NEWCASTLE, DUNDRUM BAY.—On the 12th December, 1858, the French lugger Louise Amelie got embayed and was driven on shore near Newcastle in a heavy gale from S.S.E.- The life-boat belonging to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, stationed at Newcastle, was immediately launched, and the French crew, 5 in number, were taken on board and safely landed at Newcastle.

NEWBIGGEN.—On the night of 9th January, 1859, the schooner Betsy, of Sunderland, ran aground off Newbiggen Point, on the Northumberland Coast, the night being dark, and a strong sea setting in from the east at the time. On signals of distress being made, the Newbiggen life-boat, belonging to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, was speedily launched, and took off the crew, landing them at-Newbiggen at 5 A.M.

PADSTOW.—On the 8th March, 1859, the French brigantine Gonscdve, of Nantes, got embayed off Padstow, and, on making for the harbour, was caught by the eddy winds at the entrance, and driven by the tide and heavy sea on to the Doombar Sand, when her crew were immediately placed in extreme danger. The Padstow life-boat was launched with great promptness, and, through a very heavy sea which repeatedly broke over and filled the boat, succeeded in rescuing the crew of 7 persons, and conveying them safely to the shore. The vessel shortly after went to pieces. The life-boat, which is on the self-righting principle, on Mr. PEAKE'S plan, was reported to have behaved admirably on the occasion.

On the 10th of March, the services of this life-boat were again called into requisition, and her crew had again the satisfaction to save the lives of their fellow-creatures. The schooner Frederick William, of Ipswich, getting embayed, ran for Padstow harbour in a very heavy gale from the N.W., and on approaching its narrow entrance, was taken aback by the baffling or eddy winds which are so often fatal to vessels in this locality; she was then quickly carried by the heavy sea upon the Doombar Sand. The lifeboat was again launched and proceeded through a terrific sea to the aid of the hapless crew, 4 in number, who, together with a pilot on board, were successfully taken on board and safely conveyed to land. The sea was described as fearful at the time, the lifeboat being repeatedly filled by it. For this and the previous service, added to his general exemplary conduct, the coxswain, DANIEL SHEA, commission boatman of Coast-guard, received the silver medal of the Institution, in addition to the usual pecuniary award •which the life-boats' crews receive for such HOLYHEAD.—On the 10th March, the schooner Scotia, of Carnarvon, anchored in a heavy S.W. gale off Trefadoc, near Holyhead : she soon commenced to drag her anchors, and was observed to be driving fast towards the Clipera Rocks. The Holy- head life-boat, belonging to the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, was very quickly launched, and on reaching her with considerable difficulty, placed three hands on board her, by whose aid the cables were slipped, and the vessel was run ashore in a safe position.

The life-boat immediately after proceeded to the assistance of another schooner, also dangerously situated, and aided in conducting her also into a safe position. Had these vessels driven on the rocks, the consequences would probably have been fatal to their crews. The life-boat, which is on Mr. PEAKE'S plan, was reported to have behaved admirably on the occasion.

BIDEFORD.—Early in the morning of the 12th March, the schooner Clifton, of Gloucester, ran ashore on the south side of the bar at the entrance to Bideford harbour, the wind blowing hard from the west at the time. At daylight the crew, 6 in number, took to the foremast, which shortly after going by the board, threw them all into the water, when 4 of their number unhappily perished.

On the position of the vessel being seen from the shore, the two life-boats belonging to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION were as soon as possible manned and proceeded to attempt the rescue of the crew; owing, however, to the mountainous sea which was running, to the violence of the gale, and to a cross tide, they were both unsuccessful, and had to return to the shore, after three hours' exertion, without effecting their object. After recruiting themselves and obtaining some fresh hands, the boats once more started, but were again unsuccessful, and had the mortification to see the foremast fall over the side with, as was supposed, the loss of all on board. The boats then a second time returned to the shore.

It was now concluded that all hands on board the schooner had perished, but after awhile, with the help of glasses, moving objects were discovered on the bowsprit, and the boats then a third time put off, on this occasion, with better success, the smaller beat of the two reaching the vessel and taking the 2 survivors of the crew off the bowsprit, and conveying them safely to the shore.

As a very heavy sea breaks on Bideford Bar, the service was considered to be one of great danger and of unusual difficulty.

During the many hours that the attempts at rescue were being continued, the members of the local Life-boat Committee and other gentlemen were on the spot, and actively engaged in aiding and in encouraging the life-boats' crews. The boats were reported as behaving extremely well, and it was considered by those on the spot that no other description of boat could have more readily reached the vessel.

FISHGUARD.—On the 15th March, during a heavy gale from N.N.W., the brig Lord Gough, of Whitby, riding with several other vessels in Fishguard Bay, was considered to be in danger; and the crew, wishing to leave the vessel or run her for the beach, a signal of distress was hoisted, when the Fishguard life-boat was quickly launched through a considerable surf, took the crew off, and landed them in safety. The brig, after all, held on to her anchors, and on the gale moderating, the crew were enabled to return to her. The life-boat, which belongs to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, was reported to have behaved admirably on the occasion.

RHYL.—On the 29th March, 1859, a sloop was observed driving towards the shore in Abergele Bay, North Wales. The Rhyl life-boat belonging to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION was quickly conveyed by horses to the bay, and launched.

The sloop was found to be the Mary, of Ramsay: she had broken her mainboom and split her mainsail. The weather moderating, a portion of the life-boat's crew were placed on board, and the vessel was afterwards towed into the harbour at Rhyl.

On the 26th and 29th January this lifeboat also was taken to the assistance of vessels, which had hoisted signals of distress ; but on neither occasion was it necessary to take off the crew of the vessel.

This life-boat is on the tubular principle, invented and patented by the Messrs. RICHARDSON, of Merionethshire. She is the only boat on this principle which is stationed on our coasts. She has been highly reported of on each occasion of her performing service.

THORPE, AND ALDBOROUGH, SUFFOLK.— On the 2nd April, at daylight, a vessel, which afterwards proved to be the brig Velocity, of Sunderland, was perceived to be ashore on Sizewell Bank, the wind blowing hard from S.S.W. at the time. The Thorpe life-boat was quickly launched through a heavy surf and proceeded to the wreck, taking off her crew of 8 persons and lauding them in safety. The vessel shortly after became a total wreck. The Aidborough life-boat also proceeded to the rescue of the crew, not being aware of the Thorpe boat having gone to her; having, however, a greater distance to go than the Thorpe boat, she did not arrive in time to be of service. Both these boats were reported as behaving admirably on the occasion.

WALMER, KENT.—On the 15th April, at daylight, a sloop was observed to be on shore on the south end of the Goodwin Sands. As soon as there was sufficient water on the sands for a boat to cross them, the Walmer life-boat was launched, and proceeded under sail to the Sands; she then rowed across them, after taking her masts and sails down, through a heavy cross sea, described by the crew as surging into the air and tossing and filling the boat every minute. On approaching the wreck, it was at first found impossible to board her, although the crew, 3 in number, were seen in the vessel's rigging. As soon as the tide turned, causing the sea somewhat to subside, the life-boat was taken alongside; but at the moment of her being so, the vessel's mast went by the board, falling across her bow. One of the 3 men in the vessel's rigging had before this been washed off and perished: of the 2 who remained, 1 was taken into the boat as the mast fell; the other, the master of the vessel, was thrown into the water. One of the life-boat's crew, JOHN CHADWICK, immediately jumped overboard, swam to him, and succeeded in bringing him alongside the life-boat; but on the crew grasping him, his clothes unfortunately tore away, and a sea dashing the boat away from him, he unfortunately perished. A Deal-lugger was near the wreck, but could not approach it to render any assistance.

Th,e vessel proved to be the sloop Liberal, of Wisbeach, RICHARD BONN, master. The life-boat was reported to have behaved exceedingly well on the occasion: she is one of the self-righting boats belonging to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

In the report of this case, received by the Institution, it is remarked, that had the unfortunate master been provided with one of the cork life-belts, such as are worn by the life-boats' crews, his life would not have been sacrificed. Indeed the two other men previously washed from the rigging and drowned might possibly have been saved had they been provided with belts, as they might have been picked up by the life-boat or by the Deal-lugger. We have on different occasions expressed our opinion of the desirableness of all merchant-vessels, or at least of all in our coasting-trade, being supplied with these useful sources of safety, which can be procured for a small cost, and which would be the means of saving many a poor fellow's life. Although not required by law to be supplied, we reiterate the opinion, " that every humane shipowner should consider one for each of the men employed by him to be a necessary part of the furniture of each of their ships."