The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-04 00:00:00

SIEGE OF RILBOA

MscATE, OcT. 26.—Once more we are in movement; the
-calm his passed by. and warm work is going on in Biscay. tit
'my last I uoticcd the intention of Don Carlos to cross the Ebro,
-hot ere so important a step could be taken it was thought pru-
dent-to assemble a Couucil of Generals. At this meeting the
greatest deference was shown to the opinion of General Egnia,
who advised that Bilboa should be besieged, and compelled to
surrender, before any decisive movement should he undertaken.
The proposition was adopted, and the following plan of opera-
tions instantly agreed to. Eguia, wt,h Simon Latorre, under-
took to command the siege, while Villareal occupied the high
road to Balmnacemla; Goni, Artaitan ;• Garcia, the Ribera, and
Ginhelalde the line of St. Sebastian _ .

2.3:1 the greatet part of the artillery had reached Galda-
-cano, acrd prep irations were made for establi-ihing the batteries.
The same day 1.0,11 peasants were set to work in throwing up
parapet& covered ways, and trenches.
The 24th the Carlists made themselves masters of the river,
frosn.Portulcalete to Bilhoa. and brought down a sufficient twee
on the banks to prevent the steam-boats from approachiug the
city.
At four o'clock on the afternoon of this day the whole of the
-Carlist force ocettnied in the siege consisted Of 2.3 battalions of
infantry, 3 squadrons of cavalry, and 5.1 pieces of artillery, of
which 21 pieces are 21 and 33 pounders. Should Espartero
present himself. the Cat-lists will accept the battle without
raising the siege; indeed Eiritia, in conversation with a General
'Officer this morning, observed, " It is my most earnest desire
that the Christinos should come to the relief of Billota; it would
facilitate the passage of his Majesty across the Ebro."
This morning (25th,) at four o'clock, the Carlists Opened
their fire on the town, from a battery erected on the Church of
Begona. Four immense bombs. filled with inflammable mat-
ter were thrown into the heart of the city, and did much mis-
chief. The cries of the people and the consieruatiou of the
soldiers were truly distressing, and it is to he hoped, that the Go-
vernor will, without delay, capitulate ; ford of this be assured
not a single house will remain should he continue obstinate.
It is possible that three of the Christino forts—very strong. and
which command the town—inay resist, but the city once taken,
it will be easy to cut off their supplies, and they must surrender.
Much is to be expected from the discord which exists between
the Urbanos and the troops of the line. Yesterday the Carlists
captured three Triuceduros on the river; in one of them wet e
found despatches for General Evans, imploring him to come to
'the relief of Bilboa, the garrison, from indiscipline, not being
in a condition to hold out against the Carlists. I have reason
for believing that General Evans will not risk weakening his
lines, the Carlists being prepared to take advantage of the ab-
sence of-any considerable force. The only succor that can he
given will he in ammituition, and this mot ning, the Phoenix
sailed fur that purpose for Portug,alete. I much doubt whether
it will attempt to force the river.

The presence of theCarlios before Bilboa has greatly increas-
ed the desertion from. the Queen's army, and yesterday, nine
officers and twenty-one privates, belonging to the garrison of
Portugalete, presented themselves to Eguia. It is a strange
fat that amongst the Carlist troops before Bilboa there is a bat-
talion of 600 men, composed solely uf deserters from the French
Foreign Legion.
I have made my arrangements for forwarding you daily the
:progress of this most important siege.
.Yesterday evening the Bishop of Mondonedo and two of his
Vicars presented themselves to Don Carlos.
The Christino General Peon, who co•nmanded the division
sent in pursuit of Don Pablo Sanz, has been compelled to fib
from the fury of his men : he has been replaced by General Al-
varez. General Sanz is in the kingdom of Leon.

The 20th Gomez quitted FuenealTente, after having disarmed
the Urbanos. At the same date liodil was at Santa Cruz de
Medula, and Alaix at Haylen.
The division commanded by General N'arvarz entered Madrid
on the 22d. _ _

The last accounts from Aragon are' dated Saragoisa, the 211;
a strong division of Carlists after advancing within gun-•hot or
Fort Alcaniz, took the direction of Gaspe, and trout thence
marched towards the banks of the Ebro. Having here collect-
ed a great number of horned cattle, they returned to the itn_
mediate vicinity of Alcaniz, and front thence to Maelta. The
Christino force, commanded by San' Miguel, although fre
quently in sight of the Carlists, offered them not the slightest
molestation.