Printer’s copy of the text of Sir John Sinclair’s ‘Poems of Ossian in the original Gaelic’, the Gaelic and Latin each divided into three volumes as printed.
Scope and Contents
The Gaelic text is in the hand of the Reverend Dr Thomas Ross of Lochbroom (1768-1843), then a tutor in Edinburgh. It is his adaptation (into the orthography of the Gaelic Bible) of the manuscripts left by James Macpherson in 1796 as the ‘originals’ of his ‘translations’ of Ossian’s poems. These were written partly by Macpherson, partly by another hand (Adv.MSS.72.3.11, folio 50 verso; 72.3.13, folio 80 recto). They are now lost. Sinclair describes the circumstances of the work in ‘Poems of Ossian in the original Gaelic’, volume 1, page xcii.
The Latin text is largely the work of Robert Macfarlan, A.M., schoolmaster at Walthamstow. Macfarlan was killed by a coach in August 1804 (Adv.MS.73.2.24, folio 90), so some extra sheets were added in another hand; one such includes an accompanying letter, Colin Macrae to William Bulmer, dated 30 October 1804 (Adv.MS.73.4.4, folio 19).
Folio 1 of each is a title-page added by Sinclair, notes in whose hand appear at Adv.MS.73.4.1, folios 2, 7; Adv.MS.73.4.2, folio 24; and Adv.MS.73.4.4, folio 44.
Dates
- Creation: [Circa 1798.]
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
6 Volumes
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Custodial History
The manuscripts were presented by Sir John Sinclair to the Advocates’ Library on 9 June 1823 (cf. Adv.MS.73.2.14, folio 182; Adv.MS.73.2.27, folio 7), but were lost sight of until 1965.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Bibliography
Sinclair, John, Sir. ‘Poems of Ossian in the original Gaelic, with a literal translation into Latin’ (London, 1807).
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk