Mr. Boswell was very diligent in his inquiries; and the result of his investigations was, that the answer to the second question was commonly such as nullified the answer to the first.

We were a while told, that they had an old translation of the scriptures; and told it till it would appear obstinacy to inquire again.  Yet by continued accumulation of questions we found, that the translation meant, if any meaning there were, was nothing else than the Irish Bible.

We heard of manuscripts that were, or that had been in the hands of somebody’s father, or grandfather; but at last we had no reason to believe they were other than Irish.  Martin mentions Irish, but never any Earse manuscripts, to be found in the Islands in his time.

I suppose my opinion of the poems of Ossian is already discovered.  I believe they never existed in any other form than that which we have seen.  The editor, or author, never could shew the original; nor can it be shewn by any other; to revenge reasonable incredulity, by refusing evidence, is a degree of insolence, with which the world is not yet acquainted; and stubborn audacity is the last refuge of guilt.  It would be easy to shew it if he had it; but whence could it be had?  It is too long to be remembered, and the language formerly had nothing written.  He has doubtless inserted names that circulate in popular stories, and may have translated some wandering ballads, if any can be found; and the names, and some of the images being recollected, make an inaccurate auditor imagine, by the help of Caledonian bigotry, that he has formerly heard the whole.

I asked a very learned Minister in Sky, who had used all arts to make me believe the genuineness of the book, whether at last he believed it himself? but he would not answer.  He wished me to be deceived, for the honour of his country; but would not directly and formally deceive me.  Yet has this man’s testimony been publickly produced, as of one that held Fingal to be the work of Ossian.

It is said, that some men of integrity profess to have heard parts of it, but they all heard them when they were boys; and it was never said that any of them could recite six lines.  They remember names, and perhaps some proverbial sentiments; and, having no distinct ideas, coin a resemblance without an original.  The persuasion of the Scots, however, is far from universal; and in a question so capable of proof, why should doubt be suffered to continue?  The editor has been heard to say, that part of the poem was received by him, in the Saxon character.  He has then found, by some peculiar fortune, an unwritten language, written in a character which the natives probably never beheld.