DURING the last few years the Committee of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have had many opportunities for observing the great need that existed for the adoption of a uniform system of management of the mortar and rocket apparatus, and for the distribu- tion of instructions concerning the same on board all merchant vessels, so that their crews might never be ignorant of the proper steps to be taken to insure their own safety after communication by line had been effected by the mortar and rocket apparatus with the shore. The Committee have likewise, from time to time, received communications from persons residing on the coasts, pointing out the necessity that existed for some such provision.

In former Numbers of this Journal we have recorded instances of the want of knowledge of the apparatus by merchant seamen leading to fatal results.—In one in- stance the extreme case of five men, passing the rocket line- around them, and then all leaping overboard together to be drawn on shore through the waves en masse, on which occasion only one of that number reached the land alive.—In a second instance, that so late as the winter of 1855 eleven men perished, after a communication by line had been effected with a wreck, through one of the crew making the line fast round his wrist, and jumping overboard with it, when no second communication could be effected.

Later still, in January of the present year, on a rocket line being thrown over a schooner wrecked in Ballycotton Bay, Ireland, a lad was at once secured to the end of the line, and a frail log line was employed to veer him to the shore. The log line, of course, broke before he was 20 yards from the vessel, when he was drawn ashore in a half-drowned con- dition by the rocket line; but the commu- nication was thus cut off from the wreck, and no second line could be thrown over it.

Fortunately the vessel held together until the tide had fallen sufficiently to get her crew out by other means, or they would inevitably have perished, as she went to pieces on the following tide.

With a view to aid, to the extent of our ability, in preventing such catastrophes, we published, in the 9th Number of this Journal (July, 1853), a system of management of the apparatus, and of signals to be used in connection with it, which appeared to us suitable for general adoption; but we then stated our belief "that no perfect or uniform system would be effected until some super- vision over the whole, having the weight of authority, should be established." Since that period the rocket and mortar apparatus on the coasts of the United Kingdom have been transferred to the Board of Trade, who, we rejoice to know, have determined to make it as complete as possible in every respect, and to increase the number of sta- tions wherever necessary. As the apparatus was previously in a very incomplete state at the majority of stations, a very large expense will be necessarily incurred in perfecting it.

We are glad, however, to know that, in such a work, no false economy is to inter- vene, but that efficiency alone is to be con- sidered. Certainly in no move legitimate way can that fund, collected from shipping, the Mercantile Marine Fund, be expended.

The Board of Trade have also recently had drawn up and printed a code of rules to be observed in the management of the rocket and mortar apparatus on the coasts of the United Kingdom. It is divided into two parts; the first for the guidance of the coast-guard or others in charge of the ap- paratus, to which is added a list of the gear to be employed with the apparatus; the second for that of the masters and crews of stranded vessels. These instructions appear to us to be everything that can be desired; and they will be found not to differ in any material point from those published in this Journal, above referred to. It is in- tended, we believe, to have a copy of the same, or of such portion of them as applies to the masters and crews of ships, printed .in the log-book of every ship, so that no master or merchant-seaman may be ignorant of them. We are also given to understand that the Board will cause the same to be printed in various languages, and transmitted to foreign countries for the benefit of their respective merchant services. We subjoin a copy of these instructions, together with two illustrations which accompany them, and which have been kindly given us by the Board of Trade.Saving Life from Shipwreck ly Mortar and Socket Apparatus.

171. The following parts of the apparatus for saving life from shipwreck, are required to be provided in addition to the projectiles and the means supplied for launching them; namely, (a.) A thin cord, called the "Socket line" one end to be attached to, and launched with the Shot or Rocket; (b.) A "Ifau.'eer" of 3 inch or 3J inch Manilla rope from 40 to 120 fathoms, according to the steepness or flatness of the shore; (c.) A "Whip" of Manilla line about lj inch, rove through a single Tailed Block. The ""Whip" to be twice as long as the Hawser, and the Tail of the Block to be at least 2 fathoms in length. The ends of the "Whip" to be spliced together, and so converted into an endless rope; (rf.) A " Sling" float, basket, cot, or some such contrivance, in which to place the person to be rescued, and haul him ashore. The word " sling." as used in these Instruc- tions, is intended to include all con- trivances of this nature; (e.) A." Traveller," inverted block, leaden horse- shoe collar, or some other contrivance, to be attached to the " Slay," and carry it along the Hawser ; (/.) A "Double Block tackle purchase" for set- ting taut the hawser; (y.) An " Anchor" with one fluke, to be buried in the earth, sand, or shingle, to which to set up the hawser by means of the tackle purchase. Or in some places where the shore is composed of soft shingle or sand, and where an anchor will not hold, a stout plank 5 or 6 feet long, with a fathom of chain of sufficient strength fastened round it amidships, may be substituted for the anchor. This plank being buried 3 or 4 feet beneath the ground, and the end of the chain, with a ring attached, led to the surface, the hawser may be set up to it by the tackle purchase in the same manner as to an anchor; (A.) A "Bed fay" 2 feet by 3 feet, fixed at the end of a staff 5 feet long -, and a " Lanthorn" with a pane of red glass fixed in it: to be used as signals in the manner directed in paragraph 177, below; (t.) Two or three spades or shovels, a hand-barrow, a Salvagee strop, a few pieces of extra rope, to be used as occasion may require: 3 oars or small spars are likewise often of service where the shore is flat, to be used as a triangle over which to pass the hawser, and thereby raise it higher above the surface of the water.

172. In the absence of the Receiver of Wreck, or at places in which the Receiver of Wreck was not appointed under the provisions of the Mer- chant Shipping Act, the Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, or the principal officer of the Customs or of the Coast Guard who is present, is to exercise the powers given him by the 441st to 447th sections of the Act, and is to take command of all persons assembled and assign to each such work as he may consider necessary for establish- ing a communication with the wrecked ship, and hauling the people ashore speedily. Should any persons refuse to do the work allotted, they are liable to a penalty of 501. under the 441st section of the Act.

173. When a Receiver of Wreck is present, whose appointment was made since the passing of the Merchant-shipping Act, he is to take com- mand of all persons assembled at a wreck; but the management of the mortar and rocket apparatus should be left in the hands of the Coast Guard.

174. Receivers of Wreck and officers of the Cus- toms and Coast Guard are to bear in mind that they have no power to interfere between the master of a ship and his crew in matters relating to the management of the ship unless requested to do so by the master.

Directions for Landing the Crew of a Wrecked Vessel.

175. It is unnecessary to describe the manner in which the rocket or mortar is to be arranged for firing, as perfection in that particular can only be attained by practice; but when the line has been thrown over the " wreck," and has been grappled by the crew, a signal will be made in the following manner. If in the day-time one of the crew, for this purpose separated from the rest, will wave his hat or his hand, or a flag or handkerchief; or (if at night) a rocket, a blue light, or a gun will be fired, or a light will be shown over the ship's gun- wale for a short time, and will then again be con- cealed.

176. On this signal being seen on shore, the inshore end of the shot or rocket line should be made fast to the whip, being bent round both parts of it at about two fathoms from the tailed block, and a signal should then be made as follows for those on the wreck to haul off the line.

177. One of the men on shore is to be separated from the rest, and in the day-time is to wave a small red flag, or at night is to show a red light for about a minute, and then again conceal it.

178. The crew of the wreck, on seeing this signal, will haul on the shot or rocket line till they get the whip and tailed block, when they will make the tail of the block fast to some secure part of the vessel, and will cast off the rocket line, and make the signal as before for those on shore to haul off the hawser.

179. As soon as this signal is perceived by those on shore, the whip (being previously made fast to the hawser at 2 or 3 fathoms from its end) will be manned, and the hawser hauled off by it to the wreck by those on shore.

180. As soon as the persons on the wreck get hold of the hawser, they will proceed to make it fast to the wreck at about 18 inches above the place where the tail of the block is fixed; and when they have secured it, and disconnected the hawser from the whip, they will signal as before to the people on shore.

181. On perceiving this signal, the hawser is to be set up by means of the double-block tackle purchase, and the sling (the traveller of which will have been adjusted on the hawser) is to have the whip secured to it, and, by means of the whip, is to be hauled off to the wreck by those stationed for the purpose on the shore; who also, on the next signal being shown, implying that a person is secured in the sling, will haul him ashore, and re- peat the same operation to and fro until all are landed.

182. Circumstances may require some deviation from the above rules. For instance, if the wrecked vessel be subjected to violent motion by the beat of the sea, it will be better not to set up the hawser at all, but to man it with as many hands as can be spared, and reeve it over a triangle, when by hauling and veering on it, following the motion of the vessel, a sufficiently uniform strain on it would be obtained without the risk of carrying it away.

183. Again, circumstances might arise, as they have sometimes done, when the immediate break- ing up of the wreck might be imminent, and the delay in getting the hawser on board be of serious moment. In such a case, if the apparatus is pro- vided with a floating-sling buoy, it should be hauled off by the whip alone, and the wrecked persons brought ashore in it floating in the water.

The hawser should, however, be always used in pre- ference when practicable.

184. As much of the success in the use of the apparatus depends upon the promptness with which it is brought into action, the inspecting commanders and chief officers of the Coast Guard should make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the use and application of all its parts, and should take care that this is also understood by the officers and men under their command.

185. The inspecting commanders themselves should superintend the periodical or occasional exercise of the officers and crews of stations under their command in the management of the rocket and mortar apparatus.

They will necessarily also see the advantage of dividing and stationing the men on all occasions in such a manner as to secure the utmost order and promptness in the whole proceeding.

Directions to Masters and Crews of Ships.

In the event of your vessel stranding on the coast of the United Kingdom, and the lives of the crew being placed in danger, assistance will, if possible, be rendered from the shore in the following manner, namely,— 1. A rocket or shot, with a thin line attached, will be fired across your vessel. Get hold of this line as soon as yon can; and when you have secured it, let one of the crew be separated from the rest, and, if in the daytime, wave his hat or his hand, or a flag or handkerchief; or if at night, let a rocket, a blue-light, or a gun be fired, or let a light be displayed over the side of the ship, and be again concealed, as a signal to those on shore.

2. When you see one of the men on shore sepa- rated from the rest, wave a red flag, or (if at night) show a red light and then conceal it, you are to haul upon the rocket line until you get a tailed block with an endless fall rove through it.

3. Make the tail of the block fast to the mast about 15 feet above the deck, or, if your masts are gone, to the highest secure part of the vessel; and when the tail-block is made fast, let one of the crew, separated from the rest, make the signal re- quired by Article 1 above.

4. As soon as the signal is seen on shore, a hawser will be bent on the whip-line, and will be hauled off to the ship by those on shore.

5. When the hawser is got on board, the crew should at once make it fast to the same part of the ship as the tailed block is made fast to, only about 18 inches higher, taking care that there are no turns of the whip-line round the hawser.

6. When the hawser has been made fast on board, the signal directed by Article 1 above is to be repeated.

7. The men on shore will then pull the hawser taut, and by means of the whip-line will haul off to the ship a sling, cot, or ife- moy, into -which the person to be hauled ashore is to get and be made fast. When he is in and secure, one of the crew must be separated from the rest and again signal to the shore as directed in Article 1 above.

The people on shore will then haul the person in the sling to the shore, and when he has lauded,will haul back the empty sling to the ship for others.

This operation will be repeated until all persons are hauled ashore from the shipwrecked vessel.

8. It may sometimes happen that the state of the weather and the condition of the ship will not admit of a hawser being set up, in which case a sling or life-buoy will be hauled off instead, and the persons to be rescued will be hauled through the surf instead of along the hawser.

Masters and crews of shipwrecked vessels should bear in mind that the success in landing them may, in a great measure, depend upon their cool- ness and attention to the rules here laid dawn and that by attending to them many lives are an- nually saved by the mortar and rocket apparatus on the coasts of the United Kingdom.

The system of signaling must be strictly ad- hered to; and all women, children, passengers, and helpless persons should be landed before the crew of the ship.

The illustrations will help to explain the manner in which the mortar and rocket lines are used.

T. H. PARKER, Assistant Secretary, Marine Department.

Board of Trade, 28th February, 1857.

Thus all that we have, for some years past, advocated on this subject has now at length been carried out—an improved and more complete apparatus—a uniform rule of management, both on shore and on shipboard —a recognized head and authority—and a diffusion of the rules of management on board all merchant-ships. We congratulate the President and the Marine Department of the Board of Trade on so great a step in advance towards the fulfilment of the na- tural duty to afford relief to shipwrecked persons on our coasts, and we prognosticate the happiest results as a consequence..