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

him was that even the most trusted supporters of the government now voted against
it.
Furthermore, the rights and powers of the Ionian government were lost “under
the travestied form of Constitutional government”. The Lord High Commissioner
was under-represented because secretaries of the Senate who explained the acts and
defended its measure were not members of the House and the Ionian government
could only be heard by “Council at the Bar”. Storks believed the Constitution of
1817 was “logical and effective”, a “cleverly devised despotism under constitutional
forms” suited to the Ionians. While constitutional reforms were appropriate for white
settler colonies, they were “hastily” granted to the Islands. “Too much was
conceded”, rendering “government almost impossible, and administration
impracticable”. 52 He saw no improvement and no progress in representative
government in the Septinsula.
He also criticised the free press, arguing it was used by Ionian Radicals to
“subvert the British Protectorate, to invite rebellion, among the subjects of a
neighbouring and friendly power and to indulge in much personal abuse”, none of
which he could prevent or censor. 53 Any action taken had to be publicly justified
before a public tribunal, which Storks felt was unworkable since an Ionian jury, often
51 In the Mediterranean the order of St Michael and St George was used to rank and classify military
and civilian service to the state in addition to honouring and rewarding it. Cannadine D.,
Ornamentalism, p. 86.
52 Storks to Newcastle, Private and Confidential, 5 March 1861, CO 136/173.
53 Storks to Newcastle, 11 April 1861, CO 136/173.
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