As the site of this city is elevated only 15 feet above the level of the river Isere, an unusual humidity prevails, which is the source of many serious distempers among the inhabitants. Though standing at the edge of a plain, extending over a square league, and surrounded by fer tile fields and gardens, these advantages are counteracted by the miasmata emanating from the depositions of the waters. Certain seasons of the year are extremely un healthy; slow fevers are seldom eradicated; and it has been remarked, that even the children are, in infancy, of smaller size, and longer of attaining the strength and complexion of those in the neighbouring country. " The river Isere," an intelligent physician observes, cc has be come a kind of domestic enemy to Grenoble, with which it is necessary to live ; the constant humidity, and the mud deposited by its tranquil waters in the neighbouring marsh es, are inconveniences with which bcnificent nature has accustomed the inhabitants ; but they excite less attention than the tendency of all the prevalent diseases to ter minate in dropsy." It has been proposed to counteract the
deleterious effects arising from local circumstances, by digging a canal to drain off the stagnant waters, and which, at the same time, would prevent the overflowing of the river ; as also to deepen the bed of the Isere, in order to give it a stronger current.
Grenoble has subsisted from a very ancient period, and was known by the name of Cularo, under which it is de signed in a letter from Plancus to Cicero. It is said to have been called Gratianopolis from the Roman emperor Gratian; but since the period when it was possessed by the Allobroges, and when it was denominated a city, it re peatedly changed its masters. After various revolutions, Dauphiny came under the dominion of the kings of France, and Louis XI. instituted a parliament in Grenoble, found ed on the model of the parliament of Paris, since which time it has remained an integral part of the kingdom. (c)