GRENOBLE, a city of France, the capital of the for mer province of Dauphiny, and under the late govern ment, the chief town of the arrondissement or district of Grenoble, and of the department of the Isere. This city stands at the confluence of the rivers Drac and Isere, the latter dividing it into two unequal parts ; the former, which is crossed by a bridge with a single lofty arch, is liable to overflow its banks, and commit considerable de vastation both in the city and its environs. Grenoble is situated at the foot of the Alps, in an agreeable country, abounding in wood and water, but of a climate so variable, that the thermometer sometimes ranges through nearly 30° in a day : the greatest heat is from the 10th of to the 15th of August, and the greatest cold from the '20th of December to the 20th of January. The city stands 900 feet above the level of the sea, and the medium height of the barometer is 27 inches two lines. Nine-tenths of the city are on the left bank of the Isere, constituting the portion chiefly exposed to inundations, several of which have done much damage, and the water has been known to rise three feet deep in the streets.
Grenoble is surrounded by a wall, and is commanded by a citadel ; but, unless its fortifications have been lately augmented, it is not considered a strong place. Within the walls, its area occupies about 64,000 square feet. It consists of 1200 or 1300 houses, and is inhabited by 23,5O0 souls, according to recent computations, for those of older date increase that population above a fifth. The streets are broad, and tolerably regular ; and the houses, in general well built, consist of four or five stories. There arc several tine public edifices, particularly the Episcopal palace, and that wherein the parliament for merly held its sittings. Among the charitable institutions which sufficiently illustrate the disposition of the citizens, the general hospital is the chief, and is governed by di rectors selected from the most distinguished of the in habitants. The building, which is very spacious, is ap
propriated for incurables ; persons insane ; the indigent, who commonly amount to 400 ; and the foundlings of the city, about 150 in number, are also received here. This institution occupies an inclosure, to the stuth•cast of the city, and adjoining toit is the military hospital. In the hospi tal of Providence, there arc 60 beds, and in the hospital of the Ladies of Chaiity, for females, there are 20 ; besides which institutions, there is a poor's house in the suburbs. Grenoble has also a museum of the arts, and a botanical gar den well managed. A garrison, consisting of a small body of troops, is kept here.
The principal manufactures of this city, are woollen cloths, muslins, hats, and particularly gloves, the prin cipal towns of France, Spain, Italy, and Britain, being supplied with them. Marble cutting is also carried on to some extent, for which purpose there are mills driven by water from the adjoining rivers.
Grenoble is the see of a bishop, who formerly arroga ted the title of Prince of Grenoble, and enjoyed those peculiar privileges, which, in less enlightened ages, were reserved almost exclusively for ecclesiastics. Besides the parish churches, there are several monastic institu tions.
Grenoble is celebrated for the complaisance and polish ed manners of its inhabitants, many of whom have shewn a distinguished taste for letters. Condillac and 11-lably, well known among the modern literati of France, were both natives of this place. It has also to boast of having given birth to the Chevalier Bayard, characterised by his sovereign Francis I. as one sans pear et sans re/mroche, and who, if we are to credit history, singly defended the narrow pass of a bridge against 200 horsemen. The Baron Adrets, a sanguinary chief of the Huguenots, during the wars for the reformation of religion, was born here, and distinguished himself by his cruelty on the miserable prisoners who fell into his power.