THURSDAY, 5th July, 1855. THOMAS CHAPMAN, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the Minutes of the previous Meeting, and those of the Finance and Correspondence and the Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees.

Read and approved the Inspector of Life- Boats' Report of his recent tour of inspection of the life-boats on the coasts of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset.

Resolved— 1. That the Teignmouth Life-boat be brought to London and altered to Mr. PEAKE'S plan.

2. That a carriage be supplied to the Sennen life-boat as early as practicable.

Read letter from Mr. BRYANT, Receiver of Admiralty Droits at Padstow, stating the necessity of a life-boat in that locality, and adding, that if one of a light description were supplied, the inhabitants would probably provide hauling and launching apparatus for the boat, and also annual subscriptions for her maintenance.—Decided that measures be taken to form a branch of the Institution at Padstow.

Voted the silver medal of the Institution to COMMANDER THOMAS KISBEE, R.N., in testimony of his services to nearly 90 persons, who had been wrecked at different periods, from ten vessels on the coast of Norfolk.

Also 21. to four men for their services to three out of four persons who belonged to a boat laden with sea-weed, which was swamped on the 29th May last, near Rutland, on the coast of Donegal.

Also 21. to two boats' crews of eight men who put off to the assistance of five persons, whose boat, being laden with seaweed, had shipped a heavy sea and filled, near Innisfree Island, Rutland, county Donegal, on the 1st May last.

Also 61. to six men of Solva, Pembrokeshire, for their prompt services to the crew of the ship Simoon, of Liverpool, which, during foggy weather, struck on a sunken rock in St. Bride's Bay, on Sunday, the 25th Feb. last. While the men were coming from church on that evening, the firing of a cannon was heard by them in the direction of the bay, which intimated that a vessel was in distress, and the distinctness with W'hich the report was heard indicated that she was near the rocks, Although a very thick fog prevailed at the time, the six men readily volunteered to go off to her assistance in a shore boat, and after some difficulty they succeeded in making out the ship. She had struck several times on a sunken rock, and was soon afterwards abandoned by her crew; but, on hearing a gun fired from the shore, and probably observing the boat making towards them, they returned to their ship, which they regained at the same time as the shore boat. Had the boat with the ship's crew not turned back, but continued her course, every one on board would, in all probability, have met with a watery grave, as they were making for a place where there was a heavy ground-sea on.

The weather having cleared up, the vessel got off; and proceeded in charge of a pilot to Liverpool. The Committee were of opinion that the men were clearly entitled to salvage for their services on the occasion; but the owners having refused to grant them the same, the above reward was voted to the men.

Thursday, Aug. 2, 1855. Captain LAMBERT PERROTT in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the Minutes of the previous Meeting, and those of the Finance and Correspondence and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees.

Mr. C. N. NIXON brought under the notice of the Committee his patent rudderfittings.

The chief advantages claimed for them by the inventor are that, in the event of a vessel taking the ground, or sailing on a reef or bank, the rudder will rise of itself and fall into its place when again afloat; it may be easily shipped or unshipped in harbour without docking the vessel, or at sea if required. From the even working of the rudder, no damage can be done to it except under extraordinary circumstances.

The fittings have been tried to some of the Coastguard boats, and the results have been satisfactory. Mr. Nixon offered to fit therudders of the life-boats of the Institution on liberal terms.

Decided that one of the life-boats of the Institution should be fitted with Mr. NIXON'S apparatus.

Read letters from Mr. B. THOMPSON, of Kessingland, Suffolk, stating that the Kessingland Company of Boatmen had purchased one of the Southwold old life:boats, which is 40 feet long; and adding that when their life-boat establishment would be completed, its expense would be about 160Z.

Towards that amount the boatmen had collected amongst themselves 73Z. They solicited a grant from the Royal National Life- Boat Institution in aid of their undertaking.

Resolved— That a grant of 10L, and a set of cork life-belts, be made in aid of the Kessingland boatmen's life-boat.

Approved of an estimate, amounting to 24?. 10s., for altering the Teignmouth lifeboat carriage, in accordance with the recommendation of the Inspector of Life-boats to the Institution.

Read and approved the Inspector's report of his recent visit to the Dungeness life-boat station.

Resolved— 1. That a suspension two-wheeled carriage, after a design by Captain WARD, R.N., with Messrs. BOYDELL and GLASIER'S patent endless railway apparatus attached, be supplied to Dungeness, in lieu of the present carriage ; and that the same be built by Messrs. RANSOMES and SIMS.

2. That a second-class life-boat, after Mr/ PEAKE'S design, be ordered to be built by the Messrs. FORRESTT, to be placed at Newcastle, Dundrum Bay, instead of the present life-boat there, which was found unsuitable for the locality.

Reported that the London and North Western Railway Company had declined to convey the Lytham life-boat to Liverpool free of charge, and that they required 11. for her conveyance.

Decided that, as the boat could not conveniently be sent otherwise to her station, she be forwarded accordingly.

Reported that on the application of John H. PHILLIPS, Esq., M.P., the Great Western and the South Wales 'Railway Companies had kindly offered a free pass on their lines, as far as Haverfordwest, to the Fishguard life-boat.—Gave instructions to have the boat so sent.

Resolved— 1. That a set of life-belts and some other stores be supplied to each of the six lifeboats on the Anglesey coast.

2. That the account, amounting to 69Z., of Messrs. HARVEY & Co., of Smithfield, for making the Budehaven life-boat carriage, be paid.

Voted the silver medal of the Institution to Dr. F. S. Cahill, of Berwick-on-Tweed, in testimony of his prompt and gallant conduct to two persons whose boat was observed to be in a perilous situation while passing along the coast of that place on Sunday, the 17th June last. Owing to the gale of wind which had prevailed on the coast on the previous day, a high sea was rolling in - shore, when the boat was first seen; which caused much fear to be entertained for the safety of the two persons who were in her. The boat was seen rapidly to approach some dangerous shoals, where it was feared she would be swamped. It was deemed utterly hopeless to attempt their rescue in a shore boat; but in this extremity, Dr. Cahill prevailed on the crew of a small steam-boat, and two other men, to accompany him in the steamer to the assistance of the boat. They made as fast as possible towards the point of danger, and reached the boat just in time to save her crew from impending destruction, for had they been ten or fifteen minutes later, the boat would have been in such a position that it would have been impossible for the steamer to follow her.

A subscription, amounting to 37/., to which the 4th Royal Lancashire Militia had liberally contributed 24?., had been collected locally to reward the men, who received 51.

each for their services on the occasion, and the surplus 12Z. was given in aid of the Berwick Life-boat Fund.

Also "il. 10s, to three Coastguard men for their prompt services, in a small punt, to two men whose boat had capsized near St. Alban's Head, Dorset, on the 28th June last.