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. 87
■produce the book which Mr Macpherfon feemed de-
firous to confign to oblivion. Having arraigned
Macpherfon at the bar of the public, as one of the
firfl: literary impofliors in modern times, I have im-
pofed an oppofite obligation on his friends to vindi-
cate and refcue his memorj^, if they can, from the
imputation of forgery ; after which no reafon can
be affigned for withholding the book, but that it
Avould ferve for his conviftion. Such is the plain
■ftate of the fad ; and if his friends are not at liberty
to produce the book, the only circumftance that
could fuppofe an obligation to fupprefs it, is, that it
would ferve for his deteftion. Very poflibly it con-
tains nothing to the purpofe ; but the -book would
have been produced long ago, had -it afforded a fm-
gle proof of the authenticity of Oflian ; and, in the
impartial publications of the Highland Society, no
part of the evidence fhould appear to be fupprefled.
I do not mean by this, that the bookiitfelf fhould
be publifhed, but that it fhould be tranfmitted to the
Highland Society for public infpeclion ; otherwife
I mufl conclude that a part of .the evidence, the mofl
injurious to Macpherfon, has been withheld by his
friends. I am, my Lord, with refpecl and efleem,
your Lordfhip's mofl obedient humble fervant,
Malcolm Laino.'
Queen Street,
iOtb March 1802.
F 4 * Sir,