THE Admiralty Register of the Wrecks that have occurred on the coasts of the United Kingdom during the year 1854 has just been published by order of the House of Commons, accompanied by the Wreck Chart of the British Isles for the same period. We are therefore enabled, in continuation of the series which we have inserted in former numbers of this Journal, now to present them to our readers.

Those who have retained in their memories the number of casualties to ships and of lives lost which these documents have hitherto disclosed, or who now compare them with this last melancholy record of the precious things, the lives and property of men which the insatiable waters have engulfed, within the brief space of twelve months, on our own coasts and neighbour- ing seas alone, cannot but be impressed by the discouraging fact, that so far from any measures hitherto adopted to abate this annual drain on our wealth and our life's blood having succeeded in diminishing its amount, the loss of life during the year 1854 was greater than in any previous year of which we have any record, amounting, as far as is known, to 1,549 lives, being 560 more than in the previous year; whilst the number of vessels lost was 987, being 155 more than in 1853. The only legitimate deduction, however, from this comparison is, that there is all the greater necessity for increased exertion and additional precautionary measures, both of which must be persevered in until the average loss of life and property on the sea is reduced to the minimum amount attainable by human skill; for to altogether subdue and neutralize the devastating power of that mighty element, when lashed into fury by a storm, is far more than the utmost skill and ingenuity of man can ever hope to attain to, and his failure to do which will probably ever remain an evidence of the finite nature of the powers which in this world are bestowed on him.

In comparing this increased loss of life and property with the efforts that have been made to reduce it, we must remember, that until the passing of the " Merchant Shipping Act 1854," the provisions of which did not come into force until the 1st of May last, no efforts corresponding with the increased trade of this country had been made, as we have ourselves often borne witness to.

We trust, however, that the passing of this Act is the first dawn of a new era on us, and if its full effects are not immediately seen, they will soon, and year by year, be move perceptible. In the meantime, let us hope that each in the proper sphere of his own duty, whether it be the Legislature—the shipowner—the shipbuilder—the masters and seamen of ships themselves—the Lifeboat Institutions, or the public by whom they are supported, will each put the shoulder to the wheel; and with God's blessing on their endeavours, the average proportionate loss of life and property from shipwreck will, we firmly believe, be in a few years reduced to' half what it now is.

The summary appended to the Register is as follows:— The wrecks on the coasts and in the seas of the United Kingdom in the year 1854, were 987, which may be thus classed:— Totally wrecked 431 Totally lost in collision . . . 53 Damaged seriously, and had to discharge 462 Damaged seriously in collision . 41 The number of casualties in each month were:— January . . . . 258 February . . . . 94 March . . . . 60 April . . . . 50 May 23 June 44 July ; . . . . 26 August . . . . 35 September . . . 30 October . . . .131 November . . . 127 December . . . 1 0 9 Total . . 987 Of these, 350 occurred on the .east coast of Great Britain; 38 on the south coast, and 164 on the west coast; 66 wrecks took place on the coasts of Ireland; 5 were cast on shore at Scilly; 9 at the Channel Islands; 19 at Orkney and Shetland; and 5 at the Isle of Man; the remaining 331 wrecks occurred in the surrounding seas.

Thus the Register for the year 1854 shows an increase of 155 wrecks above those recorded in 1853, but, as compared with the year 1852, it shows a less number by 128.

January was, to the shipping on the British coasts, by far the most disastrous month of this year; continued gales prevailed nearly throughout, causing the loss of 467 lives, and the wreck or damage of 258 vessels.

The weather was not, at any period of the rest of the year, so boisterous as to cause, comparatively, any remarkable increase of casualties until October, which, with November, caused the wreck or damage of 258 vessels, exceeding the casualties of the same months in 1853 by 91; the loss of life, however, was not quite so great.