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

was the responsibility of the British government, but could only make minor
improvements within the Islands. The British government would not grant
representative institutions to the Ionian people, arguing the inhabitants were still not
fit for political representation despite Nugent’s attempts to convince them otherwise.
As a result, Nugent resigned in December 1834, after first dissolving Parliament in
March 1834 and proclaiming new elections. This time the lists were carefully drawn
up, ensuring most opposition members were excluded from the fifth Parliament.
When Nugent returned to Britain, he learned his policies in the Septinsula had been
attacked in the British press. 24
In practice Nugent’s brief administration had little effect on constitutional
change. However, his legacy was significant in Ionian politics. He initiated a new
liberal spirit and encouraged Ionian demands for constitutional reform. British
officials in the Islands were disturbed by Nugent’s liberal policies and observed
“people here are bringing forward pretensions they never dreamed of before”.
Baynes, the secretary of the Senate for twenty years and Maitland’s close associate,
remarked “the spirit of the times was making rapid headway in the islands, … the
temper of the Assembly reflected the prevailing dissatisfaction with Maitland’s
system” and advised “immediate changes to avoid future embarrassments”. Fraser,
secretary to Nugent from 1834, predicted catastrophic consequences after allowing
the “uneducated and ignorant” public to attend the debates of the Ionian Parliament. 25
24 The Morning Chronicle, 22 October 1832; Courier, 26 November 1835, 24 and 26 November 1836.
25 Quoted in Tumelty J. J., “The Ionian Islands under British Administration”, pp. 148-149.
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