thousands, that would not have given evidence for the miracles of Abbé Paris? The miracle is greater, but not the evidence, with regard to the authenticity of Ossian.
The late President Forbes was a great believer in the second sight; and I make no question but he could, on a month's warning, have overpowered you with evidence in its favour. But as finite added to finite never approaches a hair's breadth nearer to infinite; so a fact incredible in itself, acquires not the smallest accession of probability by the accumulation of testimony.
The only real wonder in the whole affair is, that a person of so fine a taste as Dr. Blair, should be so great an admirer of these productions; and one of so clear and cool a judgment collect evidence of their authenticity.
FOOTNOTES:
[465:1] European Magazine, May, 1784, p. 327.
[468:1] See this observation commented on by Blair, in vol. ii. p. 167.
[468:2] Laing's History, iv. 496. Report of the Highland Society on Ossian's Poems.
[470:1] MS. R.S.E.
[471:1] Laing's History, iv. 500. Report of the Highland Society.