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

health of both British residents and the people of Corfu because there was no room
for growth and expansion. 37 Douglas restructured the city and introduced sanitary
legislation to keep the city free of filth and disease. 38 His campaign benefited the
future growth of the city. At the same time, it also maintained the image of the
Islands as a “land apart” and demonstrated the Ionians were not yet ready for
representative government.
Douglas was also concerned about the moral risks in Corfu Town, influenced
by his concerns with local weather. 39 The Septinsula did not have a tropical climate
like the Caribbean or India. Nevertheless it was hot during summer, resulting in
general discomfort and lack of productivity. To Douglas, this contributed to a
degeneration of mind and body. He believed the cold northern climate encouraged
industry in Britain and even among the British settlers in the Canadian colonies.
Drawing on contemporary theories about climate he believed heat brought indolence,
36 Dondi, resident of the Municipal Council to Douglas Corfu, 19 February 1836, CO 136/80; Thomas
to Douglas, General Health Office, Corfu 13 February 1836, CO 136/80. (Leontsinis G. N. “O
thesmos tis aggareias ke ta dimosia erga sta nisia tou Ioniou kata tin periodo tis “Bretanikis
Prostasias”” [The institution of force labour and public works in the Septinsula during the “British
protection”]).
37 Douglas to Glenelg, 21 April 1836, CO 136/80 and 28 March 1837 CO 136/84 and 27 September
1837 CO 136/85. (Agoropoulou-Birbili A., “I astiki katoikia stin Agglokratoumeni Kerkyra ke oi
eptanisiakoi oroi domiseos” [ The urban residence in British Corfu and the Septinsula regulations of
construction], Praktika tou Tetartou Panioniou Synedriou, [Proceedings of the 4 th Pan-Ionian
Conference], 2, Corfu Chronicles, Corfu, (1982), pp. 424-442.
38 Glenelg to Douglas, 4 August 1836, CO 136/80. See also Gallant T., Experiencing Dominion,
chapter 3, pp. 61-72; Hennock E., “The Urban Sanitary Movement in England and Germany, 1838-
1914: A comparison,” Continuity and Change, 15, (2), pp. 269-296; Anogiatis-Pele D., (Ta Ionia
Nisia: Apo tin Politeiografia stin statistiki tou Plithismou 18os-20os Ai.”, [The Ionian Islands: from
the political arithmetic to the statistics of the population (18 th -20 th cents.), Praktika Ektou Panionion
Synedriou [Proceedings of the 6 th Pan-Ionian Conference], 2, Levkada 26-30 May 2002, (Athens,
2004), pp. 389-397.
39 Douglas to Glenelg, 21 April 1836, CO 136/80.
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