On the 25th of November the services of the Ramsgate life-boat were again brought into requisition. At daybreak on that day, the wind blowing a heavy gale at the time from N.N.W., a brigantine was observed, with signals of distress flying, anchored in a most perilous position amongst the breakers on the windward side of the north end of the Goodwin Sands. The Harbour Steamer Aid, with the life-boat in tow, was instantly despatched to her assistance. On arriving on the spot they found the schooner, the Sophia of Naples, riding with all her anchors ahead, in the utmost jeopardy. The steamer slipped the life-boat to windward of the ves- sel, and a portion of the life-boat's crew were placed on board the brigantine, the life- boat herself being then veered astern, in readiness for any emergency. With some difficulty and risk the steamer's large towing hawser was then got on board the brigan- tine, and the latter was towed through a ter- rific sea, clear of the shoal, and taken in safety into Ramsgate Harbour. Some Ing- gers' men had got on board the Sophia pre- vious to the arrival of the steamer and life- boat, and one of their boats had been upset and lost alongside ; they would however have been unable to render her any assistance without the aid of the steamer and life-boat.

The Ramsgate life-boat has on other oc- casions recently rendered important services to vessels in distress, and has been off many times to the Goodwin Sands in reply to sig- nals of distress during the night-time on board the light-vessels ; but we only record those occasions when she has been instru- mental to save life. Indeed there is no life- boat in the kingdom which has been brought so constantly into requisition during the last two years, and none that is kept in a greater state of efficiency or more constant readiness for instantaneous service than she is, under the superintendence of the vigilant and active harbour-master at Ramsgate, Capt. K. B.