to a man of a fanguine and fomewhat confident dif pofition like Macpherson, is apt to give a degree of careleffness and prefumption, that would rather command than conciliate the public fuffrage, and, in the fecurity of the world's applaufe, neglects the best means of obtaining it. He thought, it may be, he had only to produce another work like Fingal, to reap the fame advantage and the fame honour which that had procured him; and was rather folicitous to obtain thefe quickly, by a hafty publication, than to deserve them by a careful collection of what original materials he had procured, or by a diligent fearch to fupply the defects of thofe materials.

The Committee fubmits this Report to the Society with confiderable diffidence. It encountered many more difficulties, and was obliged to bestow more labour, than it was at all aware of, when it undertook the investigation committed to it by the Society. That labour has, after all, it is fenfible, effected its purpose in a very imperfect manner; but the Committee's inquiries have at leaft produced fomething which it believes the Society will receive with confiderable intereft, and the public will not read with indifference. One merit it can venture to affume to itself, without fear of contradiction,-perfect impartiality and candour in its researches, and in its

Report.

Report. It has not unfrequently, indeed, withheld evidence, because it did not approach near enough to conviction, and affertion, because it was not founded on evidence, which, on a lefs cautious principle, it might have laid before the Society. But it acted, in this respect, with a jealousy and a circumspection, which it conceived to be due to itself, to the Society, and to truth.

APPENDIX

APPENDIX.

No. I.

LETTERS TO DR. BLAIR.

1. From SIR JOHN MACPHERSON, dated Lauriston,

4th February 1760.

SIR,

I Do myself the pleasure of presenting you with a few specimens of Ossian, in his native dress. I could have drawn out many other pieces of greater length, and of more merit, but the inclosed may satisfy Mr Percy's curiosity; and it is unnecessary to trouble you with more of the original at present, as you can, at any time, command all my collection.

The three pieces which I have selected had each a particular title to regard.

Ossian's courtship of Everallin is a short and entire story. It is a monument of the simplicity and dignity

B

with which the courtships of princes were carried on in the poet's days.

The Address to the Evening Star claimed attention, on account of its inimitable beauty and harmonious versification. The original of this piece suffered even in the hands of Mr Macpherson; though he has shewn himself inferior to no translator. The copy or edition which he had of this poem is very different from mine; I imagine it will, in that respect, be agreeable to Mr Percy. The gentleman who gave it me, copied it from an old MS. which Mr Macpherson had no access to peruse before his Fingal came abroad.

Ullin's War Song will, I hope, give satisfaction, as it is a singular species of poetry, and refers to a very ancient custom. The gentleman who gave me this valuable piece of antiquity, told me, that he had formerly given Mr Macpherson a copy of it at full length.

All that can be said of my translation of these pieces is, that it is extremely literal, and that it was not attempted to imitate the conciseness and strength of the original.

I can likewise assure you, upon my honour, that never received any of these originals from Mr Macpherson, nor took the least assistance from his translation. This was so far from being the case, that after I had done my translation, and compared it with his, I was obliged to reject several proper phrases, only because he had used them.

If you forward these specimens to Mr Percy, he certainly will make the requisite allowances for the difference of copies. Others to whom he will perhaps, shew them, and who are less known to the manner in which our ancient poetry was preserved, shall not be equally candid. But after you have convinced men of the nicest taste in Europe, it would be a mistake in any one to endeavour to convince those who have not the power of believing, or