171 



, The secbnd requires the same answer concerning any other ancient 

 poems of the same kind as those in Mr. Macpherson's collection. 



The third asks, are any of the persons from whom you heard any 

 such poems now alive ; or, are there any persons who remember and 

 can repeat or recite such poems .'* 



The fourth relates to persons from whom Mr. Macpherson re- 

 ceived any poems, what the poems were which he received, the 

 manner in which he received them, and how he wrote them down. It 

 requires that if such persons can be found, Macpherson's translation 

 shall be shewn to them, and that they shall be desired to say if the 

 translation is exact and literal; or, if it differs, to say in what it dif- 

 fers from the poems as they gave them to him, and can now recollect 

 them. '.T 



The fifth requires all the information that can be collected with 

 regard to the traditionary belief in the country concerning Fingal 

 and his followers, and that of Ossian and his poems. 



The sixth, requires such general information as may occur to the 

 person addressed upon the subject. — See Report, page 3. 



Upon this mode adopted by the Highland Society of Scotland, 

 for obtaining information on the subject of these poems, there is one 

 observation to be made, which arises from an assertion in the report 

 itself, viz : that the ancient language of Scotland and Ireland was 

 identically the same, and that the popular stories and poems of each 

 were common to both nations. Now admitting the truth of this 

 assertion in its fullest extent, the question may very fairly be asked, 

 did the Committee go far enough in its inquiries to enable it to decide 

 impartially upon this important question .'' 



The Committee knew that the popular tales and poems were com- 

 mon to both countries, that there existed in Ireland, as well as in 

 ," the Highlands and islands," a number of poems ascribed to Ossian ; 



VOL. XVI. . j:i; oJv. A A 



