170 



but with more rudeness, and in coarser language, assailed the oppo- 

 nents of the poems, and of the system of Scottish history, which their 

 author or translator had attempted to erect. 



As was to be expected, in all such cases, both sides claimed the 

 victory ; but the objections of those who denied the authenticity of 

 the poems, seemed to have more weight with the public, than the 

 arguments of those who contended for their antiquity and originality. 

 In this state of the question, the Highland Society of London came to 

 the resolution of putting an end to the dispute, by announcing its 

 determination to print the "Originals" of the poems; and to 

 prepare the public mind for the reception of those originals, the High- 

 land Society of Scotland appointed a Committee to draw up a " Re- 

 port on the nature and authenticity of the poems of Ossian." 



The Committee appointed by the Highland Society of Scotland, 

 was composed of the most respectable members of that body, and the 

 mode adopted to procure materials for the Report, had at least the 

 appearance of a desire to obtain full information upon a subject so 

 long in dispute, and which had excited so much interest. A set of 

 queries was drawn up and circulated through such parts of the High- 

 lands and islands, and amongst such persons resident there, as seemed 

 most likely to afford the information required. — See the Report, 

 page 2. 



QUERIES. 



The first query asked — Have you ever heard repeated or sung 

 any of the poems ascribed to Ossian, translated and published by 

 Mr. Macpherson ; by whom and when did you hear them so re- 

 peated ; did you commit any of them to writing, or can you remem- 

 ber them so well as to set them down ? 



