(William James), was born of an ancient and honourable family at Delft in Holland, in 1688. He studied the civil law at Leyden, but mathematical learning was his favourite amusement. When he had taken his doctor's degree in 1707, he settled at the Hague, and practised at the bar, in which situation he cultivated an acquaintance with learned men; with a society of whom, he published a periodical review intitled Le Journal Litteraire, which was continued without interruption from the year 1713 to the year 1722, when he died. The most considerable of his works are, "A treatise on perspective; An introduction to the Newtonian philosophy, or a treatise on the elements of physics confirmed by experiments; A treatise on the elements of algebra, for the use of young students;" and "A course of logic and metaphysics." He had intended to have presented the Gravesend public with a system of morality, but his death prevented the execution. The ministers of the republic consulted him on all occasions wherein his talents were requisite; and his skill in calculation was often of service to them; as was his address in deciphering, for detecting the secret correspondence of their enemies. As professor of mathematics and astronomy at Leyden, none ever applied the powers of nature with more success, or to more useful purposes.