The Mediterranean or war company consisted of—
| 4 | sergeants, | |
| 4 | corporals, | |
| 100 | privates, | |
| 1 | drummer, | |
| 10 | boys. | |
| Total | 119 |
and the companies for Malta and Gozo, numbered each—
| 2 | sergeants, | |
| 4 | corporals, | |
| 60 | privates, | |
| 1 | drummer, | |
| Total | 77 |
An adjutant from the royal engineers was appointed to the 1st company, and one, a foreigner—Matteo Bonavio[[143]]—to the other two companies at Malta and Gozo, to which was also added one sergeant-major and quartermaster-sergeant Guiseppe Sinerco, stationed at Malta. The total number of these companies with the staff amounted to 276. The pay of the war company was assimilated to that of the royal military artificers, while that of the other companies was fixed as under:—
| s. | d. | ||
| Sergeant-major or quartermaster-sergeant. | 3 | 0 | a-day. |
| Sergeant | 1 | 6 | ” |
| Corporal | 1 | 3 | ” |
| Private, or drummer | 1 | 1 | ” |
| Boy | 0 | 6 | ” |
The adjutants received 3s. per day each extra,[[144]] and the working pay of the non-commissioned officers and men was divided into two classes of 6d. and 9d., which they received in addition to their regimental pay. The non-commissioned officers, who were foremen, received as working pay 1s. a-day each.
These companies were formed into a corps with the title of Maltese military artificers, and, like the old artificer company at Gibraltar, remained a distinct and separate body. They were officered by the royal engineers. Their clothing consisted of a close blue cloth jacket with black collar and cuffs, and Ordnance buttons; open blue cloth pantaloons and a military hat and feather. The sergeants were distinguished by sashes, the corporals by chevrons, and the sergeant-major by a uniform like the sergeant-major of the English companies.[[145]]
This year Mr. Windham, the Secretary-at-War, warmly espoused the cause of the army, and ultimately obtained for it the redress he so earnestly sought. This was promulgated in the well-known Warrant called “ Windham’s Act,” which increased the pay of the soldier while serving, and provided a liberal pension for him on retirement, corresponding to his infirmities and services. On the 1st September, the Act alluded to was extended to the royal military artificers, and the advantages conferred upon the corps were as under:—
| Total amount of pay a-day. | ||||
| Increase. | ||||
| d. | s. | d. | ||
| Sergeant-major on the staff. | 5¼ | 3 | 11½ | |
| Sergeant | 3¼ | 2 | 6½ | |
| Corporals:— | ||||
| After 14 years | 3¾ | 2 | 4½ | |
| Between 7 and 14 years | 2¾ | 2 | 3½ | |
| Under 7 years | 1¾ | 2 | 2½ | |
| Privates and Buglers:— | ||||
| After 14 years | 2 | 1 | 4½ | |
| Between 7 and 14 years | 1 | 1 | 3½ | |
| Under 7 years | no increase | 1 | 2½ | |