Gladstone, William E.

Folio (342 x 205mm.), printed on blue paper, two later typed copies of related letters by Gladstone bound in, recent cloth, piece excised from upper margin of title, minor worming to first few leaves

See Bruce Knox, "British Policy and the Ionian Islands 1847–1864", in The English Historical Review, volume 99, no. 392 (1984), pp.503–529

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

rare. signed by gladstone and marked "most private" in his own hand, these are three confidential reports and forty-eight despatches on the secession of the ionian islands.

The United States of the Ionian Islands were entrusted to the sovereign protection of George III under the Treaty of Paris of November 1815. They were ceded to the Kingdom of Greece in 1864. Following the creation of the Kingdom of Greece in 1830, there was increasing agitation in the Ionian Islands to join their mother country. This was resisted by Britain for many years, but eventually there was general acceptance that the Islands would have to be ceded, despite some politicians arguing that Corfu and Paxos should be retained as Crown Colonies. Gladstone was sent to the Islands by Edward Bulwer Lytton, to whom the reports are addressed, charged with avoiding the part-annexation / part-cession option. As a known Hellenist, Gladstone was expected to make inquiries and his First Report, on constitutional issues, gave no encouragement to ideas of union, but suggested instead how responsible colonial government, subject to safeguards, could be conferred on the Ionians. The Second Report elaborated the responsible government proposals of the First.

In fact Gladstone's mission wholly failed to accomplish reforms. As far as the Ionian Assembly was concerned the only viable option was the surrender of the protectorate and union with Greece. Or as Harold Temperley remarked of the Ionians: "Their ideal was not, and could not be, Magna Carta. It was Hellas".

Gladstone's Reports were viewed as so sensitive that they were withheld from the collection of papers on his mission published in 1861.