ABSTRACT
The Court of Directors in the period 1823–34, lost much of its past and justly-earned reputation for knowledge, experience and industry in Indian affairs. This development coincided with, and was partly due to, the growing influence of the Private Trade interest in the India House, mainly at the expense of the Indian interest. The Agency Houses not only formed the bulwark of the Private Trade interest, but also acted as a connecting link between that interest and the City and Shipping interest. As might be expected, the influence of the Private Trade interest on the Company’s commercial policy was easily discernible. In June 1820, the Private Trade interest questioned this policy in the General Court, and, although Charles Grant temporarily staved off their attack, thenceforth this interest harried the Directors to abandon the Company’s unprofitable export of British goods to India.
