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

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

SPAIN.
( From the Private Correspondence of the Morning Herald.)
SIEGE OF BILBOA.
MACAYE, Ocr. 26.—Once more we are in movement; the
ealin has passed by, and warm work is going on in Biscay. In
my last I noticed the intention of Don Carlos to cross the Ebro,
out ere so important a step could be taken it was thought pru-
dent to assemble a council of Generals. At this meeting the
greatest deference was shown to the opinion of General Eguia,
who advised that. Bilboa should be besieged, and compelled to
surrender, before any decisive movement should be undertaken.
The proposition was adopted, and the following plan of opera-
tions instantly agreed to. Eguia, wuh Simon Latorre, under-
took to command the siege, while Villareal occupied the high
road to Balmaceda; Gorn, Arlahan; Garcia, the Ribera, and
Giubelalde the line of St. Sebastian
The 23d the greater part of the artillery bad reached Gabs-
cane, and preparations were made for establishing the batteries.
The same day l. 01) peasants were set to work in throwing up
parapets, covered ways, and trenches.
The 21th the Carlists made themselves masters of the river,
from Portugalete to Bilboa, and brought down a sufficient torce
on the banks to proveut the steam-boats from approaching the
city.
At four o'clock on the afternoon of this day the whole of the
Carlist force occupied in the siege consisted of 23 battalions of
infantry, 3 squadrons of cavalry, and 51 pieces of artillery, of
which 2.1 pieces are 21 and 35 pounders. Should Espartoro
present himself, the Carlists will accept the battle without
raising the siege; indeed Eguia, in conversation with a General
Odicer this morning, observed, "It is my most earnest desire
that the Christinos should come to the relief of Bilboa; it would
facilitate the passage of his Majesty across the Ebro."
This morning (25th,) at four o'clock, the Carlisle opened
their fire on the town, from a battery erected on the Church of
Begone. 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 consternation of the
soldiers were truly distressing, and it is to be hoped, that the Go-
vernor will, without delay, capitulate ; furl of this be assured
not a single house will remain should he continue obstinate.
It is possible that three of the Christine forts—very strong, and
which command the town—may 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 Trincaduros on the river; in one of them wet e
fouud despatches for General Evans, imploring him to come to
the relief of Bilboa, the garrison, from indiscipline, nut being
in a condition to hold out against the Carlisle. 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 be
given will be in ammunition, and this mmning, the Phoenix
sailed for that purpose for Portugalete. I much doubt whether
it will attempt to force the river.
The presence of theCarlists before Bilboa has greatly increas-
ed the desertion from the Queen's army, and yesterday, nine
idlicers and twenty-one privates, belonging to the garrison of
Portugalete, presented themselves to Eguia. It is a strange
fact that amongst the Carlist troops before Bilboa there is a bat-
talion of WO men, composed solely of 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 Christina General Peon, who commanded the division
sent in pursuit of Don Pablo Sanz, has been compelled to fly
from the Fury of his men : he has been replaced by General
Al-
vares. General Sanz is in the kingdom of Leon.
The 20th Guinea quitted Fuencaliente, after having disarmed
the Urbanos. At the same date Rodil Was at Santa Cruz de
Medula, and Alaix at Ilavlen.
The division commanded by General Narvaez entered Madrid
On the VAL
The last accounts from Argon are dated Saragossa, the 22d;
a strong division of Carlists after advancing within gun-shot of
Fort Alcaniz, took the direction of Gaspe, and from thence
marched towards the banks of the Ebro. (laving here collect-
ed a great number of horned cattle, they returned to the
mediate vicinity of Alcaniz, and front thence to Macau. The
Christine force, commanded by Sanl Miguel, although fre
quently in sight of the Carlists, offered them not the slightest
molestation.