J. F. Campbell Collection > Report of the Committee of the Highland Society of Scotland, appointed to inquire into the nature and authenticity of the poems of Ossian

S REPORT ON THE
pofe ; nothing lefs will fo much as command the at-
tention of the public.
Becket tells me that he is to give us a new edi-
tion of your Differtation, accompanied with fome
remarks on Temora. Here is a favourable opportu-
nity for you to execute this purpofe. You have a
juft and laudable zeal for the credit of thefe poems.
They are, if genuine, one of the greateft curiofities
in all refpecls, that ever was difcovered in the com-
monwealth of letters ; and the child is, in a man-
ner, become yours by adoption, as Macpherfon has
totally abandoned all care of it. Thefe motives call
upon you to exert yourfelf, and I think it were fuit-
able to your candour, and mofl fatisfaclory alfo to
the reader, to publifh all the anfwers to all the let-
ters you write, eyen though fome of thefe letters
Should make fomewhat againfl your own opinion in
this affair. We fliall always be the more allured
that no arguments are flrained beyond their proper
force, and no contrary arguments fuppreffed, where
fuch an entire communication is made to us. Beck-
et joins me heartily in this application ; and he owns
to me, that the believers in the authenticity of the
poems diminifh every day among the men of fenfe
and refledion. Nothing lefs than what I propofe
can throw the balance, on the other fide. I depart
from hence in about three weeks, and fhould be
glad to hear your refolution before that time.
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