An unpublished report (1858) by W. E. Gladstone on the political situation and administrative system in the Seven islands (1815-1858)

Abstract

This unpublished confidential report was sent by W. E. Gladstone, High

Commissioner Extraordinary to the Seven islands, to Queen Victoria on December
25, 1858.
Gladstone was sent to the Seven islands in November 1858 in order to
investigate the political and administrative system there and report on the
proper ways of redressing the long-existing grievances of the Ionians against
their administration.
He visited all the Ionian islands except Cerigo, met with governmental
officials, senators, representatives of the Legislative Assembly, ecclesiastical
dignitaries and people of all social classes; after having made all the above
mentioned contacts he sent a report to Queen Victoria in which he proposed
that real constitutional reforms should be effected to the political and administrative
system of the Seven islands. He also recommended that a negative
answer should be given to the Ionian Assembly on the issue of its petition
respecting union with Greece. Yet, Gladstone made it almost clear in his
report that his suggestions in favour of real reforms were meant to be the first
in a series of stages leading to the union of the Seven islands with Greece.