The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [301]
‘Jan. 28, 1775.’ ‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘MR. BOSWELL to DR. JOHNSON
‘Edinburgh, Feb. 2, 1775.
‘… As to Macpherson, I am anxious to have from yourself a full and pointed account of what has passed between you and him. It is confidently told here, that before your book came out he sent to you, to let you know that he understood you meant to deny the authenticity of Ossian’s poems; that the originals were in his possession; that you might have inspection of them, and might take the evidenceof people skilledinthe Erse language; and thathe hoped, after this fair offer, you would not be so uncandid as to assert that hehad refused reasonable proof. That you paid no regard to his message, but published your strong attack upon him; that then he wrote a letter to you, in such terms as he thought suited to one who had not acted as a man of veracity. You may believe it gives me pain to hear your conduct represented as unfavourable, while I can only deny what is said, on the ground that your character refutes it, without having any information to oppose. Let me, I beg it of you, be furnished with a sufficient answer to any calumny upon this occasion.
‘Lord Hailes writes to me, (for we correspond more than we talk together,) “As to Fingal, I see a controversy arising, and purpose to keep out of its way. There is no doubt that I might mention some circumstances; but I do not choose to commit them to paper.” What his opinion is, I do not know. He says, “I am singularly obliged to Dr. Johnson for his accurate and useful criticisms. Had he given some strictures on the general plan of the work, it would have added much to his favours.” He is charmed with your verses on Inchkenneth, says they are very elegant, but bids me tell you he doubts whether
“Legitimas faciunt pectora pura preces” 422
be according to the rubrick: but that is your concern; for, you know, he is a Presbyterian.’…
ToDr. Lawrence.a
‘SIR, ‘Feb. 7, 1775.
‘One of the Scotch physicians is now prosecuting a corporation that in some publick instrument have stiled him Doctor of Medicine instead of Physician. Boswell desires, being advocate for the corporation, to know whether Doctor of Medicine is not a legitimate title, and whether it may be considered as a disadvantageous distinction. I am to write to-night; be pleased to tell me. I am, Sir, your most, &c,
‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
‘MY DEAR BOSWELL, – I am surprized that, knowing as you do the disposition of your countrymen to tell lies in favour of each other,b you can be at all affected by any reports that circulate among them. Macpherson never in his life offered me the sight of any original or of any evidence of any kind; but thought only of intimidating me by noise and threats, till my last answer, – that I would not be deterred from detecting what I thought a cheat, by the menaces of a ruffian – put an end to our correspondence.
‘The state of the question is this. He, and Dr. Blair, whom I consider as deceived, say, that he copied the poem from old manuscripts. His copies, if he had them, and I believe him to have none, are nothing. Where are the manuscripts? They can be shewn if they exist, but they were never shewn. De non existentibus et non apparentibus, says our law, eadem est ratio.423 No man has a claim to credit upon his own word, when better evidence, if he had it, may be easily produced. But, so far as we can find, the Erse language was never written till very lately for the purposes of religion. A nation that cannot write, or a language that was never written, has no manuscripts.
‘But whatever he has, he never offered to show. If old manuscripts should now be mentioned, I should, unless there were more