JAMES, a learned and laborious writer, was born at Dain in 1651. He became professor of history and eloquence at the university of Franeker, when, by his merit and learning, he made that university flourish. However, in 1693, he went to Leyden, where he was made professor of history, eloquence, and the Greek tongue; in which employment he continued till his death, which happened in 1715. He wrote many Dissertations, and other learned and curious works, particularly Origines Babylonicæ et Egyptianæ, 2 vols. 8vo, &c. But the part of his labours which is the most generally known, and perhaps the most useful, is the notes which he wrote upon Sancti Minerva. That work, as published by Perizonius, certainly suggested the idea of Harris's Hermes; and we hesitate not to say, that our countryman has made hardly any improvement on the system of his matter.