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. 8?
produce the book which Mr Macpherfon feemed de-
firous to confign to oblivion. Having arraigned
Macpherfon at the bar of the public, as one of the
firft literary impoftors in modern times, I have im-
pofed an oppofite obligation on his friends to vindi-
cate and refcue his memory, if they can, from the
imputation of forgery ; after which no reafon can
be affigned for withholding the book, but that it
would ferve for his conviction. Such is the plain
ftate of the fact ; and if his friends are not at liberty
to produce the book, the only circumftance that
could fuppofe an obligation to fupprefs it, is, thai it
would ferve for his detection. Very pombly it con-
tains nothing to the purpoie ; but the book would
have been produced long ago, had it afforded a fin-
gle proof of the authenticity of Oman ; and, in the
impartial publications of the Highland Society, no
part of the evidence mould appear to be fuppreffed.
I do not mean by this, that the book itfelf mould
be publifhed, but that it mould be tranfmitted to the
Highland Society for public inflection ; otherwife
I mull conclude that a part of the evidence, the mod
injurious to Macpherfon, has been withheld by his
friends. I am, my Lord, with refpect and efteem,
■your Lordfhip's mod obedient humble fervant,
Malcolm Laing.'
Queen Street,
mth March 1802.
F 4 < Sir»