cona of the bard, will be regarded with the interest which belongs to classic ground. No situation that can be conceived, answers more exactly to what in Germany is termed the great nature of Ossian; and the unbeliever, while he gazes on the picturesque grandeur of this wild scene, will be apt, for the moment, to forget his scepticism, and yield to the delight of a temporary delusion.

But more recent events, of a different description, and of undoubted authenticity, will give universal interest and historical celebrity to this glen, the name of which awakes the memory of that horrible massacre, which stains the annals of the otherwise clear and exalted period of the reign of King William. The misgovernment of the Stuart family had not affected the population of the highlands as it did their neighbours in the plains; and several of the most enterprising and best united of the highland clans, and their chiefs, retained their attachment to the exiled monarch, who, for no good reason that they could understand, had been deprived of the throne of his ancestors; an injury, according to their clanish notions, of

the most atrocious kind, and one which implied the most flagrant dereliction of duty in those who had procured his expulsion, and supported the government of another sovereign whom they regarded as an usurper. These clans were the principal materials, with which those who still adhered to the interests of the exiled monarch, endeavoured to accomplish his restoration. The people of Glenco, a branch of the clan Colla, or Macdonalds, had joined Claverhouse, and, in 1689, fought in the battle of Rinrory, or Killicrankie, as it has been absurdly termed, to which, although it terminated in a victory for the banished king, the death of Claverhouse gave the consequences of defeat. In July, 1691, a cessation of hostilities was proposed by Lord Braidalbane, on the part of government, which was acceded to by several of the highland chiefs and chieftains, and by Glenco amongst the rest; and in August, 1691, a proclamation was issued, offering indemnity to those engaged in .the rebellion, who should come in and take the oath of allegiance to King William, before the first of January then following. Towards the close of December, Glenco went to Inverlochy, to Colonel Hill, governor of Fort William, to take the oath of allegiance. Colonel Hill informed him that he had no au

thority to administer the oath, but gave him a letter to Sir Colin Campbell, of Ardkinlas, sheriff-depute of Argyleshire. Glenco pro

ceeded to Inverary, but was detained by the way for a day by an officer of government, and had besides experienced considerable difficulty on his journey from the depth of snow on the ground and the stormy weather which then prevailed. Glenco was three days at Inverary before Ardkinlas could get thither, owing to the bad weather; and when Ardkinlas arrived, which was on the 6th of January, 1692, he hesitated to administer the oath because the period of the indemnity had expired. Glenco, however, begging with tears that he might be permitted to take it, and promising to bring in the whole of his people, Ardkinlas did administer it, and sent a certificate of the fact, together with Colonel Hill's letter, to Edinburgh, to be presented to the Privy Council. The certificate and letter, together with certificates relating to other persons, upon one and the same paper, were delivered to the Clerk of the Council, who, by the advice of one of the Council whom he consulted, refused to lay the certificate and letter concerning Glenco before the Privy Council, as the oath had not been taken within the limited time, and therefore