THE CARNATIC AFFAIRS 221

Workmen employed 3- -

45-16-40

Pagodas 112-16-40

Charges of package 4-12-73 -------------

Pagodas 116-29-33

In return for these presents, Nizamul-Mulk sent a horse
and a Sarpich for the President of Fort St. George which
were received with due ceremony.

By gaining favour of Nizamu'l-Mulk, the authorities of
Fort St. George wanted to get confirmation of the right of
coining money and the grants of land made by Muham-
mad Sa'id Khan at the time of his father's death when
he and his mother were living under the protection of the
English.

In view of this consideration Governor Benyon entered
into negotiations with Imam Sahib and despatched Coja
Petrus and Vencatachelam to Arcot to get official recognition
of their privileges which would much facilitate their trade
on the Coromandel coast. Naturally, Governor Benyon
wanted to ensure the position of the English settlement so
that it might not be liable to be revoked or disputed in the
event of any future political change in the Carnatic.1

But Nizamu'1-Mulk objected to the privilege of minting
Rupees at the village of Chintadripetta for which the English
had obtained permission from Nawab Muhammad Sa'id Khan,
the infant son of Nawab Safdar 'All. It was explained by
Imam Sahib to the President of the Council of Fort St. George
that none had the authority to give the grant of the said
villages without Nizamu'l-Mulk's previous sanction. As a
last resort Vencatachelam was directed to request Imam
Sahib to intercede on behalf of the Governor of Fort St.
George for it would be deemed a disgrace for the English
to have the villages taken away.2 Imam Sahib promised
that he would use his best endeavours to prevent the villages
from being reclaimed; but the Governor, in any case, must
not coin any more money without getting permission from
Nizamu'1-Mulk. The latter had issued out orders to forbid

i Diary and Consultation Book, 1743. * Ibid.