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

2S REPORT £)N THB
he informed them he knew to exift there, and of
which fome of the fragments already publifhed were
fmall detached parts. He particularly mentioned a
poem of an epic form, of confiderable length, on
the fubject of the wars of the renowned Fion, or
Fingal, (a name familiar to every ear in the remote
parts of the Highlands), which he thought might
be collected entire *. Under this patronage he per-
formed his literary journey in 1760, tranfmitting
from time to time to the fubfcribers, and to others
whofe friendfhip was interefted in his fuccefs, ac-
counts of his progrefs, and of the poems he had
been able to collect.. The diftricis through which
he travelled were chiefly the north -weft parts of In-
vernefsfhire, the Ifle of Sky, and fome of the ad-
joining ifiands ; places, from their remotenefs and
itate of manners at that period, mod likely to afford,
In a pure and genuine ftate, the ancient traditionary
tales and poems, of which the recital then formed,
as the Committee has before dated, the favourite
amuiement of the long and idle winter evenings of
the Highlanders. On his return, he palled fome
time
• letters if Drs Blair, Fergufon and Carlifle, and of
Mr Home, above referred to, App. No. 4; and alfo thofe of
Mr Macpherfon to Mr M'Laggan, in the Appendix, No. 10;
in one of which, particular mention is made of his hopes of rc-
an entire poem, of the epic kind, on the wars of Fingal ;
and alfp of another circumftance, which has iince been frequent-
ly matter of doubt and difcufiion, namely, his haying procured
JUSS. in the courfe of his tour.