Ossian 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. 11
burgh. I cannot but look upon all of them as my
friends. I am.
Yours fmcerely,
David Hume.
Gth Oaoher 1763.
I depart hence in eight days.
It is flattering to the Committee, that the line of
condud here chalked out for the Dodlor by his il-
luftrious friend, is not diffimilar to that which, with-
out the advantage of knowing Mr Hume's advice to
Dr Blair, the Committee followed, when it publifh-
ed and circulated the fet of queries, of which a
copy is given above.
Dr Blair, whether in purfuance of Mr Hume's
advice, or from his own previous determination on.
the fubjeft, procured from a variety of correfpon-
dents, chiefly clergymen in the Highlands, letters,
fetting forth what they knew or believed with regard
to this matter. Thefe letters one of Dr Blair's exe-
cutors has been fo obliging as to put into the hands
of the Committee, and the mofl material of them
will be found in the Appendix, NO. I. Among
thofe, the Committee recommends to the attention
of the Society the letter from Sir James M'Donald,
(a name of the highefl: authority in any literary
qucflion), App. p. 3. ; thofe from Dr John Mac-
pherfon, App. p. 5. & 9. ; and that from Mr An-
gus M'Neill, miniiler of Hopemore, App. p. 18.
Several individuals of the Committee, as well as
other members of the Society who occafionally at-
tended