THE deep interest that has recently been awakened throughout the country on the subject of the preservation of life from ship- wreck, by the publication of the Report of the Life-Boat Committee, appointed to award the premium offered by the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND for the best model of a life-boat, both by the statements respecting the appalling number of wrecks that annually take place on the shores of the United Kingdom, and the deplorably deficient sup- ply of life-boats for the relief of shipwrecked mariners, combined with the general want of information on the whole subject, induces us to believe that a small periodical, to be sold at a cost that will place it within the reach of every boatman around our shores, might prove a well-timed and useful publication, and materially advance the great cause we advocate, namely, the improvement of life- boats, their management, and all other means for the preservation of life from shipwreck.

With this view the present publication has been undertaken. It is proposed to issue it monthly, or occasionally as circum- stances may seem to point out; and that it should contain such information as may be considered useful generally, under the fol- lowing heads:— 1st. As regards life-boats, rockets, &c.

Taking the Northumberland Life-Boat Re- port as a starting point, under this head will be noticed any new life-boat station that may be formed; all information as to the build- ing of a life-boat, or improvement in the dis- position of her internal fittings, as well as all distinguished services of life-boats, in going off to wrecks. Many an act of gallantry and heroism, we believe, is only noticed in the local papers published near the place at which it may have occurred, instead of being made known, as it deserves to be, all round the coast, as an example and encouragement to others " to go and do likewise." What more cheering to the hardy-fisherman at the Land's End (in addition to his well-earned gratuity), than to know that his exertions in the cause of humanity are duly noticed, placed on record in the pages of his own periodical, and circulated throughout the country ? What an encouragement to the pilots at Shields, or the fishermen at Culler- coats, who may have recently gone off in a north-easterly gale, and rescued some fellow- creatures from wreck, to know that their brother pilots and fishermen at Penzance and St. Ives had been equally courageous in the last south-west gale, and that their exertions had been crowned with success.

This intercommunication among men risk- ing their lives in the same glorious cause could not fail to excite a spirit of emulation, and surely would be advantageous to the cause.

In like manner all accounts of communi- cation effected with a stranded vessel by means of the mortar fitted for .the purpose by the veteran MANBY, or the still more useful rocket of CARTE of Hull, or DENNETT of the Isle of Wight, will find a place in our columns. We trust ere long to be able to announce an improvement both in the hand- rocket as fitted for boats, and in the large rocket for using from the shore; an increase of 50 yards in the flight of the Jatter, so as to get a range of 350 yards in a gale of wind, instead of 300 yards as at present, would be a great gain.

2ndly. As to Local Committees.

Co-operation, earnest, hearty co-operation from the several County Associations, and Local Committees, must ever be our chief dependence for saving life. All the best rules and regulations that may be issued by the parent Institution will be of little value unless supported and carried into effect by the respective Local Committees. It is to them we must look for training the crews, taking care of the boat, and seeing every thing in its place ready for instant service.

The reports and proceedings of these Local Associations, therefore, will always find a place in our columns; and will, we feel assured, be read with much interest.

3rdly. Award of Medals, &c.

All rewards of distinguished services in saving life, will of course be duly recorded; and whenever our limits will permit it, a brief account of the circumstances under which the work was performed. Such narratives cannot but be of deep interest to others en- gaged in similar service on other parts of the coast. 4thly. Account of Shipwrecks.

A complete register of wrecks on the shores or in the seas of the United King- dom, as far as can be gleaned from Lloyds' List, and all other available sources, wili be a marked feature of the publication; and whenever sufficiently full information can be obtained, it will be our endeavour to point out the probable cause of wreck, and the means by which it might possibly have been avoided.

Lastly. Correspondence.

The columns of this Journal will be open to all correspondence bearing on the subject of saving life from shipwreck. Much valuable information will probably be received in this manner which can thus be circulated to all our life-boat stations, and at once be turned to account if found useful. We feel assured that the coxswains of the different life-boats could communicate many useful hints, such as the best mode of boarding a wreck under particular circumstances, whether by going to windward, dropping an anchor and veering down to the wreck, as generally practised on the Yarmouth sands, or by boarding end on, &c. We freely invite communications from all quarters on every point connected with the best management of a life-boat, and with saving life from wreck.