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

the Septinsula was the “ugly duckling” of the Empire and attributed the problems to
the confusing and contradictory terms of the Treaty of Paris, which placed the
Islands in an anomalous political condition “hitherto unknown in the history of
nations”, “a middle state between a colony and a perfectly independent country
without … possessing the advantages of both”. His remedy was to “make the islands
a colony”. 74 Although Douglas attempted to “improve the character and the state of
the Ionian society”, his reforms stopped short of the Constitution. Douglas was
committed to the preservation of his authority as governor. This was especially
demonstrated in his attitude towards the Ionian Assembly. Not surprisingly, his
policies generated significant opposition.
The reform of the Constitution of 1817:
i) Freedom of the press
Douglas faced Ionian demands for constitutional reform as early as 1836 and
freedom of the press figured prominently. 75 Freedom of the press was not allowed on
the Ionian Islands and the printing press was under the governor’s exclusive control
and was authorised to print only authorised government news. In 1835 Ionian
politicians were enraged when Douglas permitted the establishment of a printing
house by an English clergyman, Lawndress, to print books solely for the London
Missionary Society. 76 Ionians argued for the right to establish private printing offices
with no restrictions on the subject (religious, literary, political) they could print.
74 Douglas to Glenelg, Private and Separate, 21 June 1838, CO 136/88.
75 Douglas to Glenelg, 30 September 1836, CO 136/82.
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