ADRIAN, an eminent orientalist, born at Ryp, in North Holland, in 1676. During three years' study under Sarenhusius, he made uncommon progress in the Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldaic, and Arabic languages, and these languages were always his favourite study. In 1701, he was, by the recommendation of King William, appointed professor of oriental languages and ecclesiastical antiquities in the university of Utrecht, and died of the small-pox in 1718. He was distinguished by his modesty, humanity, and learning; and carried on a correspondence with the most eminent scholars of his time. His principal works are, 1. An excellent Description of Palestine; 2. Five Dissertations on the Medals of the ancient Hebrews, and several other dissertations on different subjects; 3. An Introduction to the Hebrew Grammar; 4. The Antiquities of the ancient Hebrews; and, 5. On the Mahommedan Religion. These works are all written in Latin.