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woman whom I had seen in the shop； and who took care of his house；
was a relation of his wife； that though he had always been
attentive to business； he had never abandoned study； that he had
mastered his own language； of which he was passionately fond； and
had acquired a good knowledge of English and of some other
languages。 That his fondness for literature had shortly after his
arrival at Llangollen attracted the notice of some of the people；
who encouraged him in his studies； and assisted him by giving him
books； that the two celebrated ladies of Llangollen had
particularly noticed him； that he held the situation of church
clerk for upwards of forty years； and that it was chiefly owing to
the recommendation of the 〃great ladies〃 that he had obtained it。
He then added with a sigh； that about ten years ago he was obliged
to give it up； owing to something the matter with his eyesight；
which prevented him from reading； and； that his being obliged to
give it up was a source of bitter grief to him； as he had always
considered it a high honour to be permitted to assist in the
service of the Church of England； in the principles of which he had
been bred； and in whose doctrines he firmly believed。
Here shaking him by the hand； I said that I too had been bred up in
the principles of the Church of England； that I too firmly believed
in its doctrines； and would maintain with my blood； if necessary；
that there was not such another church in the world。
〃So would I；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃where is there a church in
whose liturgy there is so much Scripture as in that of the Church
of England？〃
〃Pity；〃 said I； 〃that so many traitors have lately sprung up in its
ministry。〃
〃If it be so；〃 said the old church clerk； 〃they have not yet shown
themselves in the pulpit at Llangollen。 All the clergymen who have
held the living in my time have been excellent。 The present
incumbent is a model of a Church…of…England clergyman。 Oh； how I
regret that the state of my eyes prevents me from officiating as
clerk beneath him。〃
I told him that I should never from the appearance of his eyes have
imagined that they were not excellent ones。
〃I can see to walk about with them； and to distinguish objects；〃
said the old gentleman； 〃but see to read with them I cannot。 Even
with the help of the most powerful glasses I cannot distinguish a
letter。 I believe I strained my eyes at a very early age； when
striving to read at night by the glimmer of the turf fire in my
poor mother's chimney corner。 Oh what an affliction is this state
of my eyes！ I can't turn my books to any account； nor read the
newspapers； but I repeat that I chiefly lament it because it
prevents me from officiating as under…preacher。〃
He showed me his books。 Seeing amongst them 〃The Fables of
Yriarte〃 in Spanish； I asked how they came into his possession。
〃They were presented to me；〃 said he； 〃by one of the ladies of
Llangollen； Lady Eleanor Butler。〃
〃Have you ever read them？〃 said I。
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I do not understand a word of Spanish； but I
suppose her ladyship； knowing I was fond of languages； thought that
I might one day set about learning Spanish； and that then they
might be useful to me。〃
He then asked me if I knew Spanish； and on my telling him that I
had some knowledge of that language； he asked me to translate some
of the fables。 I translated two of them； which pleased him much。
I then asked if he had ever heard of a collection of Welsh fables
compiled about the year thirteen hundred。 He said that he had not；
and inquired whether they had ever been printed。 I told him that
some had appeared in the old Welsh magazine called 〃The Greal。〃
〃I wish you would repeat one of them；〃 said the old clerk。
〃Here is one；〃 said I； 〃which particularly struck me：…
〃It is the custom of the eagle； when his young are sufficiently
old； to raise them up above his nest in the direction of the sun；
and the bird which has strength enough of eye to look right in the
direction of the sun； he keeps and nourishes； but the one which has
not； he casts down into the gulf to its destruction。 So does the
Lord deal with His children in the Catholic Church Militant： those
whom He sees worthy to serve Him in godliness and spiritual
goodness He keeps with Him and nourishes； but those who are not
worthy from being addicted to earthly things； He casts out into
utter darkness； where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth。〃
The old gentleman； after a moment's reflection； said it was a
clever fable； but an unpleasant one。 It was hard for poor birds to
be flung into a gulf； for not having power of eye sufficient to
look full in the face of the sun； and likewise hard that poor human
creatures should be lost for ever； for not doing that which they
had no power to do。
〃Perhaps；〃 said I； 〃the eagle does not deal with his chicks； or the
Lord with His creatures as the fable represents。〃
〃Let us hope at any rate；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃that the Lord
does not。〃
〃Have you ever seen this book？〃 said he； and put Smith's 〃Sean
Dana〃 into my hand。
〃Oh； yes；〃 said I； 〃and have gone through it。 It contains poems in
the Gaelic language by Oisin and others； collected in the
Highlands。 I went through it a long time ago with great attention。
Some of the poems are wonderfully beautiful。〃
〃They are so；〃 said the old clerk。 〃I too have gone through the
book； it was presented to me a great many years ago by a lady to
whom I gave some lessons in the Welsh language。 I went through it
with the assistance of a Gaelic grammar and dictionary； which she
also presented to me； and I was struck with the high tone of the
poetry。〃
〃This collection is valuable indeed；〃 said I； 〃it contains poems；
which not only possess the highest merit； but serve to confirm the
authenticity of the poems of Ossian； published by Macpherson； so
often called in question。 All the pieces here attributed to Ossian
are written in the same metre； tone； and spirit； as those
attributed to him in the other collection； so if Macpherson's
Ossianic poems； which he said were collected by him in the
Highlands； are forgeries； Smith's Ossianic poems； which； according
to his account； were also collected in the Highlands； must be also
forged； and have been imitated from those published by the other。
Now as it is well known that Smith did not possess sufficient
poetic power to produce any imitation of Macpherson's Ossian； with
a tenth part the merit which the 〃Sean Dana〃 possess； and that even
if he had possessed it； his principles would not have allowed him
to attempt to deceive the world by imposing forgeries upon it； as
the authentic poems of another； he being a highly respectable
clergyman； the necessary conclusion is that the Ossianic poems
which both published are genuine； and collected in the manner in
which both stated they were。〃
After a little more discourse about Ossian； the old gentleman asked
me if there was any good modern Gaelic poetry。 〃None very modern；〃
said I： 〃the last great poets of the Gael were Macintyre and