10 REPORT ON THE
that Noble Lord, at his defire. I believe him a very
good man ; a better man than a politician.
Since writing the above, I have been in company
with Mrs Montague, a lady of great diftin&ion in
this place, and a zealous partizan of Offian. I told
her of your intention, and even ufed the freedom to
read your letter to her. She was extremely pleafed
with your project. ; and the rather, as the Due de
Nivernois, me faid, had talked to her much on that
fubjeci lafl: winter, and defired, if pomble, to get
collected fome proofs of the authenticity of thefe
poems, which he propofed to lay before the Aca-
demie de Belle Lettres at Paris. You fee, then,
that you are upon a great flage in this inquiry, and
that many people have their eyes upon you. This
is a new motive for rendering your proofs as com-
plete as poffible. I cannot conceive any objection
which a man even of the graven: character could
have to your publication of his letters, which will
only atteft a plain fad known to him. Such fcru-
ples, if they occur, you mull endeavour to remove j
for on this trial of yours will the judgment of the
public finally depend.
Lord Bath, who was in the company, agreed
with me, that fuch documents of authenticity are
entirely neceflary and indifpenfable.
Pleafe to write to me as foon as you make any
advances, that I may have fomething to fay on this
fubjeci to the literati of Paris. I beg my compli-
ments to all thofe who bear that character at Edin-
burgh.