that, whether it was Italian or
was Greek, was in either case a fatal sign of the public temper. What,
they cried, did the treaty of 1815 mean by describing the Ionian state
as free and independent? What was a protectorate, and what the rights of
the protector? Was there no difference between a protector and a
sovereign? What could be more arrogant and absurd than that the
protector, who was not sovereign, should talk about 'conceding' reforms
to a free and independent state? All these questions were in themselves
not very easy to answer, but what was a more serious obstacle than the
argumentative puzzles of partisans was a want of moral and political
courage; was the sycophancy of one class, and the greediness of
others.[380]

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Closely connected with the recommendations of constitutional reform was
the question by whom the necessary communications with the assembly were
to be conducted. Sir John Young was obviously impossible, though he was
not at once brought to face the fact. Mr. Gladstone upon this made to
the colonial secretary (December 27) an offer that if he had already
determined on Young's recall, and if he thought reform would stand a
better chance if introduced by Mr. Gladstone himself, he was willing to
serve as lord high commissioner for the very limited time that might be
necessary. We may be sure that the government lost not an hour in making
up their minds on a plan that went still further both in the way of
bringing Mr. Gladstone into still closer connection with them, and
towards relieving themselves of a responsibility which they never from
the first had any business to devolve upon Mr. Gladstone or anybody
else. The answer came by telegraph (January 11), 'The Queen accepts.
Your commission is being made out.'

All other embarrassments were now infinitely aggravated by the sudden
discovery from the lawyers that acceptance of the new office not only
vacated the seat in parliament, but also rendered Mr. Gladstone
incapable of election until he had ceased to hold the office. 'This, I
must confess,' he told Sir Edward, 'is a great blow. The difficulty and
the detriment are serious' (January 17). If some enemy on the meeting of
the House in February should choose to move the writ for the vacant seat
at Oxford, the election would necessarily take place at a date too early
for the completion of the business at Corfu, and Mr. Gladstone still at
work as high com