Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 45.djvu/209

 guages at a time when mathematics still held their supremacy in the university, and he met with slight encouragement. In the first instance he taught Hebrew to men of his own college; and, becoming convinced that for its right understanding a knowledge of the cognate languages was necessary, he published in 1837 a Syriac grammar, which reached a second edition in 1845. In 1846 he published an elaborate ‘Commentary on the Psalms,’ in 2 vols. 8vo (2nd edit. 1872). After his return to Cambridge he took a leading part in the establishment (in 1872) of the Indian languages tripos and the Semitic languages tripos, examinations for which were first held in 1875. Though a staunch conservative, he was by no means in favour of restricting university studies within narrow limits. But, on the other hand, he was unwilling to accept the canons of the new criticism of the Old Testament.

As president he exercised a genial hospitality, and did all in his power to promote the welfare of his college. In 1887 he gave 1,000l. to found a scholarship; and made a liberal donation to the fund for building the new chapel in 1891. He died at Cambridge on 5 Feb. 1892, but was buried at Mullingar, co. Westmeath. His portrait, painted by Hubert Herkomer, R.A., in 1889, is in the gallery of the lodge. He married, on 10 Aug. 1848, Emily Frances, daughter of Henry Pilkington, esq., of Tore, co. Westmeath.

Besides the works mentioned above, Phillips published: 1. ‘The Elements of Euclid,’ 1826. 2. ‘Summation of Series by Definite Integrals,’ 1832. 3. ‘Short Sermons on Old Messianic Texts,’ Cambridge, 1863, 8vo. 4. ‘Mâr Jacob's “Scholia,”’ London, 1864, 8vo. 5. ‘Mâr Jacob on Syriac Accents,’ 1869. 6. ‘Doctrine of Addai the Apostle,’ 1876.

[Cambridge Review, xiii. 192; Cambridge Graduati, ed. 1884; Foster's Alumni Oxon. iii. 1117; Burke's Landed Gentry, ed. 1894, ii. 1614; private information.]  PHILLIPS, GEORGE SEARLE (1815–1889), miscellaneous writer, was born in 1815 at Peterborough, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he is said to have graduated B.A., but his name does not appear among the ‘graduati.’ He then went to America, where he became connected with the ‘New York World’ and the ‘Herald.’ In 1845 he returned to England, and undertook the editorship of the ‘Leeds Times.’ In the following year he was appointed secretary of the People's College at Huddersfield, and in 1854 was made lecturer to the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Institutes and Literary Societies. A few years later he again went to the United States, and was associated with Charles A. Dana on the ‘Chicago Tribune;’ he then became literary editor of the ‘New York Sun.’ In 1873 he lost his reason, and was confined in the Trenton Insane Asylum. Three years later he was removed to the Morristown Asylum, New Jersey, where he died in January 1889.

Phillips was a ‘prolific and graceful writer.’ His works, most of them published under the pseudonym ‘January Searle,’ are: 1. ‘A Guide to Peterborough Cathedral,’ Peterborough, 1843. 2. ‘The Life, Character, and Genius of Ebenezer Elliott, the Corn-law Rhymer,’ London, 1850. 3. ‘Chapters in the History of a Life,’ London, 1850. 4. ‘Leaves from Sherwood Forest,’ London, 1851. 5. ‘The Country Sketch Book,’ London, 1851. 6. ‘Memoirs of William Wordsworth,’ London, 1852. 7. ‘Emerson, his Life and Writings,’ London, 1855. 8. ‘Gypsies of the Danes' Dyke,’ London, 1864. 9. ‘Chicago and her Churches,’ Chicago, 1868. He also published various pamphlets and some verse, edited, among other books, ‘The Memorials of Pel. Verjuice,’ by Charles Reece Pemberton [q. v.], and was a voluminous contributor to periodical literature.

[Works in Brit. Mus. Library; Times, 2 Feb. 1889; Allibone's Dict. of English Lit.; and see Notes and Queries, 8th ser. ix. 264.]  PHILLIPS, GILES FIRMAN (1780–1867), landscape-painter, born in 1780, had some reputation as a landscape-painter in water-colours, his favourite subjects being views on the Thames. He was a member of the new Water-colour Society and also a frequent exhibitor at the Society of British Artists, and occasionally at the Royal Academy and other exhibitions from 1830 to 1858. Phillips published ‘Principles of Effect and Colour, as applicable to Landscape Painting,’ which ran through three editions; and in 1839 a ‘Practical Treatise on Drawing and Painting in Water-colours, with Illustrative Examples,’ &c., with illustrations by himself. Phillips died on 31 March 1867, aged 87.

[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1893; South Kensington Cat. of Books on Art.]  PHILLIPS, HENRY (fl. 1780–1830), horticultural writer, said to have been a schoolmaster, was living at Queen's House, Bayswater, in 1821, and at Bedford Square, Brighton, from 1823 to 1825. His ‘Sylva Florifera’ (1823) is dedicated to his wife, to whom he had been married twenty-five years. He was a