AT the Annual General Meeting of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the London Tavern on Thursday, the 18th day of March, 1858, Vice-Admiral the DUKE of NORTHUMBERLAND, KG., F.R.S., in the Chair, The following Report of the Committee was read:— THE Committee of the NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION again come before its supporters and the British public with their customary Annual Report, confidently hoping that, whilst shewing the rapidly extending sphere of its operations and its proportional advancement in national importance, they will likewise be able to shew its increasing claim for public pecuniary support.

True, the objects of the Institution have been uniformly the same, and its sacred object—the preservation of human life— was always of as important and national a character as now, but the sphere of its operations was, in former years, of a far more limited character; while the largely augmented and still increasing number of its life-boats has now made it truly national in its position as well as in its principles.

The Committee feel, indeed, that they cannot be too grateful for the large amount of public confidence which has been reposed in them, as evinced by the increasing amount of contributions, which during the past year have exceeded those of any previous year.

That confidence has likewise been recently exhibited by the circumstance, that one of the most important independent life-boat societies in the kingdom—the Norfolk Shipwrecked Mariners' Association—has voluntarily' merged itself in the Institution, transferring to it seven important life-boat establishments.

The Committee continue to receive applications to establish life-boats on various parts of the coast of the United Kingdom.

They are fully sensible of the great responsibility which -they incur by thus extending the operations of the Society, which possesses already the large number of Seventy JJife-boats. Hitherto, however, they have not hesitated to accept this responsibility, feeling confident that the cause they are engaged in is one which so powerfully appeals to the sympathies of all humane persons, that it cannot fail to command a sufficient amount of public pecuniary support.

The following statistical returns, under various heads, will explain the nature and extent of the Society's operations.

Life-boats.—During the past year, new life-boats have been placed at Wicklow, Arklow, Cahore, Youghal, KiJniore, Ballycotton.

Westport, Groomsport, and Ardmore, in Ireland; and at Seaton Carew in Durham; Dover in Kent; Camber, Hastings, and Brighton, in Sussex; Penmon and Holyhead in the Island of Anglesea, and at Palling in Norfolk. Life-boats are also building for Winterton and Bacton in Norfolk, and for other places.

The Committee continue to receive the most satisfactory reports of the new class of Self-righting Life-boats on Mr. PEAKE*S design, some of which, having now been six winters in use, and possessing the utmost confidence of their crews, fully justify the Committee in believing them to be as near perfection as they may perhaps hope to arrive at, and in having adopted that design in preference to all others.

The life-boats of the Institution during the past year have saved One hundred and Thirty-two Lives. The Committee feel it to be matter for congratulation and thankfulness that those valuable services have been rendered without the occurrence of a single disaster to the boats or their crews.

The Committee have to acknowledge the continued liberality of the Railway and Steam-ship Companies in conveying, free of charge, the life-boats and carriages to their stations on the coast.

Carriages.—New life-boat Carriages have been built during the past year for Walmer, Seaton Carew, Hastings, Brighton, and Palling, whilst several others are in course of construction.

Boat-houses.—New Houses have been built at Camber, Eastbourne, Hastings, Brighton, Wicklow, Arklow, Cahore, Youghal and Ballycotton, whilst others are in course' of construction at Yarmouth, Winterton, Holyhead, Groomsport, and Ardmore.

Local Committees.—The Committee have again to acknowledge the valuable aid which they continue 'to receive from the several Local Committees; without whose cordial co-operation in superintending their several life-boat establishments and in collecting local pecuniary aid, it Would be impossible for the Institution to maintain in a state of efficiency its now extensive machinery for preserving lives from shipwreck.

Shipwrecks —It appears, by the important abstract of wrecks and casualties on our coasts, presented to Parliament by the Board of Trade, that, during the past year, 1140 wrecks took place on the coast of the United Kingdom, more than half of which occurred, as usual, between Dungeness and Pentland Frith—a line of coast along which our large coal-trade is chiefly carried on.

Notwithstanding the great exertions that have been used during the past year to gave life from wrecks, the storm has, in too many instances, set at defiance every human appliance from the shore to prevent the loss of life arising therefrom. Thus 532 of our fellow-creatures met unhappily with a watery grave during that short period* from these sad disasters.

It is, however, consolatory to learn that during the same period the number of lives saved amounts to 1668—a gratifying and encouraging fact, calling for much thankfulness that such great success has attended the skilful and courageous use of the means available on the coast. Of this large number, 399 lives were saved by life-boats, being 36 in excess of the number recorded last year.

The means by which this large number of lives were rescued was as follows:— 87 Life-boats 399 By luggers, coastguard - boats, and small craft. 512 By assistance from shore with ropes, mortar apparatus, &c. . . . 507 By ships' own boats, and steam-vessels 243 By individual exertion of a meritorious character. . . . . , 8 Total . . . 1668 The total number of persons saved from shipwreck since the first establishment of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and for rescuing whom the Committee have granted honorary and pecuniary rewards, is shown in the following list:— In the Year 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 No. of Lives Saved.

124 218 175 163 301 463 372 287 310 449 214 364 225 272 456 279 353 In the Tear 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 Total 10,475 The large number of lives thus saved from a watery grave is a cause for deep thankfulness; and the contemplation of that fact must be gratifying to those who have directly, by their individual exertions, or indirectly, by their subscriptions, contributed to that happy result.

Rewards.—The cases which the Committee have considered entitled to rewards will be found detailed in the Appendix.

The lives of 374 persons wrecked on the coasts of the British Isles have been rescued during the past year through the instrumentality of those to whom rewards have been granted by this Institution. It will be seen that 26 silver medals, 11 other honorary distinctions, and 54:31. have been voted in acknowledgment of these gallant exertions. The certainty which now.prevails around the coast, that no exertions to save life will be left unrewarded, has unquestionably tended to stir up amongst our sea-coast population a spirit of emulation and activity which is now more than ever conspicuous on occasions of shipwreck.

The Committee continue to devote the most careful attention in investigating the claims for Rewards, and they in no instance grant either pecuniary or honorary rewards without previous minute inquiry into the circumstances attending the service performed.

In this, as in other respects, they have been materially assisted by the prompt and cordial co-operation of the Commodore Comptroller-General, Deputy Comptroller-General, and the officers and men of Her Majesty's Coast Guard Service.

In granting these rewards, the Committee have endeavoured, as far as possible, to proportion them in each case to the degree of risk incurred and intrepidity displayed.

The operations of the Committee may be thus briefly stated:—Since the establishment in 1824 of the Institution, 79 gold and 603 silver medals for distinguished services have been voted for saving life, besides pecuniary rewards, amounting together to 10.699/.

finances.—In the accompanying statement, it will be seen that 3,011Z. have been expended in the building, repairing, fitting, and inspection of life-boats; 187/. in exercising life-boats, in addition to 668Z, paid through its local branches for the same pur* pose; 787Z. on life-boat carriages; 1.097Z.

on life-boat houses; 5782. in rewards and medals for saving or attempting to save life from wrecks. The total expenditure having been 6,982Z. while the receipts of the Institution, exclusive of the grant of 2.073Z. 13s. 9d from the Board of Trade, have been 3,2531. 14s. 5d. In order to meet pressing necessities, the Committee have been compelled again to intrench to the extent of 1,500Z. on the Society's Capital, the preservation of which is becoming more than ever essential to secure the stability and efficiency of the Institution, owing to the increased number, of its life-boat establishments.

The Committee regret to state that the present liabilities of the Institution for life-boats, carriages, boat-houses, &c., still amount to 3,198?., which have been solely incurred on account of their continued solicitude to provide every exposed place with an efficient life-boat establishment.

The Committee would again call attention to the fact, that the Institution has now under its management Seventy Lifeboats,-to maintain which in a state of thorough efficiency, will require not only constant supervision, but a great and increasing outlay, so that nothing short of a large annual income can ensure to this truly National Institution a continuance of its present useful career, a career in which they believe every friend of humanity cannot fail to take a deep interest.

The Committee need not now dwell on what has been accomplished by this Institution during the last six or seven years, as its progress and the success of its extensive operations on the coast must. be familiar to every one who peruses the public prints.

But they cannot refrain from alluding to the gratifying accounts which they continue to receive of the confidence the crews have in the safety of the Society's life-boats.

The Committee have the pleasure to record a repetition of the munificent gift of WM. M°KERREI,L, Esq., of Bath and of Sillhouse, Ayrshire. Last year, that gentleman presented the sum of 180Z., to assist in placing a first-class life-boat on a dangerous station on the English Coast; this year Mr.

M°KERRELL has again offered the like sum to station a similar life-boat on the N.E. Coast of Scotland, where the fisheries are carried on, and where great loss of life among the fishermen took place last winter.

The Committee also desire to refer to the liberal contributions, amounting to 2501.

which the Institution has received during the past year from the sister Institution, the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Society, chiefly collected in three-pences from its members.

The institution is also to be benefited by two legacies of 1007. each, left to it by Mrs.

JANE DAVIES, of Atkins Road, Clapham Road; and Miss MARIA PETERSON, of Campbell Road, Bromley.

Since the last Annual Report, the Committee have been deprived of many zealous and liberal supporters to the Institution. Foremost amongst them was their respected and much-esteemed friend and colleague, EDWARD HURRY, Esq., V.P. He had assisted more than thirty-four years ago at the establishment of the Institution, and had ever since taken an active part in its management.

Death has also deprived them of their esteemed colleagues, FRANCIS WILSON, Esq., V.P.; and Captain STEPHKNSON ELLERBY, one of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House. Mr. WILSON emulated his late father, THOMAS WILSON, Esq., who was chairman and one of the founders of the Institution, in his zeal and liberality; whilst Captain ELLERBY'S experience and practical knowledge were much appreciated by the Committee.

It has been before remarked, that the lives of 132 persons were rescued during the past year through the direct instrumentality of the life-boats of the Institution; the Committee believe that every individual who has contributed to the accomplishment of that most important object is entitled to the gratitude of the community at large.

We need not dwell on the sufferings endured by a shipwrecked crew, but we may be permitted to rejoice with those of our fellowcreatures who have thus been snatched from an appalling death, and with the many others dependent on them, who would now have been widows and orphans but for the services of the life-boats of the Society.

The Committee now appeal with renewed assurance to the wealthier portion of the community throughout the land, happily removed, as most of them are by locality, from the pain of being eye-witnesses of those scenes of distress arising from shipwrecks.

They feel assured that they shall not have to plead in vain on behalf of an Institution whose life-boats, with God's blessing, have been so eminently successful.

On the contrary, they trust that the year on which the Society has just entered will be distinguished for the spirit of liberality evinced towards the life-boat cause..