salabat jung was subsequently deposed by his brother nizam ali khan, who leased out rajahmundry and chicacole to hasan ali khan. lord robert clive, entered into negotiations with the mughal emperor shah alam and obtained a "firmana" ceding the northern circars to the british east india company in august 1765, but it was kept a secret until march 1766. the fort of kondapalli was seized by the british, and general cillaud was sent to machilipatnam to undertake military operations, if necessary. the nizam also made brisk preparations for war. war was prevented by the signing of a treaty on 12 november 1766 by which the company, in return for occupying the circars, undertook to maintain troops for the nizam's assistance.