N the 22nd number of this Journal we described these life-belts, with which all the life-boat crews in connexion with the NA- TIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION are provided, and which they are required to wear on every occasion of their going afloat on service in their boats. We then fully described them, and offered our opinion on the requisite pro- perties of life-belts in general, which we are not now about to repeat. We are, however, now able to add some engravings of the above-named belts, which will give a much clearer conception of them than a verbal description can do, and which, also clearly exhibit the manner of attaching'them to the person.

The engravings are taken from a pamphlet published by Mr. BIRT, the manufacturer of the belts, which contains also certificates as to their merits from twenty-one different parties who have witnessed their use, and bear testimony to their efficiency.

A striking evidence of their value was afforded in January last at Scarborough, when one of the crew of the life-boat at that place, when taking off the crew of a wrecked vessel, in a heavy sea and gale, was thrown from the bow of the boat, over the heads of the other men, into the sea, but who without difficulty regained the life-boat, and was taken into her; whilst, immediately after, one of the wrecked men, in attempting to get from his vessel into the boat, fell over- board, and sank to rise no more ere he could be grasped by any of the life-boat's crew.

In relating this incident, we take the oppor- tunity to again urge on shipowners the supply of such belts to the crews of their vessels. Had the unfortunate man, whose fate we have above alluded to, been supplied by his owner with one of these life-belts he might still be living to express his gratitude for the care which had been evinced for him by his employer.

We extract from the pamphlet of the manufacturer the following prefatory re- marks and appeal to the owners of vessels:— " In bringing these life-belts to the notice of the public, and especially to that of the owners and masters of vessels, the manu- facturer ventures to solicit attention— " Istly. To the great saving of life that would accrue if Bvery merchant-vessel, and especially every vessel in the coasting trade, were supplied with a good life-belt for each man of her crew.

" 2ndly. To the importance of such life- belts being of an efficient and durable cha- racter, and possessed of sufficient buoyancy to support a person, with his ordinary clothes upon him, lightly on the water sur- face.

" 3rdly. He would invite attention to the accompanying certificates and recommenda- tions, in proof of the superior qualities of these life-belts, which have been pronounced by all who have used them to be far better than any others previously in use. • ....

" On the first of the above heads, there can be no shipowner who is not aware of the constant risk to their lives which mer- chant seamen incur through the stranding or foundering of their vessels. Although many owners have been fortunate enough never to have lost a vessel, yet the almost universal custom of marine insurance testifies that none feel they can calculate on future exemption, and the records of every winter on our coasts illustrate but too truly the wisdom of such forethought. Whilst, however, the owner can secure himself, by insurance, against pecuniary loss, he can only afford security to the seamen whom he employs by pro- viding them with such means as are avail- able for their protection in the hour of danger. One of the most useful of such means is a life-belt, which, by being secured round a person's body, will enable him, although unable to swim, to float lightly on the water's surface until rescued by assist- ance from others. It is true that the law does not compel the shipowner to provide such protection to the poor seaman who works his vessel; but should not that cir- cumstance alone give the latter a stronger claim on the voluntary sympathy and good will of his employer ? " On the 2nd head, it will only be neces- sary to observe that, to support a person, with his clothes on, with his head sufficiently above the water's surface, to give him con- fidence in his belt, requires a much larger amount of buoyancy than is generally sup- posed, or than is ordinarily given to life- belts; whilst the importance of strength and durability in such an instrument for the use of seamen will be self-evident.

, " On the 3rd head, the annexed testimo- nials will afford sufficient evidence of the superiority of these life-belts in the above and every other respect. Upwards of* 1,000 of them have already been placed in the hands of life-boats' crews around our coasts, chiefly by the NATJOXAI- LIFE-BOAT ISSTI- TUTION, and they have been universally approved of, and have been instrumental in saving several lives during the short time they have been in existence. Their peculiar characteristics are, great buoyancy, great strength, durability, flexibility, and protec- tion to the body of the wearer from cold and from injury when in the water.

"As regards cost, since, with common care, they would last twenty years; and since the number of men forming the crew of a merchant coasting-vessel is so small, the cost of one for the master and one jbr each man of the crew could hardly be an object for consideration with any owner who "elt an interest in the welfare of the crew employed by him.

" The manufacturer has been content with mt a small profit on these belts, as will be evident to any person on inspecting the quantity and quality of the material and workmanship, hoping that his doing so may give them a more extensive circulation, and that their costliness may be no barrier to their general adoption. The designer of them, Captain WARD, R.N., 'has also fore- gone all profit on them, or they could not be made at their present price.

" The annexed sketches, together with a description of these belts, extracted from the Life-Boat Journal, will sufficiently explain them.

" On putting one of these belts on, it should be previously tied, as shown hi fig. 1. It is then put over the head, which is put through the central opening and the arms through the side openings. The vaist- strings have then only to be passed round the body and tied in front, and the shoulder- strings pulled tighter, if necessary. The strings should be tied in bows, never m knots." Explanation of Engravings.

Fig. represents a " Cork Waist Life-belt" as laid flat on the ground, the cork or outside uppermost, and the shoulder-strings tied ready for slipping over the head.

Figs. 2 and 3 exhibit a front and back view of a person with the life belt on, showing the manner in which the strings are fled in front, so as. to be within the reach of the wearer himself, who can thus readjust them, or take, the belt off and on without the aid of another person.

Fig. 4 shows the belt rolled up, as it might be kept in a convenient place on shipboard, ready for immediate use. In this form it might be thrown as a "lifebuoy" to any person who had fallen' overboard at sea. The upper or shoulder- strings should, however, be tied as shown injiy. 1, in readiness for slipping over the head, and not as erroneously shown in this figure..