Ossian and the American War of Independence: American Th emes in James Macpherson’s Political Writings

The subject of this study encompasses the political works of James Macpherson (1736–1796), which, in contrast to his Poems of Ossian, have not yet been examined by specialists in either Russia or other countries. The objective of this article is to ascertain the system of Macpherson’s political views, primarily expressed in his interpretation of the American Revolution of the late 18th century. The study draws upon a set of Macpherson’s pamphlets, which were written during the American War of Independence and serve as the primary source material for the investigation. These are complemented by the British press of the same period, thus enabling the analysis of the pamphleteering to be situated within the broader context of anti-American propaganda during the War of Independence. Thomas Jeff erson’s papers, which were the primary focus of Macpherson’s criticism, have also been consulted. The pamphlets have been considered both as theoretical works, partly anticipating Edmund Burke’s conservatism, and as a model of propaganda. The author examines the image of America created by Macpherson, the techniques of its negativization, and its connection with the existing literary tradition, in particular with the narratives of Indian captivity, which at that time constituted a separate literary genre. The image in question was constructed on the basis of persistent motifs such as “ingratitude”, “cruelty”, and “savagery”, which were partly transferred to the Continental Congress as an organ of revolutionary power, and partly to the American populace. Furthermore, Macpherson’s assessment of America’s military potential was extremely low. The propagandist developed British propaganda clichés about the cowardice of American soldiers, allegedly capable of winning victories only with the help of cunning or surprise. This image was juxtaposed with the bravery and discipline of British soldiers, although Macpherson raised questions regarding the professional competencies of certain British Whig military leaders as part of his critique of the opposition. Macpherson’s theoretical constructions are based on the denial of the key Enlightenment ideas, which formed the basis of modern constitutionalism, such as popular sovereignty, separation and limitation of power. The conclusion drawn therein asserts the efficacy of the British propaganda narrative. Additionally, Macpherson’s literary connections with America and the reception of his Poems of Ossian by Americans of the 18th century are considered.