NORFOLK LIFE-BOATS.—At daybreak, on Sunday, the 23rd of Feb. last, the wind plowing heavily from the N.N.E. with thick storms of rain and sleet, the sloop Hannah, of Gainsborough, laden with a general cargo bound to London, was observed by the Scratby boatmen riding close outside the Scroby Sand, having lost her mast. The boatmen being unable, from the surf on the beach, to launch the largest yawl, which is about 25 tons, although they were 32 in number and had a good hauling-ofF warp, immediately started off to join the Caistor boatmen, who are 35 strong, two miles further south; and on arriving there they found the sloop had hoisted, on a staff, a flag, as a signal of distress. The two companies, with great risk and exertion, launched the Caistor life-boat, which is a 44-ft. boat, with a crew of 26 men, and hauling her off through the waves, although they broke over her and filled her, proceeded to beat to windward to fetch the wreck, then 2 miles oft', under close-reefed foresail and mizen. In their course they had to cross the Barber Shoal, and afterwards the north part of the Scroby Sand, and while passing over the latter a heavy sea swept over the boat, completely submerging the whole 26 men forming her crew in the rolling volume of water which came upon them. The catastrophe is described by one of the crew, who was in the bows of the boat with his arms firmly clasped round the dowsingpiece.

He asserts that he bent himself down that he might catch the force of the wave on his back, and when the boat rose to the surface again, as she did bows first, in recovering herself from the engulfment, he cast his eyes aft, but could see nothing but her mizen above water, until, as the boat further rose, he discovered her crew driven aft in all directions, by the force of the wave, from their right stations in the utmost confusion, and thus gradually appearing from the vortex, as the stern rose to the level of the water again, which it quickly did, and most miraculously without one hand having been swept overboard, although her spare mast, oars, and spars, were drivenout of the boat by the sea up into the body of the foresail. The description here given, naturally leads to a moment's consideration of the fact, that the power of these boats under canvas is far different to that of the mera rowing-boats; for in the former instance, there is element contending against element, while in the latter, mere manual strength against the wind and sea, to the superior force of which the crew yield at will: and thus, a much greater amount of violence in the waves may cause infinitely less danger to a boat's crew in the pulling than in the sailing-boat; while, on the contrary, the most disastrous consequences may arise by the injudicious pressure onward, in opposition to the elements, of a powerful sailing life-boat. Bat to proceed with the narrative. The life- boat proudly again caught the wind in her foresail, and, shaking oft", as it were, the fetters Father Neptune had thus attempted to shackle her with, once more drew ahead —glided from her foaming bed—freed herself of water—and pursued her course with her drenched and affrighted crew; some of whom had lost sou'-westers, others had limbs severely bruised, uncertain whether or not they were broken; some had hands jambed, others were not hurt; but all alike only too glad to find themselves not swept j out of her, and still among the living, until at length they brought up to windward of the sloop. Here a new disaster met them, for after veering down to her, and attempting to jump on board the vessel, two of the lifeboat's crew missed their hold, and fell overboard.

There, too, again, the care of a merciful Providence rescued the drowning, and both were, after a second drenching and struggling, at length saved by their companions in the boat. The history of the sloop was, that, during the night, she parted from one of her anchors and chains, and the crew fearing, as she had but one anchor and cable to trust to, she might drive on the Scroby Sand, cat away her mast, her windlass also was upset, and they feared she might, in so ranch broken sea, founder with her crew; hence the signal of distress, which not only imparted extremity on their part, but perilled the lives of 26 other brave and daring men, making 29 in all, embarked on this hazardous adventure. The boatmen ultimately rigged up the life-boat's larger foremast and foresail on the sloop, slipped from her anchor, and with the life-boat ahead, towing her, arrived in Yarmouth harbour at about 4 P.M., without the loss of a single life, and without damage to the boat. The vessel, freight, and cargo, were supposed to be worth about 10001.

It may be here briefly mentioned, for the satisfaetaon of the subscribers to the Norfolk Association, that their contributions are not only bearing fruit tenfold but twentyfold; that not only is life preserved to the mariner and beachman embarked on the ocean wave, and the wife and child blessed with the joyful intelligence that the husband and father have been rescued from the watery grave through the instrumentality, under the Divine blessing, of the Association—but that the merchant, the shipowner, and with them the entire community, are also reaping a large share of benefit from the assistance which boats, constructed as the Yarmouth and Caistor life-boats are, render to property of considerable value, and in extreme cases, which, without their aid, would otherwise be abandoned to the elements and become annihilated.

For instance, in addition to the above casualty, another occurred to the schooner Paulina, with a crew of seven bands, laden with timber from Stettin to London, • of the value of 80Q/.f which, having on the 17th Dec. 1852, struck on the Scroby Sand, carried away her rudder and became water-logged; the same boatmen got her afloat again, and were obliged to bring her up below Winterton. During the night a violent gale came up from the north, and the Caistor life-boat was then called to her assistance, and steered her safely into Lowestoft harbour; for which especial service the boat is peculiarly well adapted, for with the water let into her she is of infinitely more service in steering a vessel without a rudder, than a light swirnmingboat would be; and it is the second instance in which the boat has performed the like service.

Again, on the 26th and 27th Dec. last, the same boat and crew launched, when no other boat dare attempt it, to the brig Active. This vessel was coal-laden, to the value of 550L, and whilst riding in the Cockle Gat on the night of the 25th, was driven afoul of by the brig Agnes, and at daylight was found riding with only the lower part of her mainmast left standing, and with a signal of distress flying. The boat then also crossed the Barber Sand to get to the vessel, and shipped some heavy seas, but reached her, and after the crew had cleared away the rigging and spars, which were hanging over the vessel's sides and bows, and had stopped her leaks, and pumped her, rode by her a day and a night in the severest gale which had taken place this winter. The brig had on board thirteen hands, comprising not only her own crew, but that of the Agnes, which had sunk close under the steerage of the Active, and before the life-boat reached her : there was no seaworthy boat on board to save the life of one of these thirteen hands, as the long-boat, the only one there, had been washed about the decks and was stove.

This brig was also taken by the life-boats into the Yarmouth harbour. As a final proof that the boat and her crew are not without a fair share of merit, her salvage account will prove that she has earned for the Association, by the shares allotted to her under the rules of the society in the above instances, and in the period of one month, upwards of 201., without having received during such service 20s. worth of injury; besides having taught in the best way possible the most important and valuable lessons of practical seamanship to her daring and hardy crew, who are thus constantly gaining confidence in her powers.