Livy above Thucydides, Curtius above Xenophon, while for Horace, his favourite author, he was an enthusiast. His lectures on ‘universal grammar’ were valuable in their day; the secondary title of his chair suggested his instructive course on ‘the laws of the twelve tables.’ A feature of his work was the encouragement of English recitation, for which a prize was awarded by the votes of the class; among those who gained it was Fox Maule (afterwards earl of Dalhousie) [q. v.], who joined the class when he was quartered with his regiment in Edinburgh Castle. Pillans was one of the first to teach the revised pronunciation of Latin now in some vogue, though in practice he conformed to the usual Scottish mode. He formed a class library at an expense to himself of nearly 300l. It was due to his influence that the society of writers to the signet gave annually from 1824 to 1860 a gold medal for competition in his senior class.
During his summer vacations he devoted much time to the work of making himself practically acquainted with the state of education in Scotland, and comparing it with that of other countries. At the examinations of both public and private schools, from infant schools to high schools, he was a familiar presence. He made tours for the purpose of inspecting the systems of Prussia, France, Switzerland, and Ireland. Before the committee of the House of Commons on education in 1834 he gave evidence which was minute and valuable. He was an early advocate for compulsory education. Though he wrote in defence of the just claims of classical training, his views on popular education were enlightened and broad. As president of the Watt Institution and School of Art, he inaugurated in 1854 the statue of James Watt in Adam Square (since removed to the Heriot Watt College, Chambers Street), Edinburgh.
In his later years, hints of the expediency of his retirement (which was generally expected after the passing of the Universities of Scotland Act of 1858) were met by increased labours in connection with his chair. His physique was remarkably hale. His manner, habitually measured and dignified, became slower with age; he read his lectures with the aid of a huge magnifying-glass, for he disdained spectacles. Both for facts and persons he had a wonderful memory. In the after career of his students he took a kindly and helpful interest.
He resigned at the close of his eighty-fifth year, and took formal leave of the university on 11 April 1863. The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him on 22 April. He died at his residence, 43 Inverleith Row, on 27 March 1864. He was buried on 1 April in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh.
The best likeness of him in old age is a photograph (1860) by Tunny of Edinburgh, taken in his tartan dressing-gown. He was rather under middle height, well built and spare, with a fine head. His ordinary costume was not academic; he often wore a white beaver hat, and always on state occasions a blue coat with brass buttons. Pillans married Helen, second daughter of Thomas Thomson, minister of Dailly, Ayrshire, sister of Thomas Thomson (1768–1852) [q. v.], the antiquary, and of John Thomson (1778–1840) [q. v.], the landscape-painter, but was early left a widower without issue.
Besides the volume of Latin verse noted above, he published:
- ‘Letters on the Principles of Elementary Teaching,’ &c., Edinburgh, 1827, 8vo; 1828, 8vo; 1855, 8vo (addressed to Kennedy of Dunure).
- ‘Three Lectures on the Proper Objects and Methods of Instruction,’ &c., 1836, 8vo; Edinburgh, 1854, 8vo.
- ‘Eclogæ Ciceronianæ,’ &c., 1845, 12mo (includes selections from Pliny's letters).
- ‘A Discourse on the Latin Authors read … in the earlier Stages of Classical Discipline,’ &c., Edinburgh, 1847, 12mo.
- ‘Outlines of Geography,’ &c., Edinburgh, 1847, 12mo.
- ‘Excerpta ex Taciti Annalibus,’ &c., 1848, 16mo.
- ‘A Word for the Universities of Scotland,’ &c., Edinburgh, 1848, 8vo.
- ‘The Five Latter Books of the First Decade of Livy,’ &c., 1849, 12mo; 1857, 8vo.
- ‘The Rationale of Discipline,’ &c., Edinburgh, 1852, 8vo (written in 1823).
- ‘First Steps in the Physical and Classical Geography of the Ancient World,’ &c., Edinburgh, 1853, 12mo; 10th ed. 1873, 8vo (edited by T. Fawcett); 13th ed. 1882, 8vo.
- ‘Elements of Physical and Classical Geography,’ &c., 1854, 8vo.
- ‘Contributions to the Cause of Education,’ &c., 1856, 8vo (dedicated to Lord John Russell; it includes reprints of Nos. 1, 2, 4, 7, and 9 above, and of articles in the ‘Edinburgh Review,’ minutes of evidence, &c.).
- ‘Educational Papers,’ &c., Edinburgh, 1862, 12mo.
