AT the Annual General Meeting of the NATIONAL SHIPWRECK INSTITUTION held at the London Tavern on Thursday the 22nd day of April, 1852, REAR-ADMIRAL His GRACE THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, PRESIDENT, in the Chair, The following Report of the Committee was read:— ANNUAL REPORT.

THE year 1851 will be a memorable year in the annals of the Shipwreck Institution; not only on account of the storms that strewed the coasts of the United Kingdom with a more than usual number of wrecks, but especially on account of the deep interest that has recently been re-awakened through- out the country in the preservation of life from shipwreck, by the publication of the Report of the Life-Boat Committee, appointed to award the premium for the best model of a life-boat, offered by His Grace the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, President of this Institution.

In presenting their Annual Report to the public, the Committee congratulate the sub- scribers on the accession of force and of funds that the Institution has received during the past year, and express their earnest desire that lie interest that has been excited may not only be maintained unabated, but ex- tended throughout the length and breadth of the land. They are the more encouraged in this hope from the very liberal response that was made to their appeal for funds in the spring of last year, especially by the merchant princes of London, when, within a short period, upwards of 2,0001. was sub- scribed in aid of the cause they advocate.

In the following Report it is proposed to render an account of the proceedings of the Institution for the past year; to give a sum- mary of the wrecks that have occurred on our coasts, and of the steps that have been taken towards saving life; to mention the medals and rewards that have been granted; the measures that have been adopted as to life-boats, £c.; and, lastly, to state briefly what the Committee hope to do, in the course of the present year: the whole ar- ranged under the several heads of General Proceedings—Life-Boats—Rockets and Mor- tars—Shipwrecks—Rewards:—Local Com- mittees—Publications—and Finances.

General Proceedings.—Early in May last the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND accepted the office of President of the Institution, and the Committee of Management was enlarged by the addition of some naval officers conversant with every part of the coast, some artillery officers familiar with rockets, mortars, car- riages, &c., and some professional ship- wrights. A set of Liie-Boat Regulations was prepared and extensively circulated all round the coasts. An Inspector of Life-Boats was appointed, who has examined and reported on the state of the life-boats, rockets, &c., on the coast of Northumberland from the Tyne to the Tweed; and on the north coast of Corn- wall and Devon, from Land's End to Bide- ford; and, in the course of the autumn, some Members of Committee inspected the life-boats on the west coast of Wales, including the Isle of Anglesea, and those in Scotland.

Life-Boats.—Pending the decision of the Northumberland Committee on the 280 models submitted for competition, it was resolved not to take any steps towards build- ing any new life-boats. A request, however, was made to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that a life-boat might be built in H.M. dockyard at Woolwich, upon the design and under the superintendence of Mr. PEAKE, a Member of the Committee. This request was readily acceded to by their Lord- ships, and the Committee desire to express their great obligations for this as well as other instances of aid and co-operation on the part of the Admiralty. A 30-feet boat has accordingly been built, and a trial of her qualities took place at Brighton on the 3rd of February last, in a strong south-west breeze; the result of which was considered sufficiently favourable to authorize the Com- mittee in going forward in building other boats.

In pursuance of this decision, a 24-feet boat has been built for Sennen, at the Land's End, Cornwall, in acknowledgment of the gallant conduct of the Coast-guard and fishermen of that place, on the occasion of the wreck of the ship New Commercial on the Brisson Rocks, on the llth January, 1851.

A 30-feet boat is building for Bude, in Cornwall, and will shortly be complete; and a similar 30-feet boat is ordered for Penzance. The boat built at Woolwich is ready to go to Cullercoats ; another 30-feet boat has been built by TEASDEL of Yar- mouth, for Hauxley; a similar boat is in hand for Newbiggin, and BEECHING of Great Yarmouth, the successful competitor for the Northumberland Premium, has instructions to build a boat for Boulmer. These four last-named places are on the coast of North- umberland, and the latter three boats will be at the sole cost of the President of the Institution. Besides the above-named boats built, and building, designs have been fur- nished for a 25-feet boat, on the applica- tion of the Local Committee at Scarborough ; for a 27-feet boat at the request of the Harbour Trustees at Whitehaven; and for a 30-feet boat on a similar request for Worth- ing, with the addition of a contribution of 50L from the funds of the Institution towards the cost of this boat.

The delay which, owing to unavoidable circumstances, has occurred in building life- boats, lias been a source of much anxiety to the Committee; but in a question of so much importance, it was considered better to move slowly rather than risk the making a false step, which it might be necessary to retrace.

On a review of all the circumstances of the case, now that the cause for delay no longer exists, the Committee feel satisfied that they acted with due discretion.

Carriage.—A necessary adjunct to a life- boat, at most places, is a transporting car- riage. As none of the models that had been submitted for competition appeared to fulfil the requisite conditions, and as a good life-boat carriage available both for trans- porting a boat along a beach, and launching it into the sea, is a problem that has never yet been satisfactorily worked out, the Com- mittee applied to the Master-General and Board of Ordnance to permit a boat-carriage to be constructed in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich; the request was liberally and promptly complied with, and a carriage is now just completed under the superinten- dence of Colonel COLQUHOUN, R.A., Director of the Carriage Department of that estab- lishment, which it is anticipated will answer the purpose required.

Soot-houses.—Three new life-boat houses have been built on the coast of Northum- berland, at Cullercoats, Newbiggin, and Hauxley, under the inspection of the several Local Committees at those places, and at the cost of his Grace the President. Besides which, a sum of 301. has been granted from the funds of the Institution on the applica- tion of the North Devon Association, towards the erection of a new boat-house on the Northam Burrows at Appledore, Devon ; and 291. on a similar request from the Local Committee at Aldborough, Suffolk, and it is gratifying to add that a boat-house is building at the cost of James TEEMBATH, Esq. Lord of the Manor, for the life-boat to be stationed at Sennen Cove, Land's End.

Shipwrecks.—The most painful part of the duty of the Committee is to report the fearful amount of shipwrecks that have taken place around the coasts of the United King- dom during the past twelve months. The year 1850 was considered one of the most disastrous on record, 681 wrecks having been reported; but the past year, they re- gret to say, exceeds it in amount, and the large number of 701 vessels appear on the Admiralty Register of Wrecks. Of these 353 were total wrecks, or sunk, or aban- doned ; and 348 stranded and damaged so as to require to discharge cargo. The num- ber of lives lost, as far as can be ascer- tained, was 750. The most disastrous portion of the year was the month of September; and in the heavy storm of the 25th and 26th of that month, 117 vessels were stranded, while during the whole m onth the number amounted to 153, or more than 5 a day—a loss, as far as they are aware, unparalleled in recent times; and affording an additional proof of the necessity for the utmost efforts of this Institution.

Rewards.—The frequency of shipwreck naturally brings with it corresponding exer- tions to save life, and the Committee have the gratification to record several gallant acts of individuals, among which, as usual, the officers and men of the Coast-Guard service bear a prominent part. The year opened with the rescue of part of the crew of the ship New Commercial, wrecked on the Brissons Rocks at the Land's End, by means of a line carried by a 9-pounder rocket fired from a small boat; a daring exploit that deservedly obtained for Captain GEORGE DA VIES, R.N., the gold medal of the Institu- tion. The Broadstairs life-boat also dis- tinguished herself by going off and saving the lives of seven out of ten of the crew of the brig Mary White, wrecked on the Goodwin Sands.

Medals also were voted tovfive fishermen at Newbiggin, Northumberland, who, from want of a life-boat, boldly launched their fishing-cobles, and saved several men from drowning; and to Mr. KEARNEY WHITE, officer of Coast-Guard at Blyth, on the same coast, who, having no life-boat, also went off in a fishing-coble and saved the. crew of the William and Mary. But especially the Committee desire to direct attention to the medals awarded to the coxswains of the Liverpool, Shields, Skegness, and Sea- ton Carevv life-boats, all of whom had been out many.times to save life, while three of the veteran Liverpool coxswains had gone off respectively 70, 96, and 106 times! In addition to 33 silver medals granted during the past year for such services, considerable pecuniary rewards have also been voted for saving life from wreck, and among other circumstances the Committee refer with much thankfulness to the case of the Holyhead life-boat, one of the Anglesea Branch Association, which was the means of saving 43 persons from theTbun of Wexford steamer, wrecked at Clipera Point on the 4th January last. They have also to ac- knowledge the good services rendered by the Anglia steamer, belonging to the Ches- ter and Holyhead Railway Company, which promptly got her steam up, and towed the life-boat off to the wreck on that occasion.

In last year's Report a detailed statement was given of the number of medals voted, the persons to whom presented, and the amount of pecuniary rewards bestowed for saving life, since the foundation of the Institu- tion in 1824. It is only necessary, therefore, now to state as a summary, that the Com- mittee have granted 77 gold medals, and 500 silver medals, for distinguished services in saving life, besides pecuniary rewards, amounting together to the sum of 8,457/.

The number of lives saved within the past year by persons on whom the above-named medals and rewards have been bestowed, is 230, and the total number saved since the establishment of the Institution, for which rewards have been given, is 7,378, exclusive of the crews of several vessels the numbers of which were not ascertained.

The Committee are thankful to be able to report so large a number of their fellow- creatures that have thus been rescued from a watery grave and restored to their families and friends, and they feel entitled to offer their congratulations on this result, to the subscribers and supporters of the Institu- tion, as although the Institution may not, in a great number of cases, have been directly instrumental in saving life, there can be no doubt but that the rewards it has bestowed, and the certainty that prevails around the coast that no humane exertions will be left unrewarded, have tended most materially to keep alive the spirit of emulation and activity, which has generally been exercised on occa- sions of shipwreck, by sailors, fishermen, and other , residents on the sea coasts of the United Kingdom.

Local Committees.—Co-operation—earn- est hearty co-operation—from the several County Associations and Local Committees is essential to the well working of the Insti- tution, the Committee therefore are gratified to be enabled to report, that Local Com- mittees have been formed at Cullercoats, Newbiggin, Hauxley, and Boulmer, on the coast of Northumberland; at Aldborough, Suffolk ; at Worthing; and at Barmouth, on the west coast of Wales; and it will be their endeavour to establish, at all places where a life-boat is placed, a working Local Commit- tee, which may be assured of the ready aid of the Parent Institution.

Rockets and Mortars.'—Although the Committee have little of positive result to report under this head as far as their own labours are concerned, except that some expe- riments are in progress at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, under the superintendence of Colonel COLQUHOUN, R.A., and that a model cart for the conveyance of the apparatus is in preparation by Capt. JERNINGHAM, R.N.; yet they are enabled to state that both rock- ets and mortars have during this year as well as all past years, been of great service in case of wreck. At Robin Hood's Bay, near Whitby, Mr. BURSTAL, R.N., of the Coast- Guard,with his men, threw a rocket Jine to the wreck of the Bethel and saved the crew.

Lieut. PACE, R. N., also of the Coast-Guard.

with his men, at Saltburn, Yorkshire, saved 10 men from the wreck of the Napoleon; and at Seaton Carew, on the 26th September last the crew of the Mary Gray were simi- larly rescued by a rocket line. Two new rocket stations have been established at Port- land and Langton in Dorsetshire, and others at Mousehole, Pendeen, and Sennen Cove, Cornwall, upon the recommendation of the Comptroller-General of the Coast-Guard.

And the Committee gladly avail themselves of this opportunity of expressing the great obligations they are under to that Officer, and especially to the Coast-Guard officers and men under his direction, for their valu- able services on all occasions of wreck, and they cordially join in the just tribute paid to them in the Northumberland Life-Boat Report.

Publications.—The want of some means of intercommunication between persons on opposite sides of the kingdom, engaged in the same calling, and the absence of correct information on many points connected with life-boats, and the preservation of life from shipwreck, induced your Committee to take into consideration whether a small periodical, to be sold at a cost that would place it within the reach of every boatman and fisherman around our shores, might not prove a well- timed and useful publication, and excite a spirit of emulation that might be advan- tageous to the cause. With this view a monthly journal, under the title of THE LIFE- BOAT, has been prepared, at the price of l%d.

a number, and largely circulated, and as far as can be judged from the first two numbers, it would appear to have been favourably received by the public.

The plan of the work is detailed in the first number, which probably every subscriber has seen, the Committee will only therefore direct attention to two points; first, the WRECK REGISTER, which is a prominent feature of each number, and is the most complete ever printed in this or any other country, and for many of the materials of which they desire to express their thanks to the Harbour Depart- ment of the Admiralty, as well as to Lloyd's agents around the Coasts. And secondly, to the inconvenience arising from the want of some record or depository for all facts con- nected with life-boats and their management (of which some striking instances might be given), and which this periodical, it is hoped, will supply. The Committee merely add, that as it must be obvious that the low price of I d., at which the Journal is sup- plied, for the express purpose of bringing it within the reach of fishermen and boatmen, cannot cover the, expense of paper and printing unless a large number of copies be sold, and as they are unwilling to trench upon funds subscribed by the public for granting rewards, placing life-boats, &c., they earnestly press upon all well-wishers to the cause to buy the Journal for themselves and some spare copies to give away among their poorer brethren on the coast, and thus aid in its circulation and sale by every means in their power.

finances.—It is gratifying to be enabled to state that a large accession of funds was received at or connected with the An- nual Meeting in March last, which, the Com- mittee must be permitted to add, was mainly attributable to the exertions of their worthy Chairman Mr. THOMAS WILSON—a name honourably associated with that of Sir WILLIAM HILLARY, Bart., as founders of this Institution,—whose untiring devotion to its interests, during a period of 28 years, is almost without a parallel in the annals of the charities of the Metropolis.

In the annexed balance sheets will be found a statement of the Income and Expenditure of the Institution from the 31st of March, 1850, to the 31st of March, 1852, whence it will be seen that a sum of 1,OOOZ., 3 per Cent. Reduced, has been bought into the funds, making the whole stock so invested 10,OOOZ. But it must be borne hi mind that there will be a heavy demand upon the capital for life-boats now nearly ready to proceed to their destination, and for others that are about to be built. To meet the cost of the new boats the capital of the In- stitution may be considered adequate, but as each new boat involves a permanent annual outlay for the pay of the coxswain and exer- cise of the crew, it is most desirable that there should be a material increase of annual subscriptions to meet that expense. The Committee have the gratification to state, that HENRY WILLIS, Esq., of the firm of Messrs. Willis, Percival, and Co., has accepted the office of Treasurer, vacant by the la- mented death of Mr. Kichard Percival.

In conclusion, the Committee must again congratulate the subscribers and supporters of the Institution, on the deep interest that has been re-awakened through the country in the preservation of life from shipwreck, and on the cheering prospect that opens before them. It has been proved that where life-boats are well looked after, the crews well trained, and a fair reward assured to the boatman for his toil and risk, the most signal success has crowned the exertions to save life.

These, then, are the objects which the Institution must steadily keep in view. The Committee feel' the full weight of the res- ponsibility they incur; yet if the public will supply the funds—not to be frittered away in salaries and office expenses, but bond fide to be laid out in life-boats and rewards,— and Local Committees will lend their hearty co-operation, they do not hesitate to say that with the blessing of Divine Providence on the labours of those who undertake the task—the coast can be so guarded by means of good life-boats and well trained crews as greatly to lessen the loss of life by shipwreck.

Nor have they any misgiving that there will be a want of funds. No work of real benevolence in this country, when under- taken in a right spirit, was ever allowed to languish for lack of means, and it cannot be supposed that the cause of the preserva- tion of life from shipwreck will not find equal support. It is not to be believed that the British public will quietly look on and see a thousand lives annually perish and not make an effort to save a portion of that number, if satisfied that the means of doing so are within their reach. Past experience declares that they are within our reach.

The Committee therefore confidently appeal to the wealthy throughout the country, but especially to the influential merchants and shipowners of this vast metropolis, to con- tribute their mite towards the safety of the mariner, who for their protection, their comforts, and their luxuries, is exposed to all the fury of the storm..