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

12S REPORT ON THK
have been in a great part received from Kennedy,
The difcrepancies which are found between the two
colletìiions, and the circumftance of parallel paflages
fometimes occurring in poems bearing a different
title in Smith's to that afTigned them by Kennedy,
feem to the Committee to afford an argument rather
for than againft their authenticity, efpecially when
the manner of obtaining thofe poems, from the re-
citation of different perfons, is confidered.
One of the poems collei^ted by Kennedy, entitled
Carril, the Committee has never feen any where elfe.
Though with a fimplicity bordering on rudenefs, it
is extremely ftriking in the Gaelic, but very difficult
to be tranllated. It is given entire in the Appendix,
No. 22. in Kennedy's own orthography, and with
it the preamble or argument with which he accom-
panied the copy he fent to the Committee, alfo lite-
rally given. From the nrfl the Gaelic fcholar may
form an opinion of the colleclion ; from the fecond
-theEnglifli reader may eflimate the Hterary abilities
of the collector.
The Committee cannot in this place avoid remark-
ing, as a circumllance that ftruck it forcibly, and it
is perfuaded muff flrike every impartial inquirer in-
to this fubject, that the colledions of the ancient (or
fuppofed ancient) poetry of the Highlands, by whom-
foever made (or fuppofed to be made), prefent to
the reader pieces of fuch uncommon poetical merit.
Not only Mr Macpherfon, whofe talents and early
turn for poetry are acknowledged, and Dr Smith of
Campbeltown,, whofe learning and literary accom-.
1 plifhmcni?