In January, 1768, the first battalion embarked from Ireland for Gibraltar, and was stationed in garrison at that important fortress for several years. [Sidenote: 2nd Batt.] [Sidenote: 1771] The second battalion remained in Scotland until the spring of 1768, when it returned to England; and in April, 1771, it embarked with the 51st and 63rd Regiments for the island of Minorca, to relieve the 3rd, 11th, and 67th Regiments. [Sidenote: 1775] [Sidenote: 1st Batt.] [Sidenote: 2nd Batt.] [Sidenote: 1776] The first battalion was relieved from garrison duty at Gibraltar in the autumn of 1775, and arrived in England in December of the same year. The second battalion was also relieved at Minorca in a few weeks afterwards, and arrived in England in February, 1776; and both battalions remained in Britain until the autumn of 1780. [Sidenote: 1780] [Sidenote: 1st Batt.] The contest on the subject of taxation between Great Britain and her North American Colonies having given rise to hostilities in 1775, the insurgents were abetted by France, Spain, and Holland. The French monarch openly declared in favour of the rebellious colonists in 1778, the Spaniards in 1779, and a secret treaty between the Dutch and Americans was discovered in 1780. Thus the contest assumed a formidable character; hostile proceedings extended from North America to the West Indies; and in November, 1780, the first battalion of the ROYAL Regiment embarked from Portsmouth to take part in the contest. [Sidenote: 1781] On arriving in the West Indies the ROYALS proceeded, with other troops commanded by Major-General Vaughan, and a naval force under Sir George Brydges Rodney, against the Dutch island of _St. Eustatia_, which surrendered on the 3rd of February, 1781, together with the neighbouring isles of _St. Martin_ and _Saba_. Property to an immense amount was captured on this occasion, and a severe blow was thus inflicted on the Dutch. [Sidenote: 1782] The first battalion was afterwards stationed on the island of _St. Christopher_, together with the flank companies of the 15th, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery, which, with a few militia, constituted the whole military force on the island, and was commanded by LIEUT.-COL. THOMAS FRASER of the ROYALS, "a brave old officer,"[102] who acted as Brigadier-General under the Governor, Major-General Thomas Shirley.