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Storks hoped <strong>the</strong> prorogation would allow “repose” after <strong>the</strong> political<br />

excitement and a change <strong>in</strong> public op<strong>in</strong>ion. He also hoped it would teach <strong>the</strong><br />

Assembly a lesson and, after its “punishment”, <strong>the</strong> Assembly would resume its duties<br />

and make “useful legislation”. Storks wanted to use prorogation to publicly discredit<br />

<strong>the</strong> Risospasti and expose <strong>the</strong>m as “noisy demagogues” who rendered government<br />

impossible. Storks considered <strong>the</strong>ir conduct <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Assembly a “Reign of Terror” and<br />

believed <strong>the</strong>y <strong>in</strong>timidated government supporters and moderates. 13 Prorogation<br />

succeeded; Storks reported on <strong>the</strong> “tranquillity prevail<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sept<strong>in</strong>sula State”. 14<br />

At <strong>the</strong> celebrations for <strong>the</strong> Queen’s birthday, “respect and defence” of <strong>the</strong><br />

Protectorate was exhibited by municipal and church authorities, who “attended <strong>in</strong><br />

full dress and offered up prayers for Her Majesty and <strong>the</strong> general government”.<br />

Public op<strong>in</strong>ion was “becom<strong>in</strong>g more and more moderate and reasonable”. 15<br />

London received Storks’s news with great enthusiasm and believed he would<br />

make <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ionian</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> governable aga<strong>in</strong>. 16 To <strong>the</strong> new Colonial Secretary, <strong>the</strong> Duke<br />

of Newcastle, Storks argued practical adm<strong>in</strong>istrative measures <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> could<br />

only be achieved if he ruled alone. Newcastle had served <strong>in</strong> Peel’s adm<strong>in</strong>istration as<br />

Lord of <strong>the</strong> Treasury from 1834-1835, <strong>the</strong> first Commissioner of Woods and Forests<br />

from 1841-1846 and Chief Secretary of Ireland <strong>in</strong> 1846. 17 He was, like Gladstone<br />

13 Ibid. Holland and Markides believe <strong>the</strong> majority of <strong>Ionian</strong>s supported <strong>the</strong> Risopasti and wanted<br />

union with Greece. This conflicts with Storks's views, and those of <strong>the</strong> Colonial Office, which<br />

believed <strong>the</strong> supporters for <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> outnumbered <strong>the</strong> Risopasti. Storks believed <strong>the</strong> support for <strong>the</strong><br />

Risospasti appeared larger because <strong>the</strong> Risospasti were much more vocal <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir compla<strong>in</strong>ts than<br />

government supporters. Holland R., and Markides D., The <strong>British</strong> and <strong>the</strong> Hellenes, pp. 48-53.<br />

14 Storks to Lytton, 12 May 1859, CO 136/165.<br />

15 Storks to Lytton, 28 May 1859, CO 136/165.<br />

16 Lytton to Storks, 6 April 1859, CO 136/165; Lytton to Storks, 26 May 1859, CO 136/165.<br />

17 For more on Newcastle's imperial policies see Farnsworth, S., <strong>British</strong> Imperial Policy, Chap. 4.<br />

318

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