The Sun.
London, England, 1835-12-01 00:00:00

SPAIN.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER OF RANK IN
THE BRITISH AUXILIARY LEGION, DATED BRIVIESCA,

NOV. 15.

" You are already aware that the original cause of the
British Legion being carried to and concentrated at Bil-
boa was not on account of any advantages in the position
of that place, but solely for the purpose of assisting so
important a commercial to.vn, and relieving it from the
rigorous state of blockade in which it then was. The
cause of the legion having remained there after having
contributed to effect this oject, was for the double pur-
pose of covering the construction of the new works,
deemed requisite to put the town in a state of security,
while at the same time the legion was in a position to
receive and equip the new levies daily arriving from
England. Bilboa, as connected With the theatre of ope-
rations and the present state of the Queen's army (which,
owing to the small number of troops disposable to Ge-
neral Cordova, is principally confined to Alava and Na-,
varre), is, under these circumstances, a bad position, and,
in point 'of fact, a perfect cul de sac.
" The works around Bilhoa, whether from want of funds,
or the.insufficient exertions of the civil authorities, did not
so rapidly proceed in their construction as might have been
expected, but being sufficiently raised and enclosed to ad-
mit of their occupation, the LieutenantXreneral no longer
wished to delay fulfilling the intentions of the Government,
and of the General-in-Chief, Cordova, to march on Brivi-
esca or Vittoria, central points as affecting the operations of
the army. Accordingly, on the 30th of October, the very
"day after the works around Bilboa were declared to be suf-
ficiently enclosed (though far from being finished) to be
defended against any sudden attempt of the enemy, the
whole legion commenced its march, accompanied by the di-
vision of General Espartero, on the left bank of the river,
crossed the suspension bridge at the Bercena convent, and
moved on Barracaldo, when the auxiliaries turned to the
right to Portugalette and adjacent places, while General
Espartero prosecuted his march to Zornorostro, where there
was not room for the whole force.

" The more direct course (and it had been suggested to
proceed by that line) would have been via Durango to Vit-
toria, and it had indeed been expected that the Legion was
to have marched by that route ; but though that line of
road is good and shorter, it passes through the strongest
woods and defiles, and runs over one of the most formidable
mountain passes in Spain, and even in Europe, and which
it is impossible to turn.
" A large portion of the Legion were in the most crude
state of organization. Many of the battalions had not been
embodied sufficiently long to acquire the use of their arms,
and not even to have practised firing with ball or blank
cartridge. It would, therefore, have been the height of ab-
surdity to risk committing such raw levies under such very
great disadvantages, in the midst of defiles, to the attacks
of an enemy confessedly wily, and so well versed in that
species of warfare ; it would, in point of fact, have been
playing the game of the enemy, and the intended march
of the Legion was well known for several days preced-
ing it. In the hope of its proceeding by that route,