IMPORTANT alterations having been made in the Life-Boat Regulations of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION since they were many years ago published in this Journal, we again insert them for the information of our readers.

The following Regulations are intended for the guidance of the Local Committee to be formed at each place at which a Life-Boat is stationed by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and to whose care and control the Life-Boat, her Crew, and everything connected with her management and maintenance, will be intrusted.

The Local Committee to consist, if practicable, of not less than five persons usually resident, one of them to be a sailor. The Inspecting-Commander of Coast-Guard of the District, or in his absence the nearest Coast-Guard Officer to the spot, to be ex officio a Member of the Local Committee.

1. The Life-Boat's Crew to consist of a Coxswain-Superintendent, a second Coxswain, a Bowman, and as many Boatmen in addition as the Boat pulls oars.

2. For every Boat, at least double the number of men required (if they can be found at or near the spot) shall be enrolled • and numbered. The first men on the List to form the permanent working Boat's Crew; the remainder to fill up vacancies and casual absences in succession.* 3. Such List,to consist of Sailors and Fishermen who are usually resident, and (with permission of the Comptroller-General) of any Coast-Guard Men of the station who may volunteer for the service. As a general rule, no man to be enrolled whose age exceeds 55 years.

4. The Salary of the Coxswain-Superintendent shall be 81. a-year. On every occasion of going afloat to save life, the Coxswain and each of the crew shall receive alike, 10s. by day, 11. by night; and for every time of going afloat for exercise, 3*.

in smooth weather, 5s. in rough weather.

In the absence of the Coxswain, the second Coxswain will take charge of the Boat, and the Boatmen will be numbered, and take charge in order, from aft to forward.

5. In the event of money being received by the Life-Boat for salvage of property, or similar service, one-fifth of the whole shall be reserved by the Local Committee towards the maintenance and repair of the Boat, the remainder shall be divided into equal shares * This rule may at some places require to be waived.

amongst the Coxswain and Crew. If, however, salvage be paid for the preservation of life, no portion shall be reserved for the boat.* 6. If local subscriptions be raised to reward any special act of gallantry or exertion, the Institution recommends that the whole of the money be paid to the Crew, divided into shares and apportioned as above.

7. As at each Life-Boat station there will be a Local Committee, the Coxswain will act under their immediate directions, and the Boat, except in case of Wreck, is never to be taken afloat without their sanction.

8. As the efficiency of a Life-Boat depends on the good training and discipline of her Crew, the strictest attention must be paid by them to the directions of the Coxswain on all occasions connected with the service. The Boat shall be taken afloat for exercise, fully manned, once during each quarter, giving the preference to blowing weather. 9. The Local Committee at each Station is requested to make a Quarterly Report to the Institution, as to the behaviour of the Boat during exercise, pointing out any defect that may require to be remedied, and offering any suggestion" that may conduce to the efficiency of the service. Also generally to report on the state and condition of the Boat, the Carriage, the Boat-house, and all the Life-Boat Gear. Should occasion for immediate repairs arise, the Local Committee is authorized to make them to the extent of 51.; more extensive repairs to be referred, with an estimate, to the Parent Institution.

10. The Boat is to be kept on her carriage in the Boat-house, with all her gear in her, * The 458th Section of the Merchant Shipping Act 1855, enacts—That "Salvage in respect of the preservation of the life or lives of any person or persons belonging to any such ship or boat as aforesaid shall be payable by the owners of the ship or boat in priority to ail other claims for salvage; and in cases where such ship or boat is destroyed, or where the value thereof is insufficient, after payment of the actual expenses incurred, to pay the amount of salvage due in respect of any life or lives, the Board of Trade may in its discretion award to the salvors of such life or lives, out of the Mercantile Marine Fund, such sum or sums as it deems fit, in whole or part satisfaction of any amount of salvage so left unpaid in respect of such life or lives." ready for use, except matches, rockets, and perishable articles which may require to be secured from damp.

11. There are to be three keys to the Boat-house kept in different places, with the address of each painted on the door; one in possession of the Coxswain, and the others as the Local Committee may decide.

12. Immediately on intimation of a Wreck, or of a vessel in distress, the Coxswain is to use his utmost exertions to assemble his Crew, launch his Boat, and proceed to her assistance': and in the event of a sufficient number of his crew not being present, he is to select the best volunteers he can get on the spot, who shall be paid the same as the enrolled boatmen.

13. If a Wreck occur at some distance from the station, so as to require the Boat to be transported along the coast, the Coxswain is to send to procure sufficient horses (which, by the Wreck and Saif&ge Act, any Magistrate, Constable, or Revenue Officer, may demand the use of), attach them to the carriage, and lose no time in making the best of his way with the crew to the scene of Wreck.

14. A reward of 7s. to be given to the man who first brings intelligence of a Wreck at such a distance along the coast as not to be in sight from the Coast-Guard, or other Look-out.

15. A signal shall be agreed on by which the Life-Boat Crew can be called together when required. A flag hoisted at the Watch-house is recommended by day, and the firing of the mortar (or other alarm signal) at the Coast-Guard Station twice, quick, by night.

16. On approaching a Wreck, the Coxswain will use his judgment, according to the circumstances of the case, whether he will board the Wreck end on, either on the bow, on the quarter, or on the broadside : or whether he will go to windward, drop his anchor, and veer down to the wreck; or if he will lay her alongside.

The greatest caution, however, is recommended in this latter case, and it is not to be resorted to •when any other mode of boarding a wreck can be adopted.

17. On boarding Wrecks, the Preservation of Life is to be the Coxswain's sole consideration, and he is on no account to take in any goods, merchandise, luggage, or other articles, which may endanger the safety of his boat, and the lives of those intrusted to his charge. And should any be brought in contrary to his remonstrance, he is fully authorized to throw them overboard.

18. In the event of any men being brought ashore from a Wreck, the Coxswain shall give immediate notice to the Local Agent (if any) of the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Benevolent Society, in order that he may take the steps prescribed by the regulations of that Society, for their relief, and for forwarding them to their respective destinations.

19. No one besides the Crew, namely, the Coxswain, the second Coxswain, the.

Bowman, and one Boatman for each oar, is on any account to be allowed to go out in the Life-Boat when going to a Wreck, except with the express sanction of the Local Committee.

20. The Life-Boat is not to be used for taking off an anchor; nor for the purpose of Salvage; nor for taking off stores, a pilot, or orders to a ship; so as to interfere with private enterprise, (except in cases of emergency, with the special sanction of the Local Committee,) but to be reserved for cases involving risk of Life.

21. The Coxswain is to see generally to the efficiency of the boat for service : when the weather appears threatening at sunset, he shall have the sand removed from the Boat-house door, the wheels of the carriage greased, the ways (if any) ready for laying, a breaker of fresh water, hand rockets (if supplied), and all other gear placed in the Boat ready for use at a minute's warning.

22. On the approach of winter, in exposed situations liable to Wrecks, it is recommended that a Mooring Anchor, with no upper fluke (having a block attached, and a warp rove and buoyed), be laid out below low-water mark, opposite the Boat-house, (or more suitable situation.,) for hauling the Boat off in case of need.

23. The Coxswain will enter in a Journal, according to the annexed Form (with which he will be supplied), all services performed by his Boat, stating the time of launching, time of reaching the Wreck, the vessel's name, whither bound, number of persons rescued, &c., a copy of which, on each occasion of Wreck, is to be forwarded, by the Local Committee, to the Secretary of the Institution in London.

24. The full Instructions of the Institution for restoring suspended animation, to be posted in each Boat-house; and a copy of the Abstract to be kept with the Boat's small stores, and taken off in the Boat, so as to be at all times at hand. - 25. On returning from service, the Boat is not to be left in the surf on the beach, but is to be as soon as possible got on her carriage, and placed in the Boat-house. On the first fine day after use, the boat is to be drawn out, to dry np any wet that may remain about her, and any damage is to be immediately made good.

26. The Coxswain will be held responsible for the efficiency and general good order of the Boat-house, the Boat, and her gear. And it is hoped that a sense of the trust confided to them in the cause 'of humanity will lead the Coxswain and Crew to be most careful on these points, and to distinguish themselves by the readiness and seaman-like manner in which their Boat is handled. NORTHUMBERLAND, Vice-Admiral, President.