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

eceipt”. 67 Bathurst advised Maitland to “get them to slide into a constitution”. 68 He
was convinced, even before receiving Maitland’s report, “that a system of popular
representation, and public discussion …should not be so stated to them for many
years to come”. 69 Prior to taking the appointment, Maitland was already considering
the challenge of turning the Islands “into productive British colonies”. 70 He was
critical of having the Islands as a Protectorate, feeling “if they do not give them in
sovereignty we are certainly better without them at all”. 71 Bathurst, in agreement
with Maitland, was determined to take advantage of any ambiguous passages of the
Treaty of Paris and treat the Islands not as an independent state under protection, but
as a colony. 72
Maitland welcomed Bathurst’s recommendations and general instructions,
“perfectly convinced” he held the “full” trust and support of his government. He
shared Bathurst’s view that Ionians “were not going to administer in these islands
any wild or speculative theory of government”. 73 Instead the constitution would be
the product of “thorough consideration” by the Ionian Legislative Assembly, which
“demands in itself the fullest consideration of the most perfect knowledge and the
habits and the character of the people”. He swamped the Colonial Office with reports
67 Bathurst to Maitland, 2 December 1815, CO 136/300.
68 Ibid. The emphasis was Bathurst’s.
69 Ibid.
70 Maitland to A’Court, 4 October 1815, Heytesbury Papers. XIX, Add. MS 41529.
71 Maitland to A’Court, 16 October 1815, Heytesbury Papers. XIX, Add. MS 41529.
72 Bunbury to Maitland, 26 November 1815, CO 136/300.
73 Ibid.
96