The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-21 00:00:00

DECREE.

The lonian Assembly, elected on the invitation of the pro.
tecting Powers, and convoked in view of pronouncing on
the subject of the restoration of the lonian people, manifest-
ing faithfully their ardent desire and constant will, and con-
forming itself to the declarations and votes passed on seve-
ral preceding occasions by the free lonian Assemblies—
Decrees,—

That the islands of Corfu, Cephalonia, Zonte, Saint-
Maure, Ithaca, Cerirro, and Ptaos,as well as their depen-
dencies, shall be united to the kingd ono of Greece, so as to
form an integral part of it in perpetuity, forming a single
indivisible Sien. of
tateunikr the constitutional sceptre of his Ma-
jesty the the Hellenes, Geo. 1.. and his successors.
ADDRESS TorilE,
Done in the Hall of the Assemby, Sept. 23, year of grace
1863.
THE
ASSEMBLY IN REPLY TO THE
The lonian people
E LORD HIGH COMMISSIONER.
Excellency,—
invited by her Majesty the Queen
pro,nho-uenvec'e formally on the subject of this na-
tionalprotectrice to
the elected the representades to whom
restoration
they have confided
accomplishment of their will. In
2teoenn, the Assembly, after having
execution of that sacred
proceeefdenttlicoY'the issuing of a decree
heard the speeeh of your
has believed it to be
its indispensable duty to
lonian representaticn.
consecrating the firm decision
, ;reign, and the other
always sought
b© fully convinced
1 By this decree the most gracious see
great protecting Powers of Grettecilve
that the lonian people, having
andng for the cessa-
tion its national
restoration, sanctions to-day the decisions
o
and the conduct
of its free preceding assemblies, pronouncing
tion of the protectorate and for the entire
1 union of the lonian Islands with the kingdom of Greece
complete ro-
under the constitutional sceptre of his Majestythe
the Hellenes, George 1., andhis successors. The King of
Assembly
reserves to itself to declare its decision upon the proposi-
tions mentioned in the speech of your Excellency, ae
as the Chambers shall have received the communication
which is to be presented to them. The Assembly is Cm_
vinced that the arrangements referred to in the speech of
your Excellency, and which will be taken by the Europa'',
Powers, will fully answer the just and ardent hopes which
have been conceived by the lonian people since their recut
Convention concerning Greece and the Seven Islands.
Excellency,—

In the midst of the unspeakable joy which fills all hearts
the Assembly ought to express the gratitude of the lonian
people to the august Sovereign of Great Britain for the deci-
sion which :she has deigned to take, and for the benevolent
disposition of her Majesty towards the Greek nation. The
Assembly ought equally to express the same sentiments in
regard to the other protecting Powers of Greece, for their
concurrence in the realisation of the wishes of the lonians
for national restoration, and for their goodwill to the Greeks
in general. Christian Europe, appreciating the services
which Greece has rendered to humanity, will doubtless wish
to lend its assistance to the Grecian nation for its complete
restoration, in the interests of civilisation and for the ao--
complishment of the decrees of the Most High.
In receiving the preceding. address, the Lord High
Commissioner replied to the Assembly as follows ;
Mr. President and Gentlemen,--
I will hasten to communicate to the Secretary of State of
her Majesty, to be submitted to the Sovereign protectrice
the desire which the lonian people expresses in your address
to see the cessation of the protectorate exercised over this
State by her Majesty, my august Sovereign, in order that
the lonian Islands may form in future part of the kingdom
of Greece, under the sceptre of his Majesty King George and
his successors. I will communicate without delay to the
Legislative Assembly, in the accustomed form, the detailed
arrangements which are necessary to complete this measure,
and I like to believe that in the interest of the country, you
will proceed to a prompt resolution upon the points which
will be submitted to your deliberations. I hope sincerely
that the vote which you have just pronounced will not fail
to assure the . welfare and the prosperity of the lonian
people. _ _

Te Deums, and thanks for the union obtained, ac-
clamations to his Majesty the King of the Hellenes,
solemn demonstrations in favour of the Queen of
Great Britain and the protecting Powers of Greece,
sumptuous illuminations—nothing has been omitted
during these last days to render as brilliant as pos.
Bible the manifestation of the public joy.