CAVAN, the capital of the county of the same name, and previous to the Union a parliamentary borough, has little to command special notice. It is situated near the centre of the county, on one of the tributary streams of the Annalee river, in a large valley surrounded on every side by elevated ground, with picturesque environs, adorned by the mansions and demesnes of Lord Farnham and the Bishop of Kilmore. The town, which in 1851 contained 3254 inhabitants, is of unpretending and rather humble appearance. The court-house, erected at an expense of L.11,000, is elegant in its proportions and convenient in its internal arrangements. The parish church, built on an elevated site, is also a graceful structure. The most conspicuous building is the grammar-school, founded by Charles I. It was rebuilt in 1819, at an expense of L.9000, on an eminence overlooking one of the main entrances into the town. It is a large and handsome edifice, capable of accommodating one hundred resident pupils, but has never yet contained more than one-fourth of that number. The master enjoys a salary of L.300 per annum, besides fees from
Cavanilles. pupils, &c., and the use of ten acres of land adjoining the house. The other public buildings are the Roman Catholic chapel and Dissenters' meeting-houses; the county gaol and infirmary; a barrack; and the union workhouse. Cavan has still some linen trade, and a considerable retail business is transacted in the town, which was incorporated by a royal charter of the 8th of James I., now extinct. It is the seat of a presbytery of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in Ireland; but the great majority of the inhabitants are Roman Catholics. A monastery of Dominican friars, founded by O'Reilly chieftain of the Brenny, formerly existed here, and became the burial place of the celebrated Irish general, Owen O'Neal, who died as is supposed by poison, in 1649, at Cloughoughter. This monastery, and all the other antiquities of the town, have been swept away during the violent and continuous feuds to which the country has been subjected. Even so late as the year 1690 the chief portion of the town was burned by the Enniskillers under General Wolsey. Cavan is distant 70 miles N.W. by N. from Dublin. (II. 8—11.)