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

military ports and harbours and to give the Ionian people representative government,
based on the Canadian model. Grey, an advocate of responsible government since the
1830s, had sanctioned representative institutions in the Septinsula before the
outbreak of revolutionary events in 1848. Regarding the issue of free elections, Grey
reserved the right to consider the proposal.
In the Colonial Office, neither Grey nor Merivale were sufficiently acquainted
with the Ionian Constitution. 97 The office turned to William Strachey, a former
official of the East India Company thought to be familiar with the Ionian question.
Strachey believed the free press and control over state finances were sufficient
British concessions and criticised Seaton’s proposal to make Parliamentary elections
free before implementing municipal elections first. Seaton’s proposals were of a
“very sweeping nature” and left the Crown without “the least compensation,
influence, or power of any kind”. The Primary Council and the parliamentary Double
Lists, if abolished, would lead the “whole [Constitutional] structure assuredly
[falling] to pieces”. Strachey adopted Douglas’s view against allowing parliamentary
elections, fearing “total anarchy” in the Islands and insisted the Crown retain legal
authority to suspend the Constitution and take over “in the event of the experiment
working ill”. Unlike Seaton and Grey, Strachey did not trust Ionians to handle power.
Nor did he believe the 1848 revolutions should influence colonial officials to
concede “premature” constitutional reforms. 98 Grey advised Seaton to proceed with
97 See minutes in Seaton to Grey, 29 March 1848, CO 136/128. Grey’s lack of knowledge over
colonial constitutional details was not unusual since permanent officials in the Colonial Office usually
dealt with such issues. Laidlaw Z., “Networks, Patronage and Information in Colonial Governance”,
p. 37.
98 See minutes in Seaton to Grey, 5 July 1848, CO 136/128.
211