Macpherson’s considerable influence on Romanticist writers and others (not least in Germany) stemmed from his epic poem ‘Ossian’, now known to have been woven together from fictitious (purportedly 3rd-century) Gaelic fragments. Hume was initially a supporter, helping fund a trip to the Highlands, supposedly to seek more such fragments. Gray liked what he read and wrote to Macpherson; the language of the reply changed his opinion. Johnson, who met and corresponded with Macpherson, scathingly attacked his claimed authenticity; Macpherson threatened him with physical violence, but went quiet when Johnson went public.