AT the Annual General Meeting of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the London Tavern on Thursday the 17th day of March, 1859, The Right Hon. SIR JOHN S. PAKINGTON, Bart., First Lord of the Admiralty, in the Chair, The following Report of the Committee was read:— THE Committee of Management of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, on rendering their Annual Account of the position and progress of the Society, have again the gratification to report the continued enlargement of the sphere of its operations; and they trust they may add, its consequent advancement in public favour.

The Institution now possesses eightyone Life-boat Establishments, thoroughly equipped in every way. Fifteen of these have been added during the last twelve months.

Daring the past year the Committee have been engaged in completing and reorganizing the several life-boat stations on the Norfolk coast, which have been transferred to their management and control by the merging of the Norfolk County Association into the Institution.

The Tees Bay Life-boat Society has also united itself with it, and its three life-boat establishments have been reorganized and re-equipped.

Life-boots. — New life-boats have been stationed in England at Cromer, Mundesley, Bacton, Winterton, Yarmouth (2 boats), Aberdovey, and Fleetwood; in Ireland—at Dundalk, Carnsore, Tramore, Dnngawan, and Newcastle, the last-named in lieu of a previous boat; and in Scotland—at Fraserburgh and Lossiemouth. New boats are also ready to be sent to Exmouth and Kilmore.

All these boats are on the self-righting principle. The Committee continue to receive the most satisfactory reports of this class of life-boats, many of •which have rendered important services during the past year.

One instance has occurred of a singlebanked self-righting boat having been upset by broaching-to when running before a heavy broken sea on her return from a wreck off Dungeness. Although .this accident occurred in the middle of the night, and at some distance from the land, yet the whole of the crew regained their boat after she had self-righted, which she immediately did, and not one of them was even hurt on the occasion; a striking proof of the value of the self-righting principle adopted by the Institution, and of the efficiency of the Life-belts with which the crews of its boats are all provided, and which they are compelled to wear whenever they are on service.

Anxious to make the valuable properties of these boats universally known, the Committee have forwarded to the Governments of foreign maritime countries, and to the Colonial Governments of this Empire, lithographed drawings of the boats; as also of the transporting-carriages used with them. The expense of these drawings has been defrayed, at his own desire, by His Grace the President of the Institution.

The satisfactory result has been that the builders to the Society have been ordered to construct life-boats by the Governments of Russia, Prussia, and Portugal, and by some of our own Colonial Governments; and this Committee have in every case been requested to superintend their construction.

Some of these boats have already arrived at their destination, and given much satisfaction.

The life-boats of the Institution have been instrumental in saving one hundred and ten persons during the past year. They have also been off on 29 occasions to the assistance of vessels showing signals of distress, but the crews of which have eventually been enabled to remain on board them, or have been brought ashore by their own or other boats. Although some of these services have been of the most arduous and dangerous character, it will be gratifying to the contributors to the Institution to learn that they have been performed without the loss of a single life.

Carriages.—New life-boat carriages -have been built during the past year for Fraserburgh, Berwick, Boulmer, Alnmouth, Whitburn, Hornsea, Cromer, Mundesley, Bacton, Winterton, Yarmouth, Camber, Bideford, Aberdovey, Groomsport, Newcastle, Carnsore, Tramore, Dungarvan, Ardmore, and Ballycotton. Further experience has suggested improvements -in the construction of these important adjuncts to a life-boat, which the Committee have not failed to adopt.

Boat-houses.—New houses have been erected at Fraserburgh, Whitburn, Bacton, Winterton, Yarmouth, Penmon, Aberdovey, G roomsport, Newcastle, Tramore, and Ardmore; whilst others are in course of construction at Redcar, Fleetwood, Exmouth, Lossiemouth, and Dungarvan. Local Committees.—The Committee have again to acknowledge the important and cordial assistance which they continue to receive from their several Branch Committees ; without whose zealous co-operation in superintending their several life-boat establishments, and in collecting local pecuniary aid, the Institution would be unable to maintain in an efficient state its now extensive machinery for saving lives from shipwreck.

Shipwrecks.—The number of shipwrecks on the coasts of the United Kingdom during the past year has been nearly the same as that of the previous year, 1170 in all, but they have been differently distributed ; a much smaller proportion than usual having occurred on the East Coast of England, owing to the more general prevalence of westerly winds. Fortunately, they have been attended, comparatively, with little loss of life.

The total number of lives saved from shipwreck on our coasts during the past year, as stated in the Official Return of the Board of Trade, is as follows:— By life-boats 206 By luggers, coastguard Louts, and small craft 719 By assistance from shore with ropes, mortar apparatus, &c 210 By ships' own boats, and steam-vessels 391 By individual election of a meritorious character . . . . . 26 Total . . . . 1,555 Although by these returns a much larger number of lives are represented as having been saved by ordinary boats, ships' boats, &c., than by life-boats, yet it must be borne in mind that the majority of such services have been performed under circumstances of little or no danger; whereas the life-boats are, for the most part, only called into requisition when the sea is too heavy and the wind too high for an ordinary boat to venture out.

The number of lives lost during the same period is stated by the Return to have been 343. It is admitted that this number is still very large, but when it is remembered that the average loss of life from shipwrecks in past years, on the coasts of the British Isles, has been 800, the result of the strenuous exertions which have been made in this humane work by the Institution and other bodies is very gratifying, and calls for much thankfulness. Great credit is also unquestionably due to the Board of Trade. In addition to co-operating cordially with the Society, it has brought to a state of considerable perfection the life-preserving apparatus around the coasts, and, empowered by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1854, has no doubt been enabled to lessen the number of fatal accidents at sea. It should, however, be remembered that the weather of the past year has been comparatively propitious, and that future years may possibly again show an increased amount of loss oi life. It has been reported to the Committee, by Coastguard Officers and Lloyd's Agents, that upwards of sixty additional lifeboats are required on the coasts. It may be reasonably anticipated, when the means for saving life on our shores have been thoroughly completed, that few lives will be lost from disasters at sea that could possibly be saved by human skill and exertion, though occasional shipwrecks with loss of life will occur, notwithstanding every precaution for their prevention; for it is not in man's power to control the fury of the storm. • 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 1841 No. of Lives Saved.

124 218 175 163 301 463 372 287 310 449 214 364 225 272 456 279 353 128 In the Tear 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1851 1855 1856 1857 1858 Total .

No. of Lives.

Saved.

276 236 193 235 134 157 123 209 470 230 773 678 355 406 473 374 427 10,902 The amount of happiness afforded to this large number of persons rescued from death in one of its most appalling forms, and to the relatives and friends to whom they have been restored, can only be fully realized by themselves. The British public in general may, however, entertain a sense of the national benefit derived from the preservation of so many shipwrecked seamen; and it especially must be a source of satisfaction to every philanthropic individual who has directly or indirectly aided in. the good work.

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

The lives of 427 persons wrecked on the coasts of the British Isles have been rescued during the past year, through the Instrumentality of the life-boats of the Society and of shore-boats; for which services rewards have been granted by this Society.

It will be seen that one gold medal, 23 silver medals, 37 other honorary distinctions, and Q52L have been voted in acknowledgment of these gallant exertions.

The Committee have devoted the most careful attention to this important and interesting department of their duties. Each individual case has been fully inquired into, through the instrumentality of the Officers of Coastguard and Customs; the local Honorary Secretaries of the several Branches of the Institution; or other responsible persons ; and each case has been thoroughly sifted and considered by a Sub-Committee, previous to its being recommended to the General Committee.

The Committee have to acknowledge the cordial and kind assistance which they continue to receive from the Commodore Comptroller - General, the Deputy Comptroller- General, and the officers and men of the Coastguard service generally, in obtaining this valuable information, and for their zealous co-operation in other respects.

The prompt and liberal rewards which the Society has been enabled to make, there is every reason to believe have been productive of the best results, and have tended to foster that spirit of emulation amongst our seacoast population which is now more than ever conspicuous on occasions of shipwrecks.

The operations of the Committee may be thus briefly stated :—Since the formation of the Institution it has expended on life-boat establishments 28,0611., and has voted 81 gold and 629 silver medals for distinguished services for saving life, besides pecuniary awards, amounting together to 11,651Z.

Finances.—Although the financial condi- ;ion of the Institution, is detailed at length in.

the annexed statement, yet the Committee would here briefly recapitulate the leading items of expenditure during the past year on new life-boat stations, or in the replacing of old boats, transporting-carriages, and houses, by new ones. They are as follows: Cromer, 276?. 16s. 5d; Mundesley, 2231. 9s. 5d ; Bacton, 3771 11s. lid; Palling, 272?.

17s. 6d; Winterton, 400?. 5s. lid; Yarmouth (two boats), 859?. 3s. 5d.; Lowestoft, 1531. 14s. 6d; Southwold, 127?. 19s.; Berwick, 731.; Bonlmer, 731.; Alnmouth, 41?.; Whitburn, 2471. Is.; Hornsea, 44/.

12s.; Exmouth, 140?. Is.; Appledore, 44?.

12s.; Aberdovey, 138?. 3s. Id ; Rhyl, 52Z.

17s.; Penmon, 72?. 15s.; Fleetwood, 140?.

Is.; Fraserburgh, 255?. 9s. 2d; Lossiemouth, 140?. Is.; Newcastle, county Down, 282?.

7s.; Dundalk, 191?. Is.; Kilmore, 140?. Is.; Carnsore, 187?. 8s.; Tramore, 322?. 18s. 9d; Dungarvan, 191Z. Is.; and Ardmore, 81?.

1 Is. 5d. The Institution has also expended on the repairs, stores, alterations, and inspection of its numerous life-boats, boat-houses, and transporting-carriages, 2,500?. 6s. 5d, and 1,203?. 185. 5d, including 893?. Os. lid paid locally by its Branches for exercising the crews of its life-boats; making altogether a total of 9,255?. 3s. 4d It has likewise granted, during the same period,952?.as awards for saving 427 persons from 64 wrecks on oar coasts: a most satisfactory result, and clearly showing how much has been accomplished by the well-directed efforts which the Life-boat Institution has brought to bear on this humane cause. This great and national work has, however, only been accomplished by the Society incurring further liabilities to the extent of 3,047?.

With so sacred an object in view as the rescue of our fellow-creatures from an appalling death by shipwreck, it might be supposed that the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION had claims which would come home to the heart of every one in this great maritime country. Such we may hope will be the case as its operations become more generally known, and that a great advantage will be the permanent result, not only from popular sympathy, but from general pecuniary support.

The Committee regret to have to announce the deaths of several valued friends and subscribers to the Institution during the past year. They would particularly refer to CAPTAIN SHEPHERD, V.P., late Deputy Master of the Trinity House and Member of the Indian Council. At the Annual Meetings of the Institution, and on other occasions, he pleaded on its behalf with an eloquence peculiar to himself. They would also refer to the late GEORGE HOLGATE FOSTER, Esq., V.P., who had been for many years a liberal contributor to the funds of the Society, to which he has bequeathed the munificent legacy of 1,000?., free of duty.

The Institution has also been benefited by Legacies, of 73?. 9s. lid, from ME. CHARLES SELL of Hoxton, and 100?. from the late Miss HARRIET EATON of Hampstead.

The Committee are, however, thankful to be able to report the accession of new friends, and the continued support of others who have on former occasions given the Institution generous pecuniary aid. They would particularly refer to a liberal donation of 50?. from His Royal Highness the PRINCE CONSORT, K.G., Vice-Patron of the Society; to LADY ROLLE, who has promised to defray the cost of the Exmouth life-boat establishment, amounting to 367?.; to the following gifts—300?. being the cost of a life-boat station, from a lady whose life had been providentially saved from drowning on the Irish coast; 160?. 9s. lOd, being the produce arising from the sale of the contents of a plate-chest, presented by MRS. COLES, of Tunbridge Wells, whose husband had previously bequeathed to the Institution 200?.; 150?. from a lady who had previously presented the Society with the like amount towards the cost of a life-boat station; 100?. from Miss HUGHES, per CAPT. RIGMAIDEN, R.N.; 242?. from the sister Institution, the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Society, chiefly collected in threepences from its members ; 105?. in aid of the cost of the Dundalk life-boat establishment, from a friend through the same Society; 105?.

from Lord Clermont, being the cost of the Dundalk life-boat house; 100?. from S. LYNE STEPHENS, Esq., per the Dean of Norwich; 21?. from VISCOUNT BURY, M.P., and his fellow-passengers, being the amount collected amongst themselves in aid of the funds of this Institution, on their homeward voyage from New York, on board the steam-ship Asia; and 30Z. from the boatbuilders, sawyers, and other workmen in the employ of the MESSES. FORRESTT, of Limehouse.

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

In reviewing their extensive operations during the past year, the Committee cannot feel too thankful that their exertions have not been in vain, that the Institution has steadily progressed in public estimation, and that the country is beginning to appreciate its " truly public and unimpeachably philanthropic objects," as the Times, in a leading article last year, denominated them.

The Committee do not, therefore, hesitate to solicit most earnestly of all persons that support which they may be enabled to render.

That help was never more needed than at present, when, through the extraordinary exertions the Society has made within the past few years, it has now, as before stated, no less than eighty-one life-boats under its management, for the maintenance of which, in a state of thorough efficiency, a large permanent annual income is absolutely needed if its humane mission is to be perpetuated.

They feel assured that they do not miscalculate on the assistance that will continue to be extended to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. On the contrary, they believe that the facts which they have been able to lay before the British public will call forth such prompt and liberal aid as may enable the Society to persevere in its course of usefulness, on a scale adequate to its great and national importance, in the cause of humanity—that of saving the lives of our fellow-creatures from the perils of the sea.