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

promised there would be no misuse or abuse by the Legislative Assembly if they
were given the right to regulate and amend their extraordinary estimates. 52 Seaton,
drawing on his experiences in Lower Canada, believed the granting of liberal
concessions by the British government rather than their forced concession due to
circumstances were vital in accelerating reforms in the Septinsula.
Colonial officials, particularly Stephen, were concerned Britain might lose
control over affairs in the Ionian Islands. The Civil List expenditure was not
guaranteed and Stephen feared the Assembly would “[cut] down salaries instead of
increasing them, and so [bring] the government into subservience to themselves”,
thus placing “the Ionian government … in complete dependence on the Ionian
Assembly”. 53 He wanted assurances protecting the Civil List expenditure before
allowing the Assembly to control the Islands’ finances, especially in light of Britain’s
depressed economic state in the 1840s. He was also concerned the Assembly could
not handle the additional responsibilities, fearing they were “guided by a most
corrupt and necessitous people … amongst whom intrigue, in all its forms, whether
insinuating or menacing flourishes luxuriantly”. The language employed by Stephen
echoed Maitland’s and Douglas’s representations of the Ionian people and
highlighted the difficulty Seaton faced in altering colonial views of the Ionians.
Stanley reiterated Stephen’s argument to Seaton’s proposals and wanted Seaton to
secure payment of the Civil List, the “mode practiced … in Colonies having
52 Seaton to Stanley, 30 January 1845, CO 136/123.
53 See Stephen’s minute in Seaton to Stanley, 7 November 1844, CO 136/122.
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