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

Bathurst did not entertain such sensibilities. For him Greeks were anything but
‘Nobles’. In attempts to persuade close friends and colleagues otherwise, Bathurst
shared information regarding the ‘real’ Greeks. Writing to Lord Aberdeen, who had
made a major financial contribution to the Greek cause, he enclosed an account of
the Greek atrocities following the surrender of Tripolitsa, in which 3,000 Turkish
women and children were killed: “pregnant women had their bellies ripped open, and
their severed heads exchanged with those of dogs, and the large Jewish population
had been tortured to reveal its wealth, after which many of them had been buried
alive”. Bathurst also noted “the Greek cause is supported by every Jacobin in France
and England … it is impossible for Government to do anything but remain neutral”. 89
Aberdeen withdrew his support on moral and diplomatic grounds. Not all, however,
acted in the same way.
Like Bathurst, Maitland also regarded Philhellenes as “misguided romantics”
who were “full of classic imaginings … instead of studying the actual character of
the people are satisfied with attributing to them all the virtues of the ancient Grecian
population … without the smallest foundation or reality”. 90 When Bathurst requested
a report on the Greek war at the end of 1823, Maitland suggested the Greeks might
win the war but believed “any victory would be destroyed … by jealousy and love of
plunder”. 91 Maitland believed direct knowledge and experience of the places and
people affected the forms of rule adopted by colonisers. If the Ottoman Empire
89 Thompson N., Earl Bathurst, p. 151.
90 Maitland to Bathurst, 6 May 1816, CO 136/7.
91 Thompson N., Earl Bathurst, p. 153.
138