Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official ...

ule in the Islands. 86 What mattered for the British authorities at home was to keep
the Ionian question out of the House of Commons, which did not happen.
Reactions in the House of Commons
As the atrocities escalated between the Turks and Greeks in 1821, the British
government had plentiful accounts of the “barbarities” committed between the two
parties. Despite British understanding of Ionian’ “empathy” towards Greek suffering,
British officials in the Septinsula, Colonial Office, Parliament and some sectors of
the press focused their portrayals on the Greeks’ “most violent enthusiasm”,
describing them as “murderers” and “barbarians”. 87 Intelligence came from the
Islands, which had become the “eyes and ears” detailing the revolt, as well as British
consuls and individuals from the Greek territories and Constantinople.
The British public, however, had limited information about the war. Classically
educated Britons identified with ancient Greek civilisation, especially those of a
liberal disposition, saw only the slaughter, rape, and forced slavery of the
descendants of classical and Christian Greeks, who fought a ‘Noble Cause’ to
achieve their freedom. 88 Committees were organised in Britain to raise funds for the
Greek cause, with Joseph Hume being one of the organisers of the London Greek
Committee.
86 Maitland to Bathurst, 16 October 1821, CO 136/1085.
87 Maitland to Bathurst, 22 July 1821, CO 136/1085.
88 Rosen F., Bentham, Byron and Greece: Constitutionalism, Nationalism, and Early Political
Thought, (New York and Oxford, 1992).
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