Επιστολή/αναφορά του Σπυρίδωνα Φορέστη (Ζάκυνθος, 22 Ιουνίου 1813) προς τον His Excellency Major General J. Campbell στην Ζάκυνθο με την οποία επιστολή/αναφορά του εκθέτει τις απόψεις του για το πώς μπορεί να βελτιωθεί το εμπόριο και άρα οι πρόσοδοι των νησιών του Ιονίου, μετά το αίτημα/επιστολη του Campbell προς τον Φορέστη με ημερομηνία 28 Μαΐου 1813. Ο Φορέστης αναφέρει πως στην επιστολή του θα εκθέσει ορισμένες απόψεις του ως προς τα μέτρα που θα μπορούσαν να ληφθούν ώστε να αναπτυχθεί το εμπόριο και η παραγωγή των νησιών και να αυξηθούν παράλληλα οι δημόσιοι πρόσοδοι που προέρχονται από αυτά, ένα εμπόριο και μία παραγωγή που είχαν βιώσει μεγάλη ύφεση με την κατάληψη των νησιών από τους Γάλλους. Για τον Φορέστη το σημαντικό είναι οι έμποροι να αισθάνονται ασφαλείς με την περιουσία τους και να αντιμετωπίζονται επί ίσοις όροις στα δικαστήρια.

Συγκεκριμένα ο Φορέστης γράφει:

The trade of the Ionian Islands may be distinguished into three branches, the exports, the imports, and the carrying trade, each of these has since the arrival of the English been rapidly recovering from the almost total stagnation to which they had been reduced by the occupation of the Islands by the French. The progression of improvement might doubtless be accelerated by wise regulations and proper encouragement.
What traders will first look to is the security of their property. Therefore, they must be assured that in all cases where they may find it necessary to have resurse to the tribunals their cause shall be decided promptly and according to the strictest equity, whithout regard to persons which has unfortunately not always been the case.
The principal exports of the produce of these islands consist in currants, oil and wine, besides other small articles, such as soap, shoes, etc. Those being the great sources of public revenue are the first to be attended to as in proportion to their augmentation will the Revenue increase.
The cultivation of the Curant is nearly confined to Zante and Cephalonia. That of the wine, and the olive has made a great progress in both, still in the latter is not adequate to its extent. In the other islands, particularly Santa Maura a greater deficiency is observed and by proper encouragement to Persons making new plantations more extension might be given to those two branches of produce. In general little case has been taken to better the quality of the fruit or improve the soil by proper cultivation.
The gathering and drying of the currants has always in some degree been under the inspection of the public authorities. They should watch attentively to prevent the quality of the produce from being adulterated, that the currants may be gathered ripe, properly dried, and brought into town free from dirt. For on that depends the ready sale and the preference to be obtained over the fruit of the Morea. These islands being now taken under the special protection of Great Britain, that preference might be insured by making a difference in the rates of duties in England between their currants and those of the Morea, either by lowering those on the fruit of this country or raising them on that of foreign growth. If such a favour could be obtained it would be of the utmost importance to the Islands and to their public revenue, the more so at the duty on the exportation of currants is greater here than in the Morea.
The present manner of making oil is very defective principally from the want of proper machines for bruising and pressing the olives. I would strongly recommend the introduction of those used in Florence as they diminish the labour, and extract a greater quantity of Oil.
The olives in these Islands are prepared with salt which renders the quality of the Oil inferior to that of some of the neighboring countries. Experiments should be made to ascertain whether the use of the salt could not bee discontinued. If it cannot be dispensed with it would at least be very useful to introduce in all new plantations the olive of Prevesa or that of the Island of Paxo which do not require salt, and one of the best quality. From this a double advantage would result, the oil would be better and that quantity of salt from Zante, and Santa Maura which is now consumed in the Islands would then be exported and prove a profitable branch of revenue.
The establishment of an agricultural society might in some measure promote the desired improvements by the exertions and example of its members, and by small premiums granted to the most industrious.
The regulations adopted by you in Zante for the preventing Flocks and Herds from causing any damage to the currant, vine, and olive plantations ought to be strictly attended to, and measures to the same effect taken in the other Islands.
The numerous entails on the landed property has often been found embarrassing in commercial transactions no one knowing how far he may look upon the landed property of another as a security for his credit, which has particularly been felt in some late failures. This would it seems require regulating. The olive might in some measure be removed by ordering that all entails to be valid should be registered in a public office wher the books might be referred to, and the encumbrances on the property easily ascertained. Thus every one might knows haw far he could enter into speculations with security and the transfer of property be rendered less intricate. The existing bankrupt laws also want revising.
There were in this island small manufactures of silk which are now nearby reduced to nothing; still a few silk worms are kept. The raw silk was partly the produce of the Islands, partly imported from the Morea. It would certainly be of great benefit t the country to give new vigour to this branch of industry which would supersede the necessity of importing silks, ribbons etc from Italy, and might becomean article of export to the neighbouring continent affording the greater advantage as the raw materials might be produced, in the country, and so many different hands be employed. The difficutly of establishing this branch of commerce is also less if having already existed to a small extent.
The gold and silver lace and thread manufactures established in Italy and particularly in the Kingdom of Naples gave that country a lucrative trade with Turkey. The present state of the former, the stagnation of tis commerce, the vicinity of these islands to the Turkish continent might facilitate the means of inducing artists in that branch to come and settle here and bring with them the source of a most productive traffic that article being in great request in Turkey.
The commerce of grain is one of the most important points to be considered. These Islands only produce a quantity of corn adequate to the consumption of two or three months, but are dependent for their supply on the importation. This in a time of scarcity or warfare with the Turkish Empire, whence it is generally produced, must become precarious. Besides the necessity of purchasing foreign grain takes much money out of the Islands. The Objects which in this are desirableto obtain are a more regular supply, diminishing the comsumption of foreign grain, and making that branch of commerce indemnity the Islands for the money employed in the purchase of corn. The encouragement given to tilling those lands which remain uncultivated would essentially contribute to the attainment of the two first. In Zante much groung is covered with water during the greater part of the year and lost to cultivation. The draining these marshes would be extremely beneficial in increasing the produce and improving the salubrity of that part of the island. I should therefore recommend proper persons to be consulted as to the possibility of doing it, the best means to be employed, and the probable expense. Measures might afterwards be adopted according to their report. Perhaps the cultivation of rice which required a damp soil might be found to answer there.
It is also very desirable to render these islands the depot for the corn exported from the adjacent parts of Turkey. That would insure a constant supply and create an active trade with the different parts of the Mediterranean, the profits of which would be a compensation for the money taken out of the country by the purchase oof the corn necessary for the population. To favour this I think the importation and exportation of grain ought in all the Islands to be exempted from duties except one per cent on the exportation as has not long since been established in Zante. The vicinity of the Turkish provinces, the security enjoyed here, and not to be found in Turkey, the arbitrary exactions of the Governors in that country all would contribute to facilitate success.
The erecting public magazines for the reception of corn and all sorts of merchandize, brought into the Islands for exportation, might favour the increase of trade. Both in Zante and Cephalonia there are lands belonging to Government eligible for such a purpose. With regard to corn the soil of Cephalonia would admit of pots being made for its reception, as at Malta and in Apulia. They are less expensive and preserve the grain longer.
The necessity of a mole capable of facilitating the lading and unlading of shipsb, and of affording them a safe shelter in such a road as that of Zante where they are much exposed in the winter season, is generally felt. The benefit arising from this work, has already been experienced since its commencement and will be still more so iin its progress as the port becomes capable of admitting a greater quantity of shipping.
A canal was made in the shallow waters between Santa Maura and the Continent, but from the lapsen of time that is has remain neglected it is now nearly choaked with mud, so that even boats cannot pass without being first lightened by discharging part of their cargoes into small canoes. The cleaning and deepening of this canal would most essentially facilitate the communication between these Islands and Prevesa which at present is so much obstructed, and would thereby favour the introduction of goods into the dominions of Aly Pasha.
The duties on imports are now the same from whatever countriesthe merchandize may come, even from the sister Islands; but the internal trade, and the introduction of British goods ongoing certainly to favoured in preference to that of the foreign. I am therefore of opinion that British goods shoud be kept on the same footing as those from another of the sister Islands whehter these be it own or produce or not, for if they are not, they must have steady been subject to pay the import duty at their first introduction; but foreign merchandize or produce ought with such exceptions as may be found necessary to be liable to heavier duties.
If endeavours are made to reestablish and augment the silk manufactures of Zante a higer rate of import duties can be imposed on all foreign silk manufactured goods which are articles of mere luxury.
Wine which here is an article of necessity to the common people and the labourer pays for importations one dollar per barrel of seventeen gallons to the Government, besides the thirty paras to the customs. It would be advisable in favour of the lower classes to reduce this when the market price ries above a stipulated sum as has in several cases been done.
The reducing all weights and measures throughout the Islands to the same standard is to be desired as affording greater convenience and simplicity in the internal commercial transactions, and can be done with liable difficulty.
The arrival of the French gave a fatal blow to the mercantile navy of these Islands from which it is now recovering, and having obtained the great advantage of using the British flag it might enter in competition with the Greeks for the carrying trade of this, and the neighbouring seas so long in the hands of the Ragusans, the Dalmatians and the French for whose navy it served as a nursery, and thus open a new source of wealth and prosperity to the country. To promote this it is desirable that all British consuls should be instructed to watch narrowly over the conduct of the Islanders in all their mercantile transactions that they may maintain that good faith which is necessary to the prosperity of commerce. The conduct of Masters of Vessels requires on the part of the consuls a particular attention. The malpractices of the Septinsular Captains during the time of the Republic probably occasioned by the political changes, and the negligence of the Government, brought them into great discredit; but since the adoption of the salutary measure of obliging captains of ships to furnish sureties for their good behavior before their papers are delivered to them no complaints have been received. Should the British consuls detect any masters of Ionian vessels committing frauds or breaking the laws of navigation, it is advisable that they should make it known immediately to the government of the Islands in order that the dafaulters may be punished.the utmost vigilance will be necessary to reestablish that credit and confidence without which they can never become carriers of the trade of Foreign nations. The establishment of nautical school would much contribute to the progress, and security of the navigation.
Such are the measures which I think likely to promote the wealth and trade of the Islands from which an increase in the public revenue must issue.
As to an augmentation by means of additional duties or taxes I do not think any can be laid on the produce. The current on being exported pay to the Government eight dollars per thousand weight, besides six per cent on the cost to the Customs; the oil pays one dollar and a third per barel of seventeen gallons, and at the present prices the proprietor hardly gets a fair profit. These Islanders not being used to be burthen of direct taxes it would perhaps be expedient in the plans for increasing the revenue to conform as much as possible to their customs.
The stamp duty on public acts, deeds etc was introduced by the French, but taken off by the English at their arrival. This duty in a case of necessity might be renewed and appears under proper regulations one of the least objectionable. It also might be extended to all articles of gold and silver.
At Zante every vessel of what ever nation or burthen is subject on anchoring to pay half a dollar as right of anchorage except only such vessels belonging to the Islands as are inferior in length to 28 feet. As it is very just that those who benefit by a work carried on at the public expense should contribute something towards it a new rate of charges might be made for all vessels coming within the mole establishing a siale in proportion to the burthen or according as they are laden or on ballast. Something might also be added for heaving down or refitting along side the mole. All these charges however ought until the trade acquired more activity to be trifling, and such as can deter no vessel from coming to this port.
The public revenue might be relieved from the burthen of having and cleaning the streets of the towns, making sewers etc by throwing that expence on expense on their inhabitants. For the better regulating of which the streets ought to be named, the houses numbered and the value of the yearly rent of each ascertained. Those under a certain sum to be exempt from all charges and others to be liable to a tax proportional to their value and payable by the occupiers. The tax is likely to be rendered less unpopular among the people if by the manner in which the money is expended, they are shown that the whole produce of it is exclusively appropriated to the objects for which, it is levied, and not to any purposes of the Government.
A slaughter house was lately erected in Zante at the public expense, the cost of which was 5.000 dollars it was intented that this sum should return to the treasury by means of a tax imposed on every head of cattle, sheep etc that was slaughtered. The rate fixed, is so inconsiderable (eight paras per head of cattle and three for the others) that the capital will not be repaid in forty years exclusive of the repairs the buildings will require during so long a period. I think this tax might without inconvenience be raised enough to answer the end for which it was intended.
I have briefly touched on the different points to which your enquiries relate, and on the means by which the views of His Majesty’s Government for the prosperity of these Islands might be forwarded. Some of these measures from their nature would be tardly in their effects yet they ought not on that account to be entirely rejected if found on mature consideration to be likely to answer the desired end. They all require to be examined in their details at a much greater length than I can do at present; but this will with more propriety be gone into when they are canvassed. My object has been merely to thrown out such hints as occurred to me, and which might hereafter be more fully discussed.
I remain with sentiments of great regard and esteem,
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble servant
Signed Spiridion Foresti
True Cope Spiridion Foresti