Thomas james was the son of the Rev. John James, vicar of Basingstoke. He served his apprenticeship to Robert Andrews, but quitted his service prior to the year 1710, in order to start business on his own account. Impressed, doubtless, with the present low condition of the art in England, and lacking the skill to regenerate it by his own labour, he determined to visit Holland and procure for himself, from that famous typographical market, the matrices and moulds necessary for establishing a successful foundry in London. The characteristic letters in which he describes this expedition to his brother are given by Rowe Mores, and present so instructive and entertaining a picture of the Dutch type-founders of the day, that we are tempted to copy them in extenso.