﻿Extract of a Letter from Alexander Davidson, Esq. 

 Dated Madras , July 12, 1787. 



A PEASANT near Nelore, about 100 miles north- 

 west of Madras , was ploughing on the side of a stony 

 craggy hill : his plough was obstructed by some, 

 brick-work : he dug, and discovered the remains of 

 a small Hindu temple, under which a little pot was 

 found with Roman coins and medals of the second 

 century. 



He sold them as old gold ; and many no doubt 

 were melted, but the Nawab Amirul Umara reco- 

 vered upwards of thirty of them. This happened 

 while I was governor; and I had the choice of two 

 out of the whole. I chose an Adrian and Faustina. 



Some of the Trojans were in good preservation. 

 Many of the coins could not have been in circulation : 

 they were all of the purest gold, and many of 'them 

 as fresh and beautiful as if they had come from the 

 mint but yesterday. Some were much defaced and 

 perforated, and had probably been worn as orna- 

 ments on the arm, and others pending from the neck. 



I send you drawings of my two coins, and have 

 no objection to your publishing an account of them 

 in the Transactions of the Asiatic Society. I received 

 my information respecting them from the young 

 Nawab ; and if my name be necessary to authenticate 

 the facts I have related, you have my permission to 

 use it. 



