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. 15
had occafion to inquire into fuch fubjefts, under
fuch difad vantages, with an anxiety perfectly to un-
derftand, and fcrupuloufly to report the meaning of
their correfpondents.
In conducting this inquiry, the Committee wifhed
to be guided not only by the ftricteft impartiality,
but by a feeling of fcrupulous delicacy towards every
perfon whofe name or character was in any de-
gree implicated in the fubject. The Committee
wifhed to conduct its inquiries, and to frame its re-
port, in a manner as impersonal as poffible. It has
been, however, under the abfolute neceffity of men-
tioning the names of fome individuals, and of pro-
ducing fome documents relative to the character and
difpofition, as well as the fituation of Mr James Mac-
pherfon, and of a few other perfons intimately con-
nected with the matter of its inveftigation. The Com-
mittee hopes, that in fuch unavoidable notice of indivi-
duals, it has obferved every poffible delicacy. The
Committee feels it a duty to fpeak of every one, with
moderation and with diffidence, but efpecially of
thofe who are no more ; although " de mortuis nil
nifi bonum" is a falfe maxim in criticifm, as well as
in hiftory ; yet it is fafe, as well as candid, to fpeak
with caution of the actions and motives of thofe who
cannot now be queflioned as to their actions or mo-
tives ; who cannot now explain what is doubtful, or
account for what feems contradictory.
' The Committee prefumes it may aflume as uAdif-
puted, that a traditionary hiftory of a great hero or
chief, called Fion, Fion na Gael, or, as it is modern-
ised