grees either caft or weft, according to the nature of the earth's motion," and adds, "this is what is called the variation of the compass." Notwithstanding, he fuppofès the declination of the plane to be found by an obfervation of the fun, and confiders not, that, fuppofing fuch variation to exit, the declination of all planes in the fame country muft vary the fame way, But to return to the phenomenon at Castleton. As I think I have clearly thewn that it is not caufed by the preceffion of the equinoxes, let us confider to what it may be attributed, or which of the three ways mentioned by Mr. G. E. is most likely to folve this difficulty. In the first place, if we confult aftronomers, we shall find, that the angle betwixt the poles of the earth and the ecliptic does actually diminish, though not on account of the proceffion of the equinoxes, but from the action of the fun and moon, by the power of gravity on the accumulated quantity of matter about the equator, the earth not being a perfect sphere, but an oblate fpheroid. But in what proportion does this angle diminish? Why only at the rate of 50" in a century, But fuppofing it to be a whole minute, we fhall then on calcu lation find, that, according to the given height of this mountain, its fhadow at noon on the fhoiteft day is now only one foot fhorter than it was a hundred years ago, or, on a nicer calculation, not much above half a foot; therefore its diminution must be totally infenfible during the time which the oldeft perfon in the place may be fuppofed to have obferved it. If therefore the phænomenon mentioned by your correfpondent does really exift, the occation of it muft arife from one of thofe caufes which he thinks "neither probable nor credible," but from which of them, or whether the whole be not founded on mistake, I fhall leave to future investigation. Yours, &c, T. R. The mafter, however, did not approach MR. URBAN, TH HE lovers of Biography will acknowledge obligations to your indefatigable induftry for fhort memoirs of the following perfonages: Francis Potter, a learned Theological author of the xvith century; John Potter, who wrote Remarks on St. Clement of Alexandrie; on Lycophon; and who published Archeologia Graca in Gronovius-Bur. ton, author of the Voyage through Hell, And Peter Annet, lately deceafed. author of Lectures, Short-hand books, and principally concerned in a small publication entitled the Witnesses of the H, L. Refurrection. *This phænomenon is not fingular. In the year 1717, a burning mountain iffued from the fea in the neighbourhood of Santirini in the Grecian Archipelago; or which a particular account is given in Vol. XL. P. 219. EDIT. Conclu 1. Of the Evidence afforded by the foregoing Poems that there are Songs traditionally preferved in the Highlands and attributed to Offan; containing Parts of the Poems, published by Mr. Macpherson and Mr. Smith, under the Name of that Bard. 1. Of the Authenticity of the Ofan of Macpherson and Smith: how far it is founded upon the Highland Sons; and bow far those Songs may be regarded as the real works of Offian. III. Of the Country of Offian, whether be was an Highlander or an Irishman? IV. Of the real Character of Offian and the Fingalians, and who they probably were. I. T is evident, Mr. Urban, from the collection of Erie Poems which I have fent you, that there are many traditional fongs preferved in the Highlands relating to Fingal and his Heroes, as well as to feveral other fubjects. It is alfo evident, that thefe fongs contain portions of the very poems published by Mr. Macpherson and Mr. Smith, under the name of Offian. We may therefore justly conclude, that thofe poems are not wholly the forgery of their editors, but compiled at icaft from original fongs. I by no means think it worth my while, to notice the various conceffions in favour of this conclufion, which the minor antagonists of Offian have of late been forced to make. I nyfelf have given proofs of it, which nced I hope no external confirmation. To thefe proofs might be added, that I met with many traditional prefervers of thefe fongs, in every different part of the Highlands: fome of whom, especially in Argylefhire, Lochaber, and on the reft of the western coaft, were faid to poffefs various poems attributed to Offian, although I had neither leifure nor opportunity to collect copies from them. But enough has already been faid on this fubject, if my teftimony deferves regard. II. Thefe principles being cftablished, it remains to be confidered how far the poems, published by Macpherson and Smith, deferve to be confidered as the works of Offian. The foregoing fongs, attributed to that bard, which contain parages of the Offian of Macpherson and Smith, are the poems, in which the parallel pafby no means uniformly confiftent with fages are found, but frequently relate to different events, and even contain different circumstances. From hence it feems most probable, that Mr. Macpherfon and Mr. Smith compiled their publications from thofe parts of the Highland fongs which they moft approved, combining them into fuch forms as according to their ideas were moft excellent, and preferving the old names and the leading events +. In this procefs they were fupported and encouraged by the variety of fongs preferved in the Highlands upon the fame fubject, and by the various modes in which the fame event is related. Mr. Macpherion may indeed have MSS. of all the poems he has publifhed; which MSS. may either have been compiled by himself, or by fome former collector, or they may poffibly contain entire poems really ancient. But Mr. Smith has honeftly acknowledged, that he himself compiled his Offian in the manner above defcribed. "After the ma. "terials were collected," fays he," the 66 next labour was to compare the dif"ferent editions; to frike off feveral "parts that were manifeftly fpurious‡; to bring together fome epifodes that "appeared to have a relation to one "another, though repeated separately; "and restore to their proper places fome "incidents that feemed to have run "from one pocin into another:-and "hence it was unavoidably neceffary 66 to throw in fometimes a few lines or "fentences to join fome of the episodes "together-1 am fenfible that the "form of thefe poems is confiderably altered from what is found in any one "of the editions from which they are "compiled. They have affumed "fomewhat more of the appearance of "regularity and art-than that bold "and irregular manner, in which they are originally delivered." 66 Mr. Smith alfo fpeaks of the Offian of Mr. Macpherfon, in a fomewhat fimilar manner§: "That we have not "the whole of the Poems of Offian, 86 or even of the collection tranflated "by Mr. Macpherfon, we allow yet "fill we have many of them, and of + See Idem, p. 573. See Mag for Feb. pp. 143, 144. See Mag. for Dec. laft, p. 570. "almoft almost all a part. The building is not entire, but we have still the grand * ruins of it." What portion, therefore, of the Offian of Macpherson and Smith is original, no man can determine except themfelves. Smith indeed fays, that he has mentioned all his material alterations, tranfpofitions, and additions, in his notes; and that, for the most part, he was guided in them by the Sgeulachds, or traditionary tales accompanying the fongs: but there are few fuch notes in his book, and perhaps as few fuch Sgeulachds in the mouths of the Highlanders. In Macpherson and Smith alfo we fee thefe pocms divested of their idiomatic peculiarities and fabulous ornaments, which renders it impoffible to difcover what manners and opinions are really ancient, and what are of modern invention. Yet it is remarkable, that in fpite of all the objections to their authenticity, neceffarily produced by fuch a treatment of them, they ftill poffefs an internal evidence of originality, which has enabled them hitherto to withstand all the torrent of oppofition. The Offian of Macpherfon and Smith appears therefore to be a mutilated work; even though we should fuppofe that the fongs they originally compiled from were the undoubted works of that celebrated bard. But this is far from being the cafe; for even allowing that an Offian ever exifted and wrote; yet time must have introduced fuch material changes in his works, if preferved merely by tradition during fo fong a period, that their own author would hardly know them again. I think it however doubtful, whether fuch a being as Offian ever appear'd in the world. All the fongs which I met with in the Highlands, relative to the Feinne, or Fingalians, were attributed to Offian: his name feems merely a-common title, which is afcribed to all the poetic annals of his race*. From thefe confiderations we feem authorised finally to conclude, that the Offian of Macpherson and Smith is a mutilated compilation from Highland fongs, afcribed indeed to that bard, yet very little likely to be his compofition. Out of thefe they felected the best parts, and rejected fuch as they thought might difcredit the character of Highland antiquity; attributing them to later times, and the ignorant bards of the fifteenth century. Perhaps even the works of Homer himself, which had fo many different editions, very confiderably varying from each other, were compiled by a fomewhat fimilar procefs from the ancient Greek fongs+. III. Another queftion remains to be confidered: Whether thefe fongs are the compofitions of the Highlands or of Ireland? and, Whether Offian was an Irish or Caledonian Scot? I have already expreffed my opinion, that the fongs in this collection evidently inanifeft a connection with Ireland, though their traditional prefervation in Scotland has fometimes introduced the name of Scotland in its ftead ‡. One of their principal perfonages is St. Patrick, the peculiar Apoftle of Ircond, which alone feems fufficient to inark their ori gin §. If therefore we may reafon from a part to the whole, it is juft to conclude, that all the other fongs preferved in the Highlands relative to the Finga lians are alfo Irith. They are wholly confined to the Western coaft of the Highlands, oppofite Ireland ||, and the very traditions of the country themfelves acknowledge the Fingalians to be originally Irifh. The genealogy of Fingal was there given me as follows: Fion Mac Coul, Mac Trathal, Mac Arfht Riogh Erin, or King of Ireland, thus attributing the origin of his race to the Irish. I am inclined to believe that thefe notions about Fingal were common to the Scots in the most ancient times, and brought by them from Ireland to Scotland, the hereditary fuperftition of both races; for, notwithstanding it may appear moft probable that Ireland fhould receive colonies from See hereafter, p. 665. + See Mr. Raípe's ingenious Remarks on Offian in his German tranflation of it, Blackwell's Life of Homer, &c. We have heard of a very curious MS. of Homer, ditcovered at Venice, containing the various readings of all the different editions. I fincerely with the rumour may not prove fallacious. See pp. 34, 369, 489, 491, and 590. The Scotch indeed lay claim to the birth of St. Patrick, and boaft alfo his burial-place. Camden, edit. Gibfon, 1695, PP. 921, 1014. And fo alfo do the Britons, ib. p. 631, 1014; but his life and miracles all agree to attribute to Ireland, See Gent. Mag. vol. LII. p. 570. Scots Scotland than the contrary, we have dire& hiftoric evidences that Scotland received them from Ireland; and no bare theoretic probability, deferves to be oppofed to the pofitive affertions of history. With regard to the Erfe manufer pts, about which fo much has been faid; it becomes me to acknowledge, that I have never feen enough of them, to give any decided opinion: those which I have feen, induce me to think, they principally owe their exiftence to Ircland. I fhall not repeat what others have faid, to prove the Fingalians Irish: though the connection of Fingal with Ireland, has been already warmly afferted +. But an unnoticed though curious paffage in Camden affords us the most remarkable, and perhaps the most convincing, proof that Fingal is an Irish Hero, which demonftrates at leaft, that he was indifputably claimed by the Irifh, two hundred years ago. It is contained in an extract, made by Camden, from an account of the manners of the native Irish; written by one Good, a fchoolmaster at Limerick, in 1566, "They think," fays he, fpeaking of Ireland and its inhabitants, "the fouls of the deceafed are in communion "with famous men of those places, of whom they retain many ftories and "fonnets as of the Giants Fin-Mac, Huyle, Ofker Mac-Ofshin, or Of"fhin-Mac-Owim, and they fay thro "illufion that they often fee them." IV. The very material importance of this curious paffage, with relation to the *Sec. 399. prefent fubject, it is unneceffary to urges for every eye muft fee it. We alfo obtain from it new information in respect to the laft part of the History of Fingal and his Heroes: as it enables us to determine who they were, with a precision which muft otherwise have been wanting, to complete thefe remarks on the Highland fongs. The fingular agreement of this paffage with the accounts of Offian which were taught me in Scotland, and which I have already inferted in your Maga zine, is worthy particular remark: it confirms them even in the most novel and peculiar inftances. I have already given many reafons for believing that the Fingalians aic generally regarded as Giants; but this is no novel idea : the most remarkable concurrence is in the mythologic character attributed by both to Fingal, Ofcar, and Oilian. I have before remarked, that Mac Nab defcribed Fingal as the Odin of the Scots; and that the fong called Urnigh Offian | evidently fpeaks of him as, fuch. This curious paffage reprefents him exactly in the fame character; a Hero with whom the fpirits of the deceafed are in communion, who is their Chieftain, and the Lord of their Feafts. The Gods of all the Northern Nations feem to have been of this clafs: migh ty Heroes, cftecmed once to have been invincible on earth, though perhaps not ever strictly men, nor yet conftantly re garded as Giants. Such are Odin, Thor, and the other Teutonic Gods **; fuch are Fingal, Ofcar, and the reft of the Fingalians among the ancient Scots ++ Such alfo are Hercules, Bac + See Shaw's Enquiry into the Truth of Offian, edit. sec p. 37, cum append. &c; O'Flaherty's Hif.of Ireland, &c. &c. Camden, edit. Gibfon, 6195, p. 1048, Of the ancient and modern customs of Ireland.-In this edition the Giants are called Fin-Mac- Huyle and Ofshin-Mac-Owim; In the 8vo edition by Bifop in 1630, and the correct fol. edition of 1607, by Bishop alla, they are called FinMac Huyle and Öfker-Mac-Ofshin: I have inferted both above, as both frongly relate to my fubject. In the late English Edition of 1772 it is Ofshin-Mac-Othin. Fin-Mac-Huyle is the fame with Fion-Mac-Coul, fee vol. LII. p. 570.-Camden in the fame place, p. 1046, informs us, from Good, that to fwear By the Hand of any Chieftain is one of the molt facred oaths among the Irish; this very oath is found in the poem called Offian agus an Cle rich, v. 19, fee before, p. 35. § See above, p. 400, note the gigantic Bear; alfo pp. 143, 490, and 590, &c. Irish tradition fays, that Finga!, finding the ftride too great from ireland quite to Scotland, flung a handful of earth our of the county of Down into the middle fea, for a stepping place, which formed the Isle of Man. Our many fimilar ftories of Giants are perhaps more anglest than is generally imagined. See Mag. for June laft, p. 490; and the Urnigh Offian paffim. **The Weird Sifters of thefe nations were regarded in like manner as beings little fuperior to witches. ++ As Hengift, Horfa, and the other Saxon Chiefs, derived their pedigree from Odin, so the Campbelis, &c. derive their's from Dermid and the rest of the Fingalians. See above, p. 7.12-144. 5 chus, shus, and even Jupiter himself, with all his fons and daughters, among the original Greeks; a people who agreed in many particulars with our own anceftors in Northern Europe. The notions entertained about ghofts, as an intermediate order of beings between men and divinities, endowed with fome fhare of power to do evil, is alfo remarkably congruous with this mythology. As Fingal was a divine Hero, fo Offian feems to have been a divine Bard. Some of the Gods of the Teutons were Bards in like manner: the God Niord and his wife Skada quarrelled in elegant verfe of their own compofition; and Odin is the relator of his own Edda t. Apollo, the poetic deity of Greece, likewife fung the hiftory of his fellow-deities to men on earth, as well as Orpheus his font. The Bards and traditional prefervers of fongs in Scot land and Ireland have ever been fond of afcribing all ancient poems to this Ollian, and especially those relating to his own race; and from this caufe, the poems afcribed to Offan are become fo voluminous §. The ancient Egyptians had a fimilar cuftoin of afcribing their works to Hermes : οι ημέτεροι προξύνοι τα φύλων της σοφίας ευρημαία αύλω ανελισθεσεν ερμην παια τα οικεία σε Γγραμματα εποιο paons, fays Jamblichus, S. 1. c. 1, which rendered the Hermetic writings equally voluminous. The Egyptians, who poffeffed the art of writing, depo. fited their works in the adyta of their temples; as the Arabians depofited their poems of old in the Temple of Mecca: but because the Egyptians affixed to them no author's name, except that of Hermes; to him, as to the Scottish Offian, almost all the national literature was attributed by religious flattery. I fincerely with, that fome gentleman poffeffed of adequate abilitics and acquaintance with the Erfe language, would undertake to collect thefe Off anic fongs in their fimple original ftate, as they undoubtedly contain much cuious knowledge, accumulated in the Various ages. through which they have defcended to us, and would probably afford much new information on fubjets at prefent very ill understood. I own, however, that I fhould rather chufe to feek for them in Ireland than in Scotland: but neither country fhould be unexplored. AFTER having thus freely, though I hope not uncandidly, delivered my fentiments on the Ofan of Mr. Macpherfon, it becoines me to acknowledge myfelf deeply indebted to it for the pleafure in perufal it has frequently af forded me. I am willing, and indeed happy, thus publickly to declare myself a warm admirer of it as a literary com pofition. The novelty of its manner, of its ideas, and of the objects it defcribes, added to the ftrength and brilliancy of genius which frequently arpears in it, have enabled me to read it with more delight, and to return to it more frequently, than almost any other work of modern times. And, let it be regarded in what light it may, the praife of elegant felection and compofition certainly belongs to its editor. If I had not entertained thefe opinions of its merit, I fhould never have taken fo much pains to inveftigate its authenticity; nor indeed can I believe, if the general opinion had not concurred with mine, that the world would ever have wafted fo much time in difputing about it. I cannot conclude without confeffing the obligation I am under to the inhawith which I was received by them, bitants of Scotland for the hofpitality though a perfect flanger to much the greater part of thofe who conferred fuch civilities upon me. If the Highlands are not diftinguithed for their fertility, their wealth, or the abundance of the elegancies of life, they are at leaft confpicuous for the gencious friend thip of the inhabitants, and forthe performance of that benevolent Chriftian injunction, Be not forgetful to entertain the franger. Such a reception neceffarily induced me to think the best I could of their coun try, though it does not feem to have have paffed through it before me. I produced this effect upon fome who was indeed too fond of truth to fhut my eyes against conviction; but I came its beft point of view, although not anx away defirous to confider Scotland in ious to believe in fecond fight. Yours, &c. THO. F. HILL. Ely Place, July 10. * Edda, fab. 12, from Mallet's North. Antiq. Eng. tranf. edit. 1770, vol. II. pp. 71, 309, fab. 13. Virg. Eclog. VI. v. 82, 83. GENT. MAG. Auguy, 1783. + Ib. pp. 3, 6, 82. § See befor, p. 63. |