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

1*0 REPORT ON THE
poetry of the Highlands, in concert with another
gentleman of equal knowledge in their language,
and with flill better opportunities, from his fitua*
tion, of collecting the befl that remained. Mr Pope's
own account of this propofed undertaking will be
found in a letter to Dr Blair, contained in the Ap-
pendix, NO. 3.
The next collector of Gaelic poetry, in order of
time, was the celebrated James Macpherfon, whofe
tranflations firfl attracted, in any eminent degree,
the notice of the literary world to that fpecies of
compofitiom
Of the manner in wjhich Mr Macpherfon was
firfl induced to tranflate fragments of ancient Gaelic
poetry, and then to colled and publifh the greater
poems, of which fo many editions have been fince
given to the world, the Committee has obtained an
account * from the following gentlemen, well ac-
quainted with the circumflances, the authority of
whofe relation will readily be acknowledged by the
public.
The Reverend Dr Blair,
f Dr Adam Fergufon,
The Reverend Dr Carlifle, an4
Mr Home, author of Douglas.
The
* See Appendix, No. 3.
T Dr Fcrgufon's letter, befides the account of Mr Macpher-
fon, contains the opinion which his own experience had led him
to form on the bufinefs of the Committee.