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Bridgewater Review

Volume 28 | Issue 2 Article 6

Dec-2009 The Great and His Opposition to Literary Liars Thomas M. Curley Bridgewater State College

Recommended Citation Curley, Thomas M. (2009). The Great Samuel Johnson and His Opposition to Literary Liars. Bridgewater Review, 28(2), 7-10. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol28/iss2/6

This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The Great Samuel Johnson and His Opposition to Literary Liars Thomas M. Curley

A close friend said of Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) that When speech is employed as the vehicle of falsehood, “no man had a more scrupulous regard for truth; from every man must disunite himself from others, inhabit which, I verily believe, he would not have deviated to his own cave, and seek prey only for himself.” Because save his life.” No writer angered Johnson more than did we see as through a glass darkly, frauds of any type only (1736–1796) for perpetrating the worsened the already clouded maze of human meaning most successful literary fraud in modern history. with truth-seeming unrealities and consequently weak- Macpherson’s notorious fraud, beginning in the 1760s, ened trust in ourselves and others. involved publishing his own made-up poems as transla- My interest in Johnson the tions of genuine Gaelic writings English truth-teller and in by an ancient Scots Macpherson the Scottish known as . This year literary liar began in gradu- marks the three-hundreth ate school at Harvard anniversary of Johnson’s birth, University and led to some generating celebrations around early articles on the phony the world and warranting here Ossian poems. When many a close look at an episode of years later I turned to prepar- literary lying central to his ing a book for publication by career-long love of truth. My Cambridge University Press, recent book from Cambridge I was surprised to find that University Press, entitled Samuel my youthful scholarship on Johnson, the Ossian Fraud, and the the Ossian fraud had pro- in Great Britain and voked my own mini-contro- Ireland (2009), offers the fullest versy with revisionist aca- investigation of the hoax to demics bent on rehabilitating date and includes a rare pam- Macpherson’s dubious repu- phlet against the Ossian decep- tation and regarding him as tion written with the assistance an important “creative” au- of Johnson himself. thor for his powerful impact Johnson was possibly the great- on the literature of Europe est writer and the greatest heart and the United States. This in . He was development made me redou- certainly England’s greatest ble my efforts during a decade of field moralist, greatest literary critic, research in archives at England, , and and greatest dictionary-maker, Ireland funded by CART grants climaxing in a whose Dictionary of the English Language in 1755 was the Presidential Fellowship at Bridgewater State College, in first professional compilation of our vocabulary crucial conjunction with awards from The National to establishing English as the global lingua franca of Endowment for the Humanities. I undertook a compre- modern times. An essential part of his massive achieve- hensive survey of all Ossian scholarship over the past ment was his passion for truth-telling in literature and 250 years and made a painstaking evaluation of all the life. However difficult, however disturbing, the search made-up Ossian poetry that Macpherson falsely for truth was the prime human necessity for a civilized claimed to have translated faithfully into English. I society and became the principal theme of his writings. compared his spurious English work with authentic As he insisted, “There is no crime more infamous than Gaelic verse, in consultation with Gaelic specialists. the violation of truth. It is apparent that men can be The result of my inquiries reads like a detective novel in social beings no longer than they believe each other.

Bridgewater Review december 2009 7 the great samuel johnson and his opposition to literary liars thomas m. curley The The public response then and into mod What What was the behind ruse? A logical explanation would With With the monumental exception of his Lives of the Readers Readers embraced the Ossianic craze . What follows is the little story known of their works comprising Mr. Mr. Home desired to see them, Mr. Macpherson asked if Early Early in October of 1759, with an introduction from the Macpherson Macpherson as an impostor in public, even at the risk Macpherson Macpherson committed literary Macpherson’s hoax. Johnson’s sense of Shakespeare was Shakespeare debunking E Gaelic-speaking academic, , he Gaelic-speaking talked Gaelic Gaelic studies, and valid national iden Gaelic Contrary toballads. his asser percent of the titles have but generally poems poems and novels, in the grand style of popular melo my book, uncovering layer after layer of sheer fabrica late one of the poems which you a think good one, and I loose loose ties to approximately sixteen literature and are therefore entirely his fabrication. imagine that imagine I be shall able to form some opinion of the iar iar with Gaelic, hungry for fame literary and fortune. be raw ambition lad, a Highland firing somewhat famil the epic seriousness of Dryden’s famous feud. tion. As it turned out, Johnson rightly denounced talism and talism heroicshistorical found in contemporary they were indulging actually in the taste for sentimen tity in Scotland. As Johnson had charged, translator of ancient poetry. He was the tions, Macpherson was no editor or titles—72 titles—72 percent of the all individual by trary some modern scholars. Twenty- the falsity of the believing that believing it offered them genuine in violation of true history, legitimate ing ing in old age after his edition of he understood Gaelic. ‘Not one word.’ ‘Then how can I about old poems with Highland , author of a apparent grounding in genuine Gaelic antique novelty in an dress. English But author of new, largely invented literature show you them?’ ‘Very easily,’ said Mr. Home, ‘trans controversial play, correct, correct, despite professions to the con drama, drama, with the solemnity of BibleEnglish rhetoric and own handiwork. 28 The remaining of being tochallenged a deadly duel on the streets of ern ern times was enthusiastic. Why? eight out of Macpherson’s thirty-nine nglish Poets , Johnson’s most notable undertak literary Ossian Ossian works was —have —have no . According to Home, “When Vergil and Pope’s - - - - Samuel Johnson in Scotland. Homer - - - -

- . - “.” Johnson from the first considered Johnson’s only face-to-face encounter with Macpherson: Johnson replied, ‘Yes, Sir, many men, many women, with with a short, round assertion; but he got off from the who put to several him questions relating to his publica Even worse was his contriving a Gaelic Macpherson Macpherson in 1764 “fell in company with Mr. Johnson, Ossian provoking provoking to they their maintained had admirers, no pher, James noted,Boswell, “Johnson had along all passing it off as the authentic of original his English merit….Dr. [Hugh] Blair [the foremost defender of for genius and character of the Gaelic poetry.’” Let it be ture. ture. It was a demand destined to elicit false assurances beginning of the beginning fraudulent and awful poetry. As his renowned biogra the epics tions: he answered each of Mr. Johnson’s questions and and many children.’” More noteworthy is a record of something something else.” subject as soon as he could; & turned the discourse to of itsSeven timesin being all thefulfilled. noted carefully that Home’s recollection of the very cations to come, of a modern age could have written such poems? denied their authenticity; and, what was morestill faithful English English faithful of genuine Gaelic litera ] asked Dr. Johnson whether he thought any man Fingal as well as Fragments of Ancient Poetry of 1760 and Ossian fraud revolved around a request Temora Together with Several porting his porting hoax. literary on early Scotland sup That That is why Johnson 1763, there are hollow wisely called for wisely called the Macpherson’s fabricat Macpherson’s creation. English. And he English. rightly Other Poems Ossian of Gaelic originals up version published in performed literal trans professions of having most of the lation, when in fact ing ing truth about the made- specious history specious book history substantial Gaelic suspected that no concocting concocting in 1771 a creditable was his it calling true were bad counterparts existed. canon was could decipher the enough. Equally enough. dis Equally Ossian and then Ossian and then so so that experts Ossian publi Ossian in in 1762 and Ossian ------Johnson did not let him off the hook. Famous for rock- True to his surly disposition, he commenced a barely solid integrity, Johnson went to Scotland in 1773 partly civil correspondence with Johnson in the expectation of in search of Ossian’s authenticity. He made public his securing a retraction under the implicit threat of harsh well-taken skepticism in his classic travel book, A retribution. The formal language of a challenge to a duel Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland in 1775: “I sup- comes through clearly, with studied coolness. In such a pose my opinion of the poems of Ossian is already dis- mood on 15 January Macpherson directed Strahan in covered. I believe they never existed in any other form writing to mediate a change to less provocative lan- than that which we have seen. [Macpherson] has guage in the Journey by “that impertinent fellow” and doubtless inserted names that circulate in popular enclosed for Johnson’s possible reading a note, in which stories, and may have translated some wandering bal- the following threat appears under a polite guise: “But I lads, if any can be found; and the names, and some of suppose you will agree with me, that such expressions the images being recollected, make an inaccurate audi- ought not be used by one gentleman to another; and tor imagine, by the help of Caledonian bigotry, that he that whenever they are used, they cannot be passed has formerly heard the whole.” This was correct, even over with impunity. To prevent consequences that may though Johnson elsewhere made many mistakes about be, at once, disagreeable to Dr Johnson and to myself, I the amount, age, and quality of genuine Gaelic verse desire the favour that you will wait upon him, and tell and the durability of oral tradition. The misguided him that I expect he will cancel from his Journey the Scottish defenders of Ossian received Johnson’s rebuke injurious expressions.” He contacted Strahan yet again in the Journey, “A Scotchman must be a very sturdy in an angrier vein, perhaps with growing impatience for moralist, who does not love Scotland better than truth.” some response. Were it not for the need to avoid spoil- Johnson’s criticism provoked a foolish challenge to a ing current publication plans, Macpherson informed duel from hotheaded James Macpherson. Strahan, “I should before this time have traced out the author of this journey, in a very effectual manner. Macpherson was stung to the quick and allowed him- Unless I have a satisfactory answer, I am determined self to be swept up in an embarrassing confrontation (indeed, it is necessary) to bring that business to a con- that has come to rank as “one of the most famous minor clusion before I begin any other.” With this new letter episodes in literary history,” according to the Pulitzer Macpherson submitted an example of the kind of “ad- Prize-winning biographer of Johnson, Walter Jackson vertisement” of apology wanted from Johnson. This Bate. Surprisingly, this celebrated conflict has come ghostwritten advertisement had Johnson denying any under critical fire as mere myth manipulated by sympa- intention to give personal offence and agreeing to the thetic commentators to aggrandize Johnson’s fame and deletion of obnoxious words in a “second impression” of discredit his Scottish foe. The facts of the case, dis- the Journey. On 17 January Strahan promised to extract closed here for the first time, contradict this modern the requested apology from Johnson pronto. misreading of the past. Some time around the Journey’s distribution to booksellers on 13 January 1775 and Of utmost importance, on the next day, 18 January, before the announcement of its publication on 18 Strahan confirmed that Johnson was the first of the January, Macpherson got wind of offending passages, belligerents to take a decisive step for ending the dis- accusing him of insolence, arrogance, and guilt in im- pute: “I have seen Dr Johnson. He declares under his posing a false Ossian on a credulous readership: “The Hand to me, that he meant no personal affront to you, editor, or author, never could shew the original; nor can and we shall take care that exceptionable Words shall it be shewn by any other; to revenge reasonable incredu- be left out in all future Editions, the present ones being lity, by refusing evidence, is a degree of insolence, with already too dispersed to admit of Alteration. He says it which the world is not yet acquainted; and stubborn is not to Temora but to Fingall he makes Objections.” audacity is the last refuge of guilt.” These fighting This previously unknown disclosure of Johnson’s peace- words, taunting Macpherson to do the impossible and making gesture, tantamount to an apology, sheds cru- reveal nonexistent Gaelic originals behind his pretended cial new light on the primary instigator of the dispute, translations, ensured an immediate response at the very once the Journey became public property. The trouble- time when Macpherson planned to publish a two-vol- maker now was not Johnson. If Strahan is to be be- ume history of modern Britain under William Strahan, lieved, Johnson denied that his object was to malign the same London-based Scottish publisher who brought Macpherson, when the principal purpose, after all, was out Johnson’s Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland exposing Ossian. He let it be known that he still doubt- criticizing Ossian. Macpherson’s credibility lay wide ed the largely made-up epic poem, Fingal, but, strictly open to merciless ridicule. speaking, had not inquired about the equally made-up epic, Temora, and therefore could say nothing about it conclusively. In addition, Strahan with Johnson’s

Bridgewater Review december 2009 9 the great samuel johnson and his opposition to literary liars thomas m. curley This acknowledgementThis might have appeased Third, a Third, letter in the National of Library Scotland elabo 1775, he disparaged Macpherson as a “Ruffian,” defined & infirmities debarMr.& M.cinfirmities from the demanding William Duncan: “I was William the bearer…of a letter of chal We do not have the one important notefinal from What What happened when Johnson defiedMacpherson to Journey Johnson.” Second, Johnson bore himself witness to with with the most opprobrious epithets; since the Dr.’s age Macpherson Macpherson causing the explosion. The evidence points Macpherson demanded in a “second impression” of the Macpherson, were it not for Strahan’s failure to fulfil But life is not fair. Macpherson died a rich man, unre Macpherson—I received Macpherson—I your foolish and impudent Macpherson’s me “intimidating by noise and threats.” Satisfaction of a Gentleman, for the impeachment of Species of Conviction with regard to the Authenticity of Nothing. Nothing. He backed down from controversy,further pentantly bequeathing pentantly money bequeathing for a phony Gaelic presumption of make make good his threats and promises of authentification? repel, repel, and what I cannot do for myself the law do will note. Whatever insult is offered me I do will my best to rated on the threats: “Mr. M.cpherson tells the Dr. that lenge [Macpherson] wrote to the late Dr Samuel for me. I not will desist from detecting what I a think fellow; a cut-throat; a robber; a murderer: “Mr. James fool. In his famous letter of defiance on 20, January grab a truncheon and reply by stern letter how well he to an offensive letter of defiance, using againthe style of tion. Strahan seems to have deviously communicated the accommodation. There was only a private assurance future editions. in1807 to authenticate his phony work. English The tion through other writers. To do Johnson justice, his the Poems, at himself he to liberty thinks load the Dr. bargaining on bargaining Strahan’s part. in in his impositions, which Dr. Jn. has on thrown him.” This backing promised backing to excise offensive language in all a challenge to a duel found in Macpherson’s earlier have a sanitized second because printing, it was already advertisement of a removal of offensive words that although he fought a actionnasty rearguard of retalia affront affront caused a man self-respecting Johnson like to after his having obstinately Shut his eyes against any communications to Strahan. There is the testimony of a done to Macpherson’s reputation had no remedy, and an concessions that he could notout. carry The damage on its way into the and beyond altera of Johnson’s non-malicious intent but not the public cheat, from any fear of the menaces of a Ruffian.” could take care of against abusehimself from a lying explosion was inevitable, owing perhaps to bad-faith Dictionary as a brutal, boisterous, mischievous . Even worse, it was impossible for Strahan to Ossian ic fraud stood the test of time. Ossian - - - - - , but the proudearned Englishman

Corner, lies England’s supreme moralist and critic, a proud Scotsman bought a himself siteburial in modern modern history, and on the other side, also in The Poets’ lies lies the foremost practitioner of poetic in falsehood good good and great man who so memorably defended truth in in life and literature. his his resting-place there. On one side of the sanctuary C century literature, most notably nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in biography and winner of the book, book, C urley has published several books and articles on eighteenth- —A —A professor of lished by at Pembroke hoice Outstanding Academic Revival Revival in Great Britain and Ireland (2009), was pub Literature, and Empire in the Age of Johnson (1998), delivered at the international Johnson at 300 Samuel Johnson, the Ossian Fraud, and the Celtic tercentenary of Samuel Johnson’s birth. This article for The The Bridgewater Review is adapted from a paper C ambridge C ollege (Johnson’s college), Oxford E nglish at U niversity Press on the occasion of the B in September of 2009. ridgewater State Sir Sir Robert Chambers: Law, B ook ook Award. His most recent C ollege, Tom C U onference niversity,

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