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

42 REPORT ON JHE
and the fubterranean excavations, which are of the
greateft magnitude.
If the tender feelings, the chafte and delicate fen-
timents, the ftriking appearances of the face and
works of nature, under a vaft variety of viciffitudes,
which abound in Oflian, give offence, and create in-
credulity concerning him, one need not be at a lofs
to make a large collection of fuch from bards in
our own days, v/hofe geniufes were not cultivated
by education, and who were ftrangers to the bene^
fits of improved fociety.
If I had not the benefit of education, were Of-
fian and Virgil named, I would declare my belief in
the one, and would be excufed for being fiient as to
the other.
Had Mr Laing been born and bred in the High»
lands fixty years ago, I am perfuaded he would
think and judge concerning Offian as I do, and
would be mod happy at having his early prepoffef-
fions immoveably eftabliflied, by feeing the manu-
fcripts to which I referred in my former correfpon-
dence with the Highland Society.
It is partly owing to my infirm ftate of health,
tliat what I now give you, at the requeft of the So-
ciety, communicated by Dr Kemp, was fo long de-
layed. I ufe the freedom to write to him, and beg
to be excufed for ufing a borrowed hand.
Mr Macpherfon could not make his Highland
tour earlier than the 60, for the reafons formerly
given.
The