Επιστολή των μελών της προσωρινής κυβέρνησης της Ζακύνθου προς τον George Canning, σταλμένη από την Ζάκυνθο στις 9 Δεκεμβρίου 1809, με την οποία εκφράζουν την ευγνωμοσύνη τους για την απόφαση της Βρετανίας να καταλάβει το νησί τους και εν γένει τα Επτάνησα. Προτότυπο και αγγλική μετάφραση.
May it please your Excellency
The grateful people of Zante who are so largely benefitted by the generosity of Great Britain rejoice both at the advantages they enjoy and at the happiness in prospect, and offer their warmest prayers to the most High, that the prosperity of Great Britain, their liberation, may ever equal her glory.
This grateful people make bold to supplicate Y.E. as the principal organ of the sovereign munificence to be pleased to obtain from the clemency of His Majesty the permission of offering, through Your intercession, their homages and the sentiments of their profound gratitude.
The inhabitants of Zante, encouraged by Your Excellencys’s magnanimity, have the consolation of hoping, that Y.E. will submit to H.M., that their joy is increased by the confidence, that even their remotest prosperity will enjoy the invaluable benefit of the continuation of Great Britain’s high and powerful protection which alone is capable of preserving to this dutiful people the political liberty, which has been with so much liberality again recognized and granted by the sovereign magnanimity. The respectful presidency of this provisional government has the honor to remain with the profoundest esteem and obsequiousness.
Your Excellency’s
Most humble, devote and obedient servants
Gio. Gaeta Pres.
Nicolo Foscardi Pres.
Giandraco Melissino Pres.
Antonio Martinengo Pres.
Gio. Carvella, Secretary to the Provisional Government of Zante