However, Alyvirdy Khan was soon relieved from his doubts and apprehensions, by the management of his secret agent Mekhless Khan, who, by artful contrivances, prevailed upon the officers of Moorshed Kuly Khan to leave their intrenchment, and come to action, in opposition to the wise plan of delay which Moor­shed Kuly Khan had resolved upon, from the conviction that the enemy could not keep the field much longer, but would be forced to return to Bengal, without having effected any thing. Mekhless Khan, by setting forth the pusillanimity of remaining inactive in the trenches, in the face of a languid and dispirited enemy, so operated upon the youthful and ambitious mind of Bauker Khan, that he positively refused all further restraint, and marched his men out of the intrenchment to attack the enemy. Thus situated, Moorshed Kuly Khan had no alternative, but was com­pelled to follow with the main body of his troops. After a brisk cannonade, and a dis­charge of rockets on both sides, the two armies joined battle:—in the beginning of the engagement, that of Orissa had so much the advantage, that the elephant upon which was Alyvirdy Khan, and another, with his wife, were driven back a cose from the field of battle. At this juncture, Mekhless Khan, and Abed Khan, who were mounted upon one elephant, deserted to the enemy, with other officers and troops, as had been pre-concerted with Alyvirdy Khan. Added to these defections, the follow­ing accident completely turned the fortune of the day: Manickchund*, the peishkar of the rajah of Burdwan, had professedly come to the assistance of Alyvirdy Khan; but determined to join whichever party might prove the victor, he had maintained a secret correspondence with Moorshed Kuly Khan; and when he saw that he had the advantage in the action, was preparing to join him: but Bauker Aly Khan, who commanded the van of the Orissa army, suspecting him of treachery, would not allow him to join, but compelled him to unite with the enemy, and in consequence, the troops of Orissa were totally routed. When intelligence was brought to Alyvirdy Khan, that the enemy were in their turn repulsed, he rallied his broken forces, and a second conflict ensued. Moorshed Kuly Khan was now worsted, and retreated to Balasore, where he embarked on a sloop, which he had provided against accidents, and set sail for the Dekhan.

Alyvirdy Khan pursued Moorshed Kuly Khan to Balasore, and, upon his departure, sent Khyerullah Beg*, and Fakeerullah Beg*, to seize the wife and son of Moorshed Kuly Khan, whom he had abandoned in the fort of Barahbatty. But Morad Khan, the bukhshee of the rajah of Pursotim, under whose care they had been left, fled with them, by the road of Sittakole*, to the Dekhan; and carried with them a great part of the treasure of Moor­shed Kuly Khan. However, the officers of Alyvirdy Khan arrived in time to intercept a considerable quantity of money and jewels, which was on the backs of elephants, ready to depart.

Alyvirdy Khan marched, without halting, to Cutteck, where he possessed himself of the remainder of the treasure and effects of Moor­shed Kuly Khan. He proclaimed, by beat of drum, a general pardon for all who returned to their duty; and by these assurances of lenity and kindness, prevailed upon the zemindars to pay him a nuzziraneh, and to conclude a settle­ment for the revenue. He remained a month at Cutteck; when, after having settled all the affairs of the soobah, he appointed for his naib Said Ahmed Khan*, his nephew; to whom he gave the title of Sowlet Jung*; and, leaving with him an army of three thou­sand cavalry, and four thousand infantry, under the command of Gowjer Khan*, marched back to Bengal.

Said Ahmed Khan, who had ever been noto­rious for his mean parsimony, now, in order to lessen the military expences, entertained at reduced allowances, some of Moorshed Kuly Khan’s jemidars, and sent back to Moorshedabad, Gowjir Khan and his men. But as soon as they were departed, the new troops, who had only engaged in this service, to have an opportunity of revenging themselves, all mutinied. Said Ahmed Khan sent Cossim Beg*, the commandant of his artillery, and Hedayetullah*, foujdar of Cutteck, to negotiate with them; when they killed the for­mer; and the latter, after being dreadfully wounded, with difficulty made his escape. At midnight the inhabitants of the city, headed by the jemidars, attacked the house of Said Ahmed Khan; and after seizing him and his dependants, plundered every thing that they could lay their hands upon. They then brought back Mirza Bauker from Sittakole, and placed him in the government. He got possession of the treasure; made himself master of all Orissa; and the report of his approach spread alarms in Bengal.

Alyvirdy Khan marched a second time to Midnapore, by the way of Burdwan: upon his approach Mirza Bauker sent his baggage and valuable effects to Sittakole; and retreated, with his army, to Cutteck.

Alyvirdy Khan proceeded from Midnapore to Jeleysir; and crossing the river at Rajghaut, marched by Phoolwariah*, to Balasore.