SCRATBY, NORFOLK.—It is with much gratification that we are enabled to inform our readers of a second life-boat being provided in a dangerous locality, through the public spirit, humanity, and enterprise of the coast-boatmen themselves. When the costly character of these boats and their appurtenances is considered, it will be seen that the enterprise is not one of an ordinary character to be undertaken by so poor a class of men, we cannot, therefore, too highly appreciate the conduct of those who have undertaken it.

We gave in our last number a description of a life-boat recently established by the seamen at Hartlepool, and we are now enabled to add that of another provided in the same manner by those at Scratby, near Great Yarmouth, on the Norfolk coast.

Every one acquainted with our Eastern coast is familiar with the dangerous character of the outlying sand-banks on this part of it. The " Barber," " Scroby," " Cross," " Corton," " Horn," " Newcome," and "Barnard" sands, upon which numerous wrecks are constantly occurring and many lives sacrificed, extend in succession for many miles to the northward and southward of Great Yarmouth, at a distance from the shore of from 1£ to 5 miles. As it would be often impossible for boats propelled by oars to reach vessels driven on these sands in the heaviest gales of wind, on account of their distance from the land, the life-boats on that part of the coast are mostly sailing-boats, of a large size and very expensive character.

The boatmen of Scratby, formed into a company, already possessed two of the large luggers common on the Norfolk coast, with which they earned a livelihood by taking oft pilots, by rendering assistance to vessels on the sands, recovering lost anchors, &c.; but they were still without the means of affording succour in extreme cases during heavy gales, not being provided, like their brethren at Caister and the contiguous stations, with a life-boat. They determined, however, not to be left behind them, and resolved by their own exertions and from their own resources to supply themselves with one. The result of their enterprising resolution has been, that they now possess a first-class life-boat, which is, we are informed, the envy of all the other boatmen on that part of the coast. She is 40 feet long, lugger-rigged, and has her air-cases, or extra buoyancy, arranged on the same principle as those of the other Norfolk life-boats.

She was built by BEECHING and SONS, of North Yarmouth, in the early part of the present year, at a cost, with her sails and other equipments, of 200Z., the whole, or nearly the whole of which was, we believe, contributed by the boatmen themselves.

His Royal Highness Prince ALBERT, in order to mark his approval of the enterprise and public spirit of these boatmen, which had been represented to him, has given them permission, at their own request, to name their boat the Rayed Albert.

We are given to understand that the seamen at Sunderland and at Seaham, emulating the spirit of those at the neighbouring port of Hartlepool, have also determined on supplying themselves with life-boats, and that they have commenced raising contributions with that object. We shall hope to see this novel feature in the cause of " Preservation of Life from Shipwreck" exhibit itself in many other localities.

TYNEMOUTH HAVEN.—A new life-boat has just been built, and stationed at Tynemouth Haven by the Shields Life-Boat Association. This boat is constructed on the same design as the Shields life-boats, in which the seamen of that port have so much confidence, and with which they every year rescue a large number of persons from vessels stranded on the Herd Sarfd, in attempting to make the harbour. She is a rowing boat, is 28 feet long, and pulls 10 oars. She was built by ANDERSON of North Shields. The three Shields lifeboats, two stationed on the south and one on the north side, had been considered sufficient to meet the requirements of the port, but lamentable loss of life occurred last winter, when in the gale of the 4th of January many vessels came on shore together on the north side of the Tyne, and the Shields life-boats failed to reach them in time to save some of the crews. It was therefore determined by the Shields Lifeboat Committee to build another, and station her in the small bay on the north shore, called Tynemouth Haven.

HARTLEPOOL.—The West Hartlepool Dock and Harbour Company have stationed another life-boat on their establishment, which, under the direction of their spirited Chairman, RALPH WARD JACKSON, Esq., is every day rising in importance and increasing the trade and mercantile prosperity of the port. This boat is larger than any previously stationed at Hartlepool; she is 40 ft. long, with Hi ft. beam, and rows 18 oars. She is ballasted with 2i tons of water, contained in 4 tanks, which are filled and emptied by means of pumps, instead of the ordinary method through open holes in the floor of the boat. She was built by CAMBRIDGE of Hartlepool, and was launched from his premises on the 23rd November last.

Tb/e North Hartlepool Life-Boat Association have likewise recently built a new life-boat to replace the old one stationed at the North Sands, which was not considered a suitable one for the locality, and which has been removed to the .harbour. This boat is of the same character as most of the older life-boats on the north-east coast. She was built by ROBINSON of Hartlepool.

BOULMER, NORTHUMBERLAND.—A new life-boat, on PEAKE'S design, has been stationed at Boulmer by the National Life- Boat Institution, to replace the one previously stationed there, which was not found suitable for the locality, owing to the flatness of the beach, which required a boat with less draught of water and less depth of keel.

This boat was built by FORRESTTS of Limehouse; she is 30 ft. long, with 7 ft.

beam, and rows 10 oars. She was conveyed to her station in November last.

BLYTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.—A new life-boat has been built and stationed on the north side of Blyth harbour by the Life- Boat Association at that place. She was built by REDHEAD of Blyth, on the- lines of the one at the neighbouring station at Newbiggin, which is on PEAKE'S design, and is the property of this Institution. She is 30 ft. long, with 7f ft. beam. A carriage, on the design of the late Colonel COLQUHOUN, R.A., has been provided for her, and a boat-house of a very commodious and superior character has been built for her reception, at the sole cost of Sir MATTHEW RIDLEY, Bart, who has also presented the site of ground on which it stands.

MlDDLESBORO', River TEES.—A new life-boat has been built, to be stationed at Middlesboro', by the Tees Bay Life-Boat , Society. She is on PEAKE'S design, and was built by SHEDDAB. of Stockton-on- Tees, after a drawing furnished by this Institution, which has, however, to some extent, been deviated from. Her length is 30 ft., with 8 ft. beam. She has not yet been tried, and is awaiting the erection of a boathouse to be placed in on her station.

The rising importance and increasing trade of Middlesboro', consequent on the recent discovery and the already extensive working of the vast stratum of iron-stone in the neighbourhood, make it highly necessary that Tees Bay should be well provided with life-boats. We trust that the longestablished " Tees Bay Life-Boat Association," of which Hartlepool was formerly only a branch, will not let their now independent neighbour pass them on the road.