Ebook Calendar of the Madras Despatches

Such was the attitude, not only of the Company, but also of its servants in the East, until both were driven to inter vention by the situation established by French activity in 1749. Even then, trade remained their chief pre-occupation. It was the threat of being encircled by French territory and having to pay imposts established by French rivals that really forced the English to intervene in the politics of the South.2 It was trade interests that disposed the English to accept the disadvantageous terms of the treaty of 1754 with Godeheu. It was still that punctuality and exactness which are essential to great trade activity which the Company demanded from its principal servants.