The Sun.
London, England, 1836-07-21 00:00:00

ATTACK ON FONTARABIA.

PASSAGES, JULY 12.—The number of the Anglo-
Spanish forces and the British Marines that moved towards
Fontarabia amounted to nearly 5,000 ; but of this number,
only a portion, and that the smaller one, was actually en-
gaged. That portion consisted of detachments of the Ist
and 2d brigades under General Shaw and Colonel Fitzge-
rald, some companies of Artillery under Colquhoun, and
the Rocket Company. The action commenced by a body
of the Chapelgories (red caps) and two companies of the
10th regiment descending the heights and crossing the
bridge of Fontarabia, a considerable distance from that
town on the road to Irun, which they did in the most gal-
lant style, and under a heavy fire from the enemy, who,
however, fled precipitately on seeing their antagonists on the
same side of the water with themselves. The pro-
gress of the pursuers was, after some time, checked
by the advance of two or three fresh Carlist
battalions, and they were forced by the great supe-
riority of the numbers to retrace their steps and retire
over the bridge. Other reinforcements coming up to the
Carlists, the engagement became general, so far at least as
the 3d, 6th, 9th, and 10th regiments of the Legion, some
companies of the British Marines and of Chapelgories were
concerned. After the action had continued from 11 in the
morning till 7 in the.evening, the Lieutenant-General, per-
ceiving the still increasing force of the enemy, and being
convinced that the town was far from being in a state of
very incomplete defence, resolved not to make an attempt
upon a town with a formidable and hourly increasing hostile
army endeavouring to outflank and take him in the rear.
Orders were therefore given to that portion of the Anglo-
Spanish force engaged to reascend the heights, and retrace
their march to Passages.. This they did in the most excel-
lent order, turning their front towards the enemy at every
attempt of theirs to approach, and baffling and punishing
every effort to intercept their progress. The loss, consi-
dering this long-continued and obstinate struggle, has been
comparatively trifling. Of the Legion there have been
about 30 killed and 40 wounded. Amongst the latter,
Colonels Ross and Beatson, of the 6th and 9th Regiments,
and Lieutenant Lynch, of the 10th. None of these
officers' wounds are supposed to be dangerous. Of the
Marines, three men were killed, and nine wounded, but no
officers hurt. Of the Chapelgories, who behaved with
great daring, some say that there are 106 killed, wounded,
and missing, but this I believe to be an exaggeration. Up
to 3 o'clock to-day 30 of the Legion were missing.
Even before going out yesterday morning Lieut.-General
Evans was labouring under very severe indisposition, and
the fatigue, excitement, and anxiety of the last two days
have contributed in not a little degree to increase that in-
disposition.

ST. SEBASTIAN, JULY 13.—1 am enabled to add a few
more particulars concerning the movement of the 11th on
Fontarabia. I read this morning a copy of General Evans's
&spatch to the Minister of War, giving the details of the
affair. In this he states, that in consequence of having re-
ceived information from several quarters that the Carlists in
expectation of a movement of the Anglo-Christino force
upon Fontarabia, had dismantled the defences of that town,
and left it but a very scanty garrison who would abandon
it on the first attack, he resolved to occupy it, being con-
vinced of the importance of ousting the enemy from a point
through which they had been so long receiving abun-
dant supplies of everything they wanted from France.
But, ou reconnoitering the place, he found that
the infbrmation given to him of its defenceless state was
false, for that the walk though old, were of considerable
thickness, and that the breaches made in them had been
built up with solid stone walls, loopholed and crenelated ;
and that to attack it with any certainty of success it would
be necessary to sit doam before it for two or three days,
and batter it with much heavier metal than that of the
light guns and field howitzers which he had brought, with
him ; that to undertake this protracted operation would
have given the enemy time to bring down the whole force
of the rebels upon which might. have compromised, if
not the safety of the Legion, at least some portion of those
extended lines which it. had cost so much of exertion and
bloodshed to gain possession of. Under • these circum-
stances, he ordered the advance movement to withdraw,
and led the troops back to their former positions, which
orders were executed with remarkable intelligence, cool-
ness, and military talent by the officers, and the roost orderly
conduct and firmness on the part of the men.
Yesterday evening Major Burt, commanding the marines
of the Isabella armed steamer, who is stationed at a redoubt
on the heights of Alza over Passages, perceived a movement
' amongst a field of corn, evidently occasioned by some one
endeavouring to escape clandestinely through it. He imme-
diately rushed forward, ordering at the same time some of
his men to run down to the lower extremity of the field and
cut off the means of retreat of the unseen and unknown
fugitive. This individual, on finding himself hemmed in,
started up and made a gesture as if to draw a pistol from
his bosom, but was secured before he could effect that pur-
pose. On examining his papers and questioning- him, he
turned out to be a German officer, named Augustus de
Goehen, belonging to the service of Don Carlos. He stated
that he had come some days before from Irun, had contrived
to get into St. Sebastian, had followed the troops from thence
to Passages, where, amidst the hurry and confusion of their
embarkation, he crossed the water and ascended the
heights, where he remained concealed during the 11th and
part of the 12th, whiling away the time occasionally by
sketching the works and lines ofdefences, &c.,which sketches
were found upon his person, together with copies of letters
of introduction to Don Carlos. The most remarkable of
these latter was a letter from the Prussian Minister in Paris,
recommending, in the name of the Prince Royal of Prussia,
the bearer, Baron Goehen, to Don Carlos, whose just and
righteous cause he (the Prince Royal) hoped would be be-
nefited by the exertions of such an excellent artillery and
engineer officer. The letter, in conclusion, said that the
Prince Royal looked impatiently for the receipt of a letter
from His Majesty Don Carlos, conveying the satisfactory
intelligence of his continued success, and, if possible, ulti-
mate triumph. The Baron, with his papers, sketches, &c.,
was sent before Brigadier-General Chichester, who, after
questioning him, ordered him this morning into town, to
appear before General Evans, who, though seriously indis-
posed, talked with him for nearly half an hour, and then
sent him a prisoner tothe Spanish Governor of the town.
Preparations are being made for his trial, but no final de-
cision on his fate will be come to, I believe, until Cordova,
and probably the Government at Madrid, shall have been
made acquainted with the peculiar circumstances of his
case.—Morning Paper.

An Order in Council appears in the Gazette of
Tuesday night, declaring the port of Plymouth a fit and proper
place for the reception of goods from places within the limits
of the East India Company's charter, and authorizing the im-
portation of such goods into that port.
DUBLIN CITY POLlCE.—Lieutenant-Colonel
Cuyler, Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir E. Blakeney,
has been appointed one of the two superintending Commis..
sioners under whom the Dublin city watch and police force is
placed by the new Act.
On Saturday last a deputation consisting of E. S.
Cayley, Esq., M.P., General Palmer, and Dr. Birkbeck,-on
the Whig side ; and Sir J. Tyrell, Col. Rushbrook, Sir C.
Vere, Mr. Elwes, &c., on the part of the Tories, waited on
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the subject of Mr. Rud-
kin's invention to prevent fraud on the Excise, which is ac-
knowledged by scientific men to to be most ingenious, and to
give every promise of successful application. Mr. Cayley
stated the peculiar character of the invention to Mr. Spring
Rice, who gate a very favourable reception to the deputation,
and, with great liberality, promised to see it fairly tried at the
public expense. Mr. Cayley was, on this occasion, ably se-
conded by Dr. Birkbeck.

CLERIC OF THE IRISH PRIVY COUNCIL.--
This sinecure office (worth 1,5001. a-year), which has become
vacant by the death of Viscount Clifden, is not to be filled
up ; and the Council-office will in future be under the entire
control of the Lord Lieutenant and the Chief Secretary of
Ireland. The situation of Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, vacant
ince December last, is also to be abolished by a new arrange-
eat of the business.