George Payne Rainsford James, an English novelist, born in London in 1801, died in Venice, June 9, 1860. He was educated at Greenwich, and at the age of 15 was sent to France, where he passed several years. While a boy he was in the habit of writing small pieces in prose and verse, and became an anonymous contributor to the magazines. Strongly encouraged by Washington Irving, he produced in 1822 a life of Edward the Black Prince, the first book bearing his name. When but 17 years old he had written a collection of eastern stories, which were published in 1832 under the title of the " String of Pearls." His first essay as a novelist, "Richelieu," written in 1825 and published in 1829, met with considerable success, and was followed by "Darnley " and "De l'Orme" (1830), "Philip Augustus " (1831), "Henry Masterton" (1832), and "Mary of Burgundy" (1834). The list of original works of all descriptions published under his name amounts to more than 80, the latest being "The Cavalier" (1859). Among these are several volumes of poetry, and many of history and biography, including the " History of Chivalry," and lives of Charlemagne, Richard Coeur de Lion, Henry IV. of France, and Louis XIV. For a short time he held the post of historiographer of England by the appointment of William IV. About 1850 he removed to the United States, and in 1852 was appointed British consul in Norfolk, Va., where he remained until his appointment in 1858 as consul at Venice. Among the novels suggested by his experiences of American life and history are "Ticonderoga" (1854) and "The Old Dominion" (1856). "Adrian, or the Clouds of the Mind " (New York, 1852), he wrote jointly with Maunsell B. Field. A collected edition of his works has been published in London.