On the 26th October, 1859, the schooner Lord Douglas of Dundee, parted from her anchors in a heavy gale from- the south, and foundered off the village of Gorton, on the Suffolk coast. The Lowestoft life-boat proceeded under sail to the spot, and having anchored to windward of the wrecked vessel, the crew of which had lashed themselves to the rigging, succeeded in saving them, 5 in num%er, drawing them through the water by lines thrown to them, and landed them safely at Gorton.

On the same afternoon the Lowestoft life- boat performed another valuable service.

Scarcely had she returned from saving the crew of the Lord Douglas, than another schooner, the SUva, of Glasgow, drove ashore at Gorton, although lying with three anchors ahead. The life-boat had split her foresail hi the previous service, but another was borrowed, and she again started on her mission of mercy, which, happily, was crowned with similar success, and the crew of the wrecked schooner were taken off in the same manner. Having split her borrowed foresail, the life-boat was compelled to land on Yarmouth beach, where the shipwrecked men were hospitably received into the Sailors' Home. The life-boat had to be left at Yarmouth until the 28th Oct.

On the 1st November the crew of this valuable and efficient life-boat had another opportunity to distinguish themselves, and to perform one of the most gallant services which even they have ever effected; and no life-boat in the kingdom has rendered more frequent and important services in this humane work than she has done.

The screw-steamer, Shamrock, of Dublin, ran ashore, on the above-named day, on the Holm Sand, during a heavy gale from the S.W. The Lowestoft life-boat was launched as soon as possible after the situa- tion of the unfortunate vessel was perceived, and proceeded under sail to the spot, when she anchored, and the crew of 14 men were with much difficulty hauled into the life- boat by lines thrown to them. The sea was said to be breaking over the mast-heads of the steamer, and repeatedly filled the life- boat. The danger of the service was much increased by the circumstance that a great expanse of shoal water lay close to leeward of the boat, and if her cable had parted, it was considered that the destruction of the boat and her crew might have fol- lowed.

For this service the life-boat's crew re- ceived double the usual payment, or IL each; and in testimony of admiration for this and previous distinguished services in the life-boat, the following men had, in ad- dition, the silver medal of the Institution awarded to them,—RICHARD HOOK, cox- swain ; FRANCIS SMITH, RICHARD BUTCHER, ALFRED MEWSE, THOMAS LIFFEN, JAMES BUTCHER, and WILLIAM ROSE..