‘Sārṅgadhara-paddhati’ (1886) and ‘Subhāshitāvalī’ (1888), the latter edited jointly with Pandit Durgāprasād. He also edited, mainly for educational purposes, but with considerable originality, the ‘Hitopadeśa’ (1887), portions of the ‘Rāmāyana’ (1883), and of the ‘Rigveda’ (1888–92), part of the last-named being accompanied by translations of noteworthy ability as to style, though the notes bear evidence of hasty work. For the ‘Bibliotheca Indica’ he edited (1890) the ‘Nyāyabindu’ with its commentary, a Buddhist text discovered by himself in a Jain library; and he was engaged at the time of his decease for the same series with a Jain Sanskrit text, ‘Upamitibhava-prapañca-kathā,’ three numbers of which have been issued
Peterson, who was master of a fluent English style, wrote constantly for the Bombay daily press, and made some attractive editions of English classics for native use.
As an official and resident in India much of Peterson's success was due to his tact and sympathy with natives of all classes. This is well brought out in the speech made to the Bombay Asiatic Society on the occasion of his death by Professor Bhandarkar, whom he was appointed to supersede, but who remained one of his closest friends. To this also was due his success in unearthing the jealously concealed manuscripts of the Jains at Cambay and elsewhere. In 1883 the university of Edinburgh conferred on him the degree of D.Sc. in philology, and in 1895 he was chosen president of the Bombay branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, which he had often served as secretary. He was also a popular member of the Bombay municipal corporation.
He died at Bombay on 28 Aug. 1899. Peterson married, on 29 Oct. 1872, Agnes Christall, who died in September 1900. Several children of the marriage survive, one being a member of the India civil service.
[Personal knowledge; private information; Peterson's Works; Journals of the Royal Asiatic Society (London), and of its Bombay branch, 1899; obituaries in Advocate of India and Athenæum.]
PHAYRE, Sir ROBERT (1820–1897), general, born 22 Jan. 1820, was son of Richard Phayre of Shrewsbury, and brother of General Sir Arthur Purves Phayre [q. v.] He was educated at Shrewsbury school and commissioned as ensign in the East India Company's service on 26 Jan. 1839, being posted to the 25th Bombay native infantry, and became lieutenant on 1 Dec. 1840. He served in the first Afghan war with his regiment, was engaged with the Beloochs under Nusseer Khan at Kotra and Gandava in December 1840, and was mentioned in despatches. He took part in the Sind campaign of 1843, and was severely wounded at Meeanee. He was again mentioned in despatches for gallant conduct by Sir Charles Napier (London Gazette, 9 May 1843). In 1844 he was appointed assistant quartermaster-general in Sind, and from 1851 to 1856 was specially employed in clearing mountain roads in the Southern Mahratta country. In 1856-7 he carried out the departmental arrangements connected with the Persian expedition. In March 1857 he was appointed quartermaster-general to the Bombay army, and acted in this capacity throughout the mutiny, his services being warmly commended by Sir Hugh Rose (Lord Strathnairn) on 15 May 1860. He held this office till 1808. He had become captain in his regiment on 28 Dec. 1848. and was made brevet major on 16 June 1857, and major in the Bombay staff corps on 18 Feb. 1861.
He became brevet lieutenant-colonel on 6 Jan. 1863,and colonel five years afterwards. He took part in the Abyssinian expedition as quartermaster-general, was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette, 30 June 1868), was made C.B. and aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria, and received the medal.
From 1868 to 1872 he was political superintendent of the Sind frontier, and commandant of the frontier force. In March 1873 he was appointed resident at Baroda. He made strong representations of the mis-government of the gaekwar, Malhar Rao, and a commission which investigated his charges found that they were substantially proved. The gaekwar received a warning and was advised to change his minister, but matters did not improve. The friction between the resident and the gaekwar increased, and at the instigation of the latter an attempt was made on 9 Nov. 1874 to poison Phayre, by putting arsenic and diamond dust in his sherbet. The Baroda trial followed, and the deposition of the gaekwar on 23 April 1875. But the Indian government had previously decided to change the resident at Baroda, and Phayre, declining to resign, was superseded by Sir Lewis Pelly on 25 Nov. 1874.
Reverting to military employment, Phayre commanded a brigade, first in Bombay and afterwards in Rajputana, from 10 May 1875 to 4 May 1880. Having been promoted major-general on 1 Jan. 1880, he was then appointed to the command of the reserve
