DESIGNS OF CHANDA SAHIB. 241 could be considered secure that was not based upon a C ^ I 1 AP - possession that could be maintained. Nor, at the same time, could any possession be regarded as perfectly 1749. tenable to which a pretender was in the field waiting for an opportunity to assert his claims. Dupleix, well aware of this, did not cease to press upon Chanda Sahib the absolute necessity of insuring the submission of Muhammad Ali, before he resigned himself to the more peaceful cares of his government. Rapidity in his movements was, he pointed out, the more requisite as Muhammad Ali had taken refuge in Trichinapalli, the fortifications of which had been greatly strengthened since Chanda Sahib had been compelled to surrender it to Raghuji Bhonsla. He added the information that Nasir Jang, the pretender to the Subadari of the Dak- han, was engaged in levying an army wherewith to crush his nephew and rival, and that it was, therefore, more especially necessary to clear the Karnatik and its dependencies of all foes, before this greater enemy should be ready to march upon it. The exhortations of Dupleix to Chanda Sahib to march without any delay upon Trichinapalli were earnest and repeated. One circumstance, however, served to hinder the native chieftains from moving. The battle of Ambur had been fought on August 3 ; Madras, in pursuance of the articles of the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, had been made over to the English at the end of the same month, but still Admiral Boscawen remained on the coast. More than that, he had taken advantage of the disordered state of affairs to possess himself of the little settlement of St. Thome, upon which he had hoisted the English flag. It was known, too, that he was himself strongly impressed with the necessity of remaining to support English interests, and that he had declared he would remain, if he were publicly requested to do so.* It appeared then to Chanda Sahib, that for him to move
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