CAVAN, Comae, is situated midway between the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, from the shores of which its eastern and western extremities are each distant about 14 mites. Its boundaries towards the north are the mountains of Bullynageerah and Shen Russel, and the waters of Lough Erne ; the mountains of Leitrim mark its western extremity, while Bruce hill *rises abruptly on the south. Its greatest length, from east to west, is about 51 English miles ; and its great est breadth, from north to south, 28 miles. Its area contains 758 square miles, or about 499.957 English acres. It is divided into seven baronies ; Castlerag. Clonteahon, Clonkee, Upper Loughtee, i Lower n Loughtee, Tullygarvy, Tullyhanco, and llyhan ; and contains 30 parishes, of which 26, with 24 churches, are in the diocese of Kilmore, three in the diocese of Ardagh, and one in that of Meath. The principal places in it are Cavan, Kilmove, the see of 'a Bishop, Killyshandra, Beiturb4, and Virginia ; but they are all small.
Cavan is almost entirely covered with hills; and in the north,' the surface, toil, and climate, are equally bleak and uncomfortable. In some places, however, The appearance of the country is more favourable, especially in the vicinity of Farnham. Bogs and lakes are very numerous ; so that, according to Mr Young, they, together with the hills, occupy at least half the county. The 'greatest pact of the waters, which issue from the lakes of West Meath, flow, through Cavan till they discharge themselves into Lough Erne, era in their passage, in some laces, they expand into small lakes, and in others, retain the appearance and character or rivers. The shores of many of these lakes are very beautiful. The form and outline of Lough Ramor, near Virginia, are good, but the banks are llat ; towards the upper end of it, there is some little wood. It contains pike and trout. Near Bruce hill is the great'lake of Gawnagh, out of which the Erne tows. Between Bailyborough and King's Court, on the summit of a mountain, is a famous pool, called Lough.an-Leighaghs, or the healing lake. To its wa
ters many healing virtues are ascribed ; but its enth ral peculiarities are more undoubted. It is never ob. a stated level ; at has ne visible- outlet, tett Allay apismat source from *kith k desire ih waters ; and it never hes been feud bury in tea. pentane.. Its extent is oat above one square rood; en the surface the weber is clear, butdeeper its DE. dy ; and its medicinal qualities are said to reside it this mad. Perhaps the finest lakes in the Cairo ty, with respect to picturesque beauties, &ahem near Farnham, which COMMInialie with each ether by a riser.
The principal riser is the Erne; the mace of it has beers already noticed ; it flows through the Ms cony .of Tullyhanco, where it fame the attain Laugh Oughter, containing many islands, wag which is Clegbter, where Bishop Bedel was mined by the rebels, in 1641. From this lough the lane flows with an increased stream to 13eIttubet, midis elutrges itself into Lough Erae.
There is not much variety of soil in this county; in the north it consists principally of a cold, wet day, Near Farnham, it is a good loans, lyingion slaty gm. -eel, limestone, or blue whinstone; from Cum to Beiturbet, it is dry, rocky, and rough; from Key shendra to Knockwinn, dry gravel ; and from Cans to Virginia, heathy. In many parts, especially sheet Aitmere, there is plenty of limestone, bat its ktde used for agricultural purposes; near Killyshandes, there are beds of marl, which• is laid on the heathy moors with success. There is said to be coal in Sieve Russel, but if there is, it is not worked, as the comity is supplied with it from Newry. A great deal dad is also burnt for fuel. According to the Mimi History of Ireland (Dublin, 1726), more ore was foe surly deg " in this county, in a placecalled Doub&iy, in a dry mountain." At present, it is not Mom. There are several waters in Cavan. Par**. tarty at Swedlingber,Derryleeter, Derrinaaff,amiOve Brien, but they have not been accusately analysed.