Distribution of corps—Dispersion of West India company—Statistics—Detachment to St. Marcou—Capture of Danish settlements—Casualties in West India company—Compared with mortality in Gibraltar companies—Working dress—Services, &c., of detachment at Gibraltar—Conduct of Sergeant W. Shirres—Concession to the companies by the Duke of Kent—Cocked hat superseded by the chaco. On the 1st January the corps was distributed in companies and detachments as follows. The names of the officers in command and the senior non-commissioned officers at the several stations are also added:— Sergeant-majors. Woolwich Lieut.-Col. B. Fisher John Eaves. Chatham Lieut.-Col. Thos. Nepean John Palmer. Portsmouth } Col. John Evelegh { James Smith. Gosport } { Alexander Spence. Plymouth Maj.-Gen. Alex. Mercer William Browne. Jersey Capt. John Humfrey Anthony Haig. Guernsey Lieut.-Col. J. Mackelcan Andrew Gray. Dover Gibraltar Lieut.-Col. Wm. Fyers Joseph Makin. Minorca Capt. Robert D’Arcy { Sergeant Jas. Shirres, { _Foreman of Carpenters_. Nova Scotia Capt. Wm. Fenwick { Sergeant John Catto, { _Foreman of Masons_. West Indies Col. Chas. Shipley Serg.-Maj. Matthew Hoey. Egyptian Capt. Alex. Bryce { Sergeant John McArthur, Expedition { _Master Smith_. Jaffa, with the } Major C. Holloway { Sergeant Edward Watson, Ottoman army } { _Master Carpenter_. The head-quarters of the West India company were at Martinique, from which non-commissioned officers and men were detached to St. Lucia, St. Vincent’s, St. Kitt’s, St. Pierre’s, the Saintes, Surinam, and Barbadoes, for the purpose of acting as overseers on the works or for employment on particular services. The establishment of the corps was 975; but wanting 232 to complete, its strength only amounted to 743 of all ranks. Of this number 403 were abroad and 340 at home. Early in the year a small party of one sergeant, and seven artificers from the Portsmouth and Gosport companies were sent to St. Marcou, an island on the coast of France, seven miles east of Cape la Hogue, to repair the fortifications; and having accomplished the service returned to their companies in November. To the expedition which proceeded against the Danish settlements in March, under the command of Lieut.-General Trigge, were attached one sergeant-major, two corporals, and twenty privates of the military artificers, who were present at the capture of the islands of St. Bartholomew, St. Martin, St. Thomas, St. John, and Santa Croix.