"Dorset Voices", Anthology, Update

Publication Date April 2012

Please see this posting

Look out for launch events at the Bournemouth Festival of Words, on 23 April

and at the Brympton Festival on 26 April, 5.30pm

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (1864): The Corfu Connection, and Origins

The Order was founded on 27 April 1818 (statutes 14 August 1818; first investiture 18 November, 1818). This is the list as published in Debrett's in 1865. There are a large number of names from Corfu and the Ionian Islands:

Essential book on the history of the Order by Peter Galloway. 

The first five chapters are of particular interest in relation to the Ionian Islands and Malta.

Peter Galloway writes (pp 14-15) that Sir Thomas Maitland created the Order and the Honour in order to 'reward loyalty and dedication' to the new administration, as a method of 'securing and perpetuating loyalty', as the cheapest and most powerful way to flatter the vanity of eminent islanders (letter of 31 May, 1817).  Maitland was the first Grand Master of the Order.

Galloway notes (p. 56) that "The ending of the protectorate was marked by a small 'dissolution' honours list".

Sir Thomas Maitland, Lord High Commissioner

The Maitland Memorial (prior to restoration)

Baron Emmanuel Theotokis, President of the Senate and friend of Maitland (see my "The Ionian Islands and Epirus, A Cultural History", p. 170) , was one of the first Ionian islanders to be honoured with the Grand Cross of the Order (18 November 1818). Peter Galloway's Appendix Two contains a complete list (pp 366-377) of the Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order (up until 30 April 2000). 

List of Lord High Commissioners 

See also Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons, Papers Relating to the Ionian Islands, pp 113-114

The Order was not without controversy:

On the treatment of two Knights Commanders of the Order

"A liberal Corfu paper, in 1862, taunted Count Dusmani, Sir George Marcoran, and the other shelved

Protectionists, with having been treated by the British Government like oranges,

  which are first well sucked, and then thrown away.

G.W.H.F. Orkney (Viscount Kirkwall), note. p 276 (see below)

University of Nottingham papers:

"Marcoran; Georgio (fl 1853-1864); Sir; member of Supreme Council of the Ionian Islands; dismissed for corruption

Xidian; Anastasio T. (fl 1849-1863); Sir; member of Supreme Council of the Ionian Islands;dismissed for corruption"

More information:

Document Ref Ne C 10959/1-6

Title Letter from Sir H. Storks, Palace, Corfu, to [Henry Pelham-Clinton] 5th Duke of Newcastle under Lyne; 27 Oct. 1862

Dates Of Creation 27.10.1862
Extent 12 ff

Content

Description: Regrets that the non-reappointment of Messrs Marcoran and Xidian [as judges] is likely to 'give so much trouble in Parliament';

Says that it is common knowledge in the islands why they were not reappointed; says that they were
considered 'corrupt and dishonest'; explains the personal dispute between himself and Lord Kirkwall.

Letter marked 'Private'.
Term colonies, Ionian Islands
Term resignations and dismissals, Sir Georgio Marcoran
Term resignations and dismissals, Sir Anastasio Xidian
Term colonial affairs, constitutions
Term colonial affairs, indigenous populations, attitudes of

Condition damaged by fire

Related Material Ne C 10953/1-2 - Ne C 10977

Physical Description conserved

For a very different view of events and personalities, see the book by Orkney (Kirkwall), pp 272-276

Four Years in the Ionian Islands:
their Political and Social ..., Volume 1
By George William Hamilton Fitzmaurice Orkney (Viscount Kirkwall)

Peter Galloway's book (p. 56) also sets the record straight with regards to Sir George Marcoran, who was appointed GCMG in 1867.

According to the Earl of Derby, Marcoran was of "the highest character for ability and integrity... he was deprived of his office by a political intrigue...under circumstances of great hardship and without the slightest imputation on his character".

Perhaps the records accessible on the net also need to be put straight.

Belmont House, Lyme Regis, Home of John Fowles, Appeal

Appeal launched to help with restoration of John Fowles' house in Lyme Regis

Landmark Trust Appeal

See my previous posting on Belmont House

Ionian Identities; Politics and Nationalism in the Ionian Islands; British Protectorate; M. Paschalidi and E. Calligas

Finally located this important thesis and contribution to our knowledge of the Ionian Islands during the British Protectorate

"Constructing Ionian Identities: The Ionian Islands in British Official Discourses; 1815-1864" (pdf)


And another highly praised thesis, by Dr Eleni Calligas. Democracy Street has kindly helped me to locate this. Here is the link:

https://acrobat.com/app.html#d=8AjWAOyWRbqMLFvPfwi7IA

Eleni Calligas(1994): The Rizospastai (Radical-Unionists): Politics and nationalism in the British Protectorate of the lonian Islands, 1815-1864

Made in Britain, exhibition at the Benaki Museum until 26 April

Two exhibitions of British Art in Greece: not to be missed.

"Made in Britain" at the Benaki Museum, Athens

Edward Lear, Corfu

"Made in Britain", from The Athens News:

Through the newly-launched exhibition Made in Britain - Contemporary Art from the British Council Collection 1980-2010, local art lovers have the rare opportunity to experience the creative journey of some of the most prolific contemporary British artists of the past 30 years.

The highly-anticipated show, on at Athens’ Benaki Museum and co-organised with the British Council, features around 150 works by a wide range of artists, including Damien Hirst, Mark Titchner and Sarah Lucas, reflecting the breadth and diversity of British art throughout the past three decades. The works hail from the British Council Collection, which numbers over 8,500 modern and contemporary creations by over 1,650 UK artists.

From Gilbert & George’s Intellectual Depression (1980) to Gary Hume’s Sister Troop (2009), the exhibition reflects the changing role art has played in UK society. Titchner may have created his work, The Future Demands Your Participation (photo), a transparency in a lightbox, in 2006 but, today, its message resonates more than ever.

On at the Benaki Museum Annex (138 Pireos Street) until April 22. Open: Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday 10am-6pm; Friday, Saturday 10am-10pm. Admission is five euros. For further info, visit www.benaki.gr

New Google Policies (YouTube, Blogger etc)

From today, 1st March, new policies re data collection and sharing on Google services.