The Peninsula was at this period the centre of political interest. Portugal, deserted by her government, and Spain betrayed, the people of each rose in arms to recover the national independence. Dissensions had arisen in the royal family of Spain, occasioned by the sway of Emanuel Godoy, who bore the title of Prince of Peace. This minister was dismissed, but the court was unable to restore tranquillity. In this emergency, the French emperor was solicited to be umpire, and Napoleon ultimately placed the crown of Spain on his brother Joseph, who was transferred from the throne of Naples. The Spaniards flew to arms in consequence. The British government resolved to aid the Spanish and Portuguese patriots, and a British army was ordered to proceed to the Peninsula, under the command of Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley. The first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment formed part of the force selected on this occasion. The first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment embarked at the Cove of Cork on the 17th of June 1808. Its strength consisted of fifty-two serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and eight hundred and seventy-four rank and file. In June 1808 His Majesty King George III. was pleased to approve of the SEVENTY-FIRST bearing the title of _Glasgow_ regiment, in addition to the appellation of _Highland_ regiment. In the first instance, the SEVENTY-FIRST were brigaded with the fifth, thirty-eighth, and fifth battalion of the sixtieth regiment, under Brigadier-General Henry Fane, and sailed for Portugal, in conjunction with the forces destined to aid the Spaniards and Portuguese, on the 12th of July. After a favourable passage, the troops anchored in Mondego Bay in the beginning of August, and a landing was effected in the vicinity of the village of Frejus. Early in the morning of the 4th of August a small piquet of the enemy stationed in the neighbourhood fell back, and the operation of disembarking the troops was carried into effect without opposition. The army then moved on to a position across a deep sandy country, where it halted, and encamped for the night. At this period a change took place in the arrangement of the brigades, and the first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST was placed, with the thirty-sixth and fortieth regiments, in that commanded by Major-General Ronald Craufurd Ferguson. The division under Major-General Sir Brent Spencer, K.B., from Cadiz, consisting of about four thousand men, joined on the 8th of August; and, after a short halt, the army was again put in motion to occupy a more forward position, where it remained for some days. On the 17th of August the enemy, commanded by General Laborde, was encountered near _Roleia_. The position was attacked, and carried with great loss to the French, who retreated on Torres Vedras.