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

LETTZR3 TO DR. BLAIR. 5
Li this country to be present when this trial is made ; but
I believe I can entrust it to people who v/iil execute it very
faithfully. I am sorry I have so little leisure to v.riie to
you at present : this will serve only to tell you hov/ little I
can do. I wish heartily it were in my power to do more.
— If any thing occurs to me to be done, before I leave ihe
country, I will acquaint you ; at any rate, I will trouble
you with another letter when I have conversed with people
who can give some assistance in the investigation.
I perceived this scepticism beginning long ago, and fore-
saw the difficulty of answering it. Mr Hume certainly
sees the con e juence of it to the reputation of the poern
in a very righi light ; and it m.ust give great ijleasuxe to any
one connected with this country, to obviate this evil ; but
I have great doubt of such evidences being procured, as
the case requires. Though I can do little, nothing shall be
wantiiig, to fight Ossian's cause, that lies in the power of,
Dear Sir,
Your m.ost obedient,
and most humble ser\'ani .
J. Macdonald.
£,. From Doctor Johk Macpherson, Minister of Sleat,
dated Skat, 1-lth October 17C3.
Dear Sir,
Your letter of September 2Sth came to
hand four days ago. Before I speak to the contents, ycu
will permit me to say, however little that declaration may
signify, that not any one in this part of the world can have
more sensible pleasxire in doing a thing that can afford Dr
Blair any degree of satisfaction. The tcstim.onies I had of
kis benevolence, when last in Edinburgh, give him an un-
doubted right to all the small services in my power,
B3