The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-06-29
LECTURES AND LITERATURE.
The Language and Literature Of Ireland.

BY T. O'NEILL RUSSELL.

est interest and controversy in the literary world We of the
generation hardly conceive the intense excitement
that their first publication gave rise to- When they first
light Celtic affairs in far gloomy state than at
Ireland be sure, tranquil but the fierce srug
gle of the Petende had just been crushed Staid English
maids and matrons had just recovered from the fright into
which they had been thrown by the pparon of syenhou
sand Hghlanders cutting their way to the
heart of England. Celt Highlander the same
stench in the nosrs' of the loyal people that Fenian is
in the ofacories of Westend cockneys and dgnares
of the Catholic Church. The old game of ruin first and vify
AFTER which England has been playing for centuries was of
adopted for giving the final blow the Celtic
Let silly imagine that the English children
of Dr. Johnson's dressed in Highland costume
sported Gengary bonnets The sight of TARTAN even
unedged urchn would have made cockneys soul sick Now
however, it is different for the poor Highlander is power
less he is conempbe and has been either civilized of
existence degraded that he thinks it honor to boast
that his country contains palace which the Queen
degn nhab, although very likely that palace and its
huge game occupy the place where his
clan had existed for centuries and the tracts of whose cot
he sumbes time he goes henchman
| royal cur to whom grouse are far dearer than
The publication of the poems of Ossian took the English
literary world completely aback They the first and only
evidence of Celtic civilization that the then existing generation
of Engshmen had In spite of their crudenes and
the doned groundwork argument of these poem they
to the English public that their from the
first appearance was Marked and they seemed to have ire
ssble attractions for readers of every Edition after
edition struck off, and the cry still for Lera-
those days. should be remembered hardly
paying employment and eminent authors of the last century
exc out miserable existence in garres and
get full meal week from their "patron" DR.. john
passed half his life like this depending the charity Of
Lord-compared to which, keno playing "brusng"
would be- humble opinion respectable avocatons But
MCPHERSON the unknown Highland YOUTH seemed about real
izng fortune the occupation at which Goldsmith be-
pauper johnson chur and Dryden skeleton Every
talked Ossan and the interest tend increased
when announced that the English translation entirely
failed convey the force and beauty of the Gaelic original
So the press kept busy Ossan still increasing popu
larty and Mcpherson making his fortune But unfor
nately for Mcpherson of poor English Erataus
that starving gre wherever they the chance
devouring broken vctua in nobemans servants hall
began envy the great unknown who had jumped all of
popularity, and better STILL into reserved
some great mems Widespread boards First and foremost
those enve of poor MCPHERSON the renowned
and pory Samuel Johnson The remembrance of all the mis-
cries and broken vctuas the Doctor forced swallow in
days of his hard work and obscur must have embered
his feelings all the he beheld McPhersons fame be-
coming every day greater and greater and learned that
than nobeman eagerly invited him sumptuous dinners
But for the envy of the London literary clique whose head
johnson presided probable Mcpherson would have died
rich and honored and that his forgeres indeed they
really be called such would have been found gen.
Grafton When the cry of forgery raised by John
son abetto the doom of Mcpherson and his Ossan
sealed. He protested against being called swnder and
sgmatized johnson thief that wanted to rob him of his
weearned and legitimate honor johnson retaated by call
ing Mcpherson ruan and have Boswe authority that
the Doctor did actually co. for weeks armed with
stick protect himself from the assaults of the
furious Ce Public opinion began to be excited however,
and those that had been the enthusiastic admirers of Os
oudes in its condemnation when the cry of forgery
raised Meantime the discussion but the sale of
Ossian became small by degrees, until at last book
seller would undertake bring out edition. and McPher
sons original manuscripts did not make their appearance and
the very good that he had manuscripts to show
least such could fairly called the originals from