IN an account of the loss of the ship St. Abbs, on the coast of Madagascar, on the 15th of June, 1855, when 22 persons un- fortunately perished, it is recorded that " a seaman saved himself by tying an empty tin oil-can to his back, which floated him, and enabled him to paddle safely through the surf." There could not be a stronger illustration than the above of the value of life-preservers on board ship. If, with the aid of so rude an instrument as an oil-can fastened to his - back, this man was enabled to save himself, and land safely through a heavy surf, when 22 of his shipmates perished, of how much more certain efficacy would an equally buoy- ant life-belt be, which, by being secured closely round the wearer's body, yet without confining his limbs, would leave him full command of the latter, to exert them by swimming or in any other manner, to save his life ? With an efficient life-belt, properly put on, a man cannot sink, and even if drowned his body would still float: such an instrument must, therefore, afford him many chances of saving his life under some cir- cumstances that he would not otherwise possess, which we think should be a suffi- cient argument to induce shipowners in general to supply them on board their vessels for the use of their crews. Their cost is but trifling, as the best can be had for 14s. each, and of so durable a character as to last for many years.

We are glad to learn that three vessels, chartered by the Emigration Commissioners, have, at the recommendation of their chief officer, Captain LEAN, R.N., been supplied with a .limited number of these belts pre- vious to their leaving London, viz., the Bermondsey and the Omega, belonging to Messrs. WILSON and COOKE, and the ffoogley, the property of Messrs. MARSHALL and ELDRIDGE. We trust that the liberality of those gentlemen will be followed by other shipowners, not solely for ships char- tered to carry emigrants, but for the express object of afording protection to the lives of their own seamen, who work their ships and help to fill their coffers.

Such an act of consideration on their part could not but have a favourable effect on the minds of their crews, by evincing a regard for their welfare on the part of their employers.