SOURCE: "MacPherson's Ossian," in Queen's Quarterly, Vol. XLV, No. 3, Autumn, 1938, pp. 366-76.

In the following essay, Walsh reviews the critical controversy over Ossian's authenticity, highlighting the findings of the Highland Society of Scotland as well as the internal stylistic evidence against Macpherson's claim.

Macpherson's imposture is probably unique in the annals of literature. If he had looked forward and deliberately planned it, realizing the publicity it would receive, it is doubtful that he would ever have attempted it; but he was drawn into it in the first place by a tempting and unlooked-for opportunity, and once he was committed his stubborn pride would not allow him to withdraw. He was proud, romantic and gifted, but unfortunately devoid of moral sense.

He was born at Ruthven, Inverness, in the parish of Kingussie, in the year 1736. He studied at King's College, Aberdeen, and afterwards at the University of Edinburgh. In...