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

POEMS OF OSSIAN. 15
had occafion to inquire into fuch fubjecls, under
fuch difad vantages, with an anxiety perfedlly to un-
derftand, and fcrupuloufly to report the meaning of
their correfpondents.
In conducting this inquiry, the Committee wifhed
to be guided not only by the ftri6lefl impartiality,
but by a fcehng of fcrupulous delicacy towards every
perfon whofe name or character was in any de-
gree implicated in the fubjed. The Committee
wifhed to condudt its inquiries, and to frame its re-
port, in a manner as impersonal as poflible. It has
been, however, under the abfolute neceflity of men-
tioning the names of fome individuals, and of pro-
ducing fome documents relative to the charader and
difpofition, as well as the fituation of Mr James Mac-
pherfon, and of a few other perfons intimately con-
ceded with the matter of its inveftigation. The Com-
mittee hopes, that in fuch unavoidable notice of indivi-
duals, it has obfen^ed every poflible delicacy. The
Committee feels it a duty to fpeak of every one with
moderation and with diffidence, but efpecially of
thofe who are no more ; although '' de mortuis nil
nifi bonum'* is a falfe maxim in criticifm, as well as
in hiftory ; yet it is fafe, as well as candid, to fpeak
with caution of the actions and motives of thofe who
cannot now be quellioned as to their adions or mo-
tives ; who cannot now explain what is doubtful, or
account for what feems contradidtory.
The Committee prefumes it may affume as undif-
puted, that a traditionary hiftory of a great hero or
chief, called FioUj Fion ?ia Gael, or, as it is modern-
ized