THE Committee of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have frequently brought under their notice lamentable instances of persons being drowned, from the capsizing or swamping of boats, who might probably have been saved had they been able to swim to the shore, or even a few paces, to some other object. We have, on several occasions, called attention in this Journal to the desirability of seafaring persons, in particular, being able to swim.

There is no reason whatever why this useful art should not be almost as universally learnt and practised as that of walking. In warm climates, the infant or child is often almost as capable of doing the one as the other—the most trifling errand or whim launches him into the water.

In every large educational establishment the pupils should be taught to swim. In too many of them, however, the practice is, that in the event of one of the youths being drowned from, his inability to swiro, all the other scholars are strictly forbidden ever again to enter the water; and thus ignorance of a useful and healthy recreation is too often perpetuated from one generation to another, until it is now, in our country, all but neglected.

It is computed that there are about 500,000 persons following a seafaring life in this country, and we believe that we are within the mark when we say that not one in twenty of that large number whose business is on the sea is capable of swimming.

Let existing schools institute swimmingmatches, and let the children of our seafaring people on the coast be encouraged by their influential neighbours to pursue the same course, and the ability to swim will soon become as general as it is now neglected.

In promotion of this object, we have much pleasure in calling attention to an excellent little pamphlet by Mr. F. E. BECKWITH,* Swimming-master, and in re- * The Whole Art of Stoimminy, for the UK of Tcachtre and Learnera. By F. E. BECKWITH, Swimming-master to the Lambeth Baths, London.

Price 6d.

publishing the following extracts from the same:—•ADVICE TO SELF-LEARNERS.

On Entering the Water.—Before going into the water, the beginner is strongly recommended to be careful to ascertain the depth, and on no account whatever to venture beyond his neck. It is very difficult for those unaccustomed to bathing to keep their feet when the water reaches to their shoulders; and I have seen some incur danger by jumping in feet first, and have a hard struggle to maintain their equilibrium.

I should therefore advise the beginner to enter at the shallowest part of the bath, or river, and having previously flung a handful of water on the hair, to prevent the blood rushing to the head, to walk deliberately in, step by step (never be in a hurry), till the water reaches his shoulders, then, carefully stooping, to dip the head. By this it will be found that the submersion of the whole body gives more confidence than if the head wer# kept dry. Many persons advise beginners to go in head first; but it is attended with great danger to those unaccustomed to bathing, let the water be ever so shallow, although there is not a greater luxury to a good swimmer than to plunge in head foremost.

Having thus submerged the whole body, proceed as Dr. FRANKLIN directs :— " Turn round your face to the shore, and throw an egg or piece of chalk into the water, between you and the shore; it will sink to the bottom, and be easily seen there if the water is clear. It must lie in the water so deep as that you cannot reach it to take it up but by diving for it. To encourage yourself in order to do this, reflect that your progress will be from deep to shallow water, and that at any time you may, by bringing your legs under you, and standing on the bottom, raise your head far above the water; then plunge under it with your eyes open, throwing yourself toward the egg, or chalk, and endeavouring, by the action of your hands and feet against the water, to get forward till within reach of it.

In this attempt you will find that the water buoys you up against your inclination ; that it is not so easy a thing to sink as you imagine, and that you cannot, but by active force, get down to the egg. Thus you will feel the power of the water to support you, and learn to confide in that power, while your endeavours to overcome it, and to reach the egg will teach you the manner of acting on the water with your feet." On the first Attempt to Swim.—The learner, having gained confidence by diving after the egg or chalk, can now take his first lesson in striking out with arms and legs.

The water should be breast high. It will prove of great advantage should he have some competent person to assist him at this period of his study, to prevent his falling Jato a bad style of swimming, which will be find difficult to remedy; but should such not be at hand,, he should be particular in his endeavours to carry out the following instructions as closely as possible :— Having given yourself sufficient space for the action of your limbs, commence by drawing your hands in towards your breast, the palms being pressed together, then throw yourself forwards on your stomach, keeping your head as high as possible out of the water, and advancing your breast well forwards, then, drawing your legs from the bottom with a spring, stretch them out behind you, at the same time sending your hands out straight in front of you, still pressed together; and having extended your arms to their full length, turn the palms outwards, and taking a wide sweep, pressing slightly downwards, send them as far back in a line with your shoulders as possible before returning them in front of your breast; meanwhile, push against the water with your legs as much as you can, drawing them up, and striking them out behind you with all your force. Endeavour to accomplish this as slowly as the buoyancy of your body will permit; remember that you want to swim in the water, therefore do not exhaust yourself by striving to raise your body out of the water.

Do not be discouraged by the apparent difficulty of striking out, the action is naturally awkward at first, and more difficult to acquire by some than others. I have had some pupils who have swam some yards over the first lesson, while others have received two or three before they could strike out properly.

It is natural that you should feel exhausted by holding your breath, and by the exertions you employ; but that will gradually decrease as the action becomes more familiar.

A Safe and Expeditious Way of Teaching Swimming. -Let the teacher take a piece of rope two yards in length, and attach thereto a band of wash-leather, or stout canvas, some three inches wide, and sufficiently long to go round the pupil's waist; then, having fastened it in such a manner that the rope may come out behind, let the learner enter the water, the line being held by the master. Should the bathing-place be the river or the sea, it will be necessary to have a boat or raft, the latter preferred, as a boat is liable to rock about too much for the teacher to attend to his pupil strictly; but if in a bath, which is more convenient, the teacher has simply to avoid his pupil knocking against the side. By this method a competent master has complete control over his pupil, can easily perceive any defect, and by loosening the rope without his knowledge when it is found he can support himself for a short time, and tightening it again when he sees he is tired, watch his progress, and explain any clumsiness he may commit. This method is far superior to the use of corks or life-belts, as by them the pupil receives too much and too constant support. The same thing occurs with persons who, not being experienced in tuition, go in and support the beginner too much with their arms, thereby preventing him from feeling the buoyancy of the water, and thus retarding his progress. The only time, in my opinion, when a master can be of service to his pupil by going in the water with him, is after he is able to swim some yards, and then to encourage him to further exertions by showing him a more perfect style, gradually bringing him to a steadier and longer stroke, which being acquired, diving, ornamental swimming, &c., may be commenced, the motions for which are hereafter explained. The pupil may be taught to swim on his back in the same manner, merely adjusting the position of the rope.

It will be found better to give the learner the points to be observed in striking out, previous to his entering the water, as, when in he is too much occupied in his endeavours to keep himself afloat to pay much attention to any explanation.

To Assist Persons in Danger of being Drowned.—On the question of rendering assistance to persons in danger of drowning, Mr. BECKWITH says, "The only effectual way to proceed in this case is: let the swimmer watch his opportunity and get behind the person drowning, and placing his two hands under the endangered person's arms, keep his mouth above the surface by treading water; it is impossible for him then to seize his succourer, and all his struggles will only serve to keep himself afloat. By this means a swimmer can support another man much heavier than himself till assistance arrives, or, by pushing him on before him, guide him to a place of safety." This is certainly a far more humane process than that recommended by the celebrated Dr. FRANKLIN, , who says, as quoted by Mr. BECKWITH, " You should keep out of the reach of the drowning person until he becomes blind, and seize him when he is sinking." We would ourselves, in conclusion, add a precaution which we think is of importance, namely, that any person unable to swim on any occasion of being suddenly immersed in water, should remember never to raise the hands or arms above the water's surface.