125 



The diameter of this very curious enclosure is about thirty-four 

 yards ; on the north side, the marks of Fire are much more evi- 

 dent than elsewhere; on the south-west side advantage seems to 

 have been taiien of the Rocli having risen from the surface and 

 forming a perpendicular and natural breastwork of about four feet 

 in height, and no artificial means, by vitrification, or otherwise, 

 seem to have been used to strengthen this part of the en- 

 closure. 



Formerly I have reason to believe that the Remains of this 

 Fort were much more considerable, for I have been given to 

 understand, that Mr. Blackwood the Proprietor of the Hill and 

 surrounding Lands, drew away a large quantity of the mate- 

 rials in order to form a road on the east side of the Hill. I also 

 know that the neighbouring Gentry have carried away quantities 

 of the vitrified masses in order to form rock work and curi- 

 ous materials for Artificial Grottoes. Indeed to this circum- 

 stance I owe my knowledge of this Fort. For having seen about 

 ten years ago at the Rev. Mr. Brougham's, a Grotto formed of 

 vitrified materials, and knowing that there was no Iron Furnace 

 in the country, I conceived that those materials wei-e of Volcanic 

 origin, and after much enquiry, I ascertained and visited the place 

 from whence they were taken. At that time being a very young 

 man I knew nothing of the vitrified Forts of Scotland, and there- 

 fore thought little of those remains, but having lately read Mr. 

 M'Culloch's account of the Scotch Forts in the Geological 

 Transactions, it struck me immediately, that this Fort in the 

 County of Cavan was of the same nature, and therefore worthy 

 of a closer investigation. Having therefore occasion to pass 

 through the County Cavan last Summer, I took an opportunity 



