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.
original Gaelic prefixed, firft in the Gentleman's
Magazine, and afterwards in a fmall pamphlet. He
fubjoined remarks of his own upon the queftion,
much agitated at the time, of the genuinenefs of
Macpherfon's Fingal, and on the general nature of
Gaelic poetry. Thefe remarks are written in gene-
ral with candour and impartiality, and with confi-
derable acutenefs, as far as the author's limited in-
formation enabled him to judge of the fubjecl : but
it were unreafonable to expect, from the imperfect
materials furnifhed by a defultory tour in the High-
lands, made by a perfon ignorant of the language, as
well as of the manners of the country, a very fatisfec-
tory difcuffion of queflions, on which a well inform-
ed judgment can only be the refult of laborious in-
quiry, and the examination of many documents, not
more difficult to procure, than to read or underftand
when procured. This remark might perhaps be ap-
plied, in a more or lefs confiderable degree, to raoft
of the writers on the fubjeci, and to none more,
juflly than to the moft celebrated of the number, Dr
Samuel Johnson *. — But the Committee, as it let out
with
* Dr Johnfon's powers have been varioufly rated, and feldom
perhaps with impartiality oa either iide. Men, like children,
may be fpoiled by the partiality and indulgence of their fami-
lies and friends. The literary fociety of London was, in fome
fort, the family of Johnfon, who poflefTed a mind and difpofi-
tions which did r.ot require adulation to call forth his powers, or
to confirm his felf-confidence. Foreigners judged of him more
impartially ; except when, from an oppolition which men are apt
o indulge to extravagant panegyric, they undervalued what his
D g countrymen