and Chunda Saib, nominated
by the usurper Muzapherzing, and protected by Dupleix, who commanded at
Pondicherry. Muzapherzing did not long survive his usurpation. In the
year one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one, the same nabobs who had
promoted him to his kinsman's place, thinking themselves ill rewarded
for their services, fell upon him suddenly, routed his troops, and
put him to death: and next day the chiefs of the army proclaimed
Sallabatzing, brother to Nazirzing, viceroy of Decan; on the other
hand, the mogul appointed Gauzedy Khan, who was the elder brother
of Sallabatzing; and this prince confirmed Mahommed Ali Khan in the
government of Arcot; but the affairs of the mogul's court were then
in such confusion, that he could not spare an army to support the
nomination he had made. Chunda Saib, nabob of Arcot, having been deposed
by the great mogul, who placed Anaverdy Khan in his room, ha resolved to
recover his government by force, and had recourse to the French general
at Pondicherry, who reinforced him with two thousand sepoys, or soldiers
of the country, sixty caffrees, and four hundred and twenty French
troops, on condition that, if he proved successful in his enterprise,
he should cede to the French the town of Velur, in the neighbourhood of
Pondicherry, with its dependencies, consisting of forty-five villages.
Thus reinforced, he defeated his rival Anaverdy Khan, who lost his life
in the engagement, reassumed the government of Arcot, and punctually
performed the conditions which had been stipulated by his French allies.

MAHOMMED ALI KHAN SUPPORTED BY THE ENGLISH.

Mahommed Ali Khan, at the death of his father, had fled to
Tiruchirapalli,* and solicited the assistance of the English, who
favoured him with a reinforcement of money, men, and ammunition, under
the conduct of major Laurence, a brave and experienced officer.

* Tiruchirapalli, commonly called Triehinoply, situated near
tha river Cauveri, above two hundred miles to the southward
of Madras, is the capital of a small kingdom belonging to
the government of Arcot, and hounded on the east by the
kingdom of Tanjore.

By dint of this supply, he gained some advantages over the enemy,
who were obliged to retreat; but no decisive blow was given. Mahommed
afterwards repaired in person to fort St. David's, to demand more
powerful succours, alleging that his fate was connected with the
interest of the English company, whi