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

154' REPORT ON THE
to a man of a fanguine and fomewhat confident, dif-
pofition like Macpherfon, is apt to give a degree of
carelefTnefs and prefumption, that would rather
command than conciliate the public fuffrage, and,
in the fecurity of the world's applaufe, negleils the
beft means of obtaining it. He thought, it may be,
he had only to produce another work like Fingal,
to reap the fame advantage and the fame honour
which that had procured him ; and was rather fo-
licitous to obtain thefe quickly, by a hafly publica-
tion, than to deferve them by a careful colledion of
what original materials he had procured, or by a
diligent fearch to fupply the defe(^s of thofe mate-
rials.
The Committee fubmits this Report to the Society
with confiderable diffidence. It encountered many
more difficulties, and was obliged to beflow more
labour, than it was at all aware of, when it under-
took the inveftigation committed to it by the Socie-
ty. That labour has, after all, it is fennblt?,. effccl:-
ed its purpofe in a very imperfccl mannci"; but the
Committee's inquiries have at leaft produced fome-
thing which it believes the Society will receive with
confiderable intereil, and the public will not read
with indifference. One merit it can venture to af-
fume to.itfelf, without f iar of contradiction,— perfect
impartùil.ity and candour in its refearches, and in its
1^: -■ -. ■' i^eport.