James, a pious and ingenious divine of the church of England in the 18th century, a writer of very great popularity among people of the Calvinistic persuasion, was born at Hardingtonstone in the year 1714. He was educated at the free grammar-school of Northampton, where he acquired a competent knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages; and in 1731 he was sent to the university of Oxford. The first two or three years of his residence at that seminary were spent, we are told, without much application to study, and therefore without making much improvement; but afterwards becoming acquainted with those who zealously studied what they called primitive Christianity, afterwards termed Methodists, he became strongly attached both to piety and learning. Independent of his other studies, he learned anatomy from Dr Keil, and natural philosophy from Dr Derham's Physico and Astrology; and by the perusal of Mr Spence's essay on Pope's Odyssey he improved his style. He attempted the Hebrew language without a teacher, and after relinquishing the study of it in despair, he resumed his labours, and became a tolerable proficient in that forbidding language.

In the year 1740 he was curate of Biddeford in Devonshire, where he had only 60l. a-year, including a slated collection made by his friends. On the death of the rector he was dismissed by the new incumbent, contrary to the earnest expostulation of the parishioners, who offered to maintain him independent of the rector. In 1743 he became curate to his father, who held the living of Welfton-Favell in Northamptonshire, and continued in that station till 1759, when his health was rapidly declining, from his intense application to study, and a constitution naturally delicate. Having been artfully decoyed to London for a change of air, he continued about two years in that metropolis, and was soon recalled to Welfton-Favell to succeed his father. He got both the livings of Welfton and Collingtree in the same neighbourhood, and in 1752 was made M. A. He attended to the duties of both parishes alternately with a curate, in the discharge of which he was fervent and indefatigable. He seldom made use of notes in the pulpit, and constantly catechised the children of his parishioners, nor did he neglect his pastoral visitations at their own houses. So great were his exertions, that he brought on a decline, accompanied with an incessant cough and acute pains, all which he supported, not only with fortitude, but without a single expression of peevishness.

He died without a groan on the 25th of December 1758, about 44 years of age. His piety was ardent and sincere, although in the estimation of good judges he was rather enthusiastic. He was unquestionably a man of the most unblemished moral deportment; his temper was disinterested, and he was truly humble without affectation. To society he was just and punctual, and candid to people of every description. The 700l. which he received for his Meditations, were applied to the relief of the indigent and distressed. He was such a rigid Calvinist that he was almost an antinomian, whenever he spoke of imputed righteousness. His erudition was respectable, but not such as to place him among scholars of the first rank, although he seems to have been matter of the classics. Many have admired the style of his writings, but a judge must certainly pronounce it by far too diffuse to be termed elegant, for it is neither chaste, manly, nor nervous.

Besides Besides his Meditations, he published remarks on Lord Bolingbroke's letters on the use and study of history, so far as they relate to the history of the Old Testament; Theron and Aspasio; Aspasio Vindicated, and Sermons on the Trinity, &c., published from his own MSS. after his death.

Hervey Island, one of the South Sea islands discovered by Captain Cook, September 23, 1773, who gave it that name in honour of the earl of Bristol. It is a low island, situated in W. Long. 158° 54'. S. Lat. 19° 8'.