AT the Annual General Meeting of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the London Tavern on Thursday the 15th day of March, 1860, Rear-Admiral the Right Hon. Earl of SHREWSBURY and TALBOT, C.B., V.P., in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee was read :— ONCE more it is the duty of the Committee of Management of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION to present to its supporters, and to the public, their Annual Statement of the position and progress of the Society, whose affairs it is their privilege to conduct. Once more they have the happiness to report that a blessing has attended their exertions, and that whilst they have steadily and rapidly extended the field of their labours, they have been encouraged by a corresponding increase of public appreciation and support.

Confiding in a continuation of that support, and feeling certain that the Society has now taken its place as one of the most important and permanent Institutions of our land, the Committee have determined on soliciting from the Crown the advantage of a Charter of Incorporation.

The proceedings and status of the Institution may be thus epitomized:— Life-boats.—Twelve new life-boats have been placed on the coast by the Society during the past year; a portion of them being to supersede old or worn-out boats.

They are stationed as follows :—At St. Andrew's, Cullercoats, Whitburn, Great Yarmouth, Exmouth, Fowey, The Lizard, Carmarthen Bay, Rhoscolyn, Ayr, The Skerries, and Wexford.

Others are in course of building for Banff, North Berwick, Kingsgate, Brooke and Grange in the Isle of Wight, Porthcawl, Silloth, Thurso, Portrush, Newquay (Cornwall), and Tyrella (Dundrum Bay).

The total number of life-boats, including those in course of construction, belonging to the Institution, amounts to one hundred and one. A truly noble fleet. Outnumbered, to be sure, by the Navies of Commerce and of War, but the largest life-saving fleet that the world has yet seen.

During the past year, the life-boats of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have, at various points of our coasts, been actively called into operation on sixty-eight occasions. Two hundred and twenty-seven lives have been saved from 40 vessels, including five assisted safely into port. On twenty-eight occasions it happened that when the life-boats had put off in reply to signals of distress, the vessels had either got out of danger, or their crews been rescued by other means. Life-boats' crews also assembled several times to give assistance, but were not required to put off to sea. For these valuable exertions toe total sum paid to life-boats' crews was 7331. 18s. 9d. On these occasions, and on those of quarterly exercise, the boats were manned by about 4,000 persons. Nearly all the services took place in stormy weather and heavy seas, and often in the dark hour of the night.

The Committee regret having to report that a serious accident, attended with loss of life, occurred to one of the Society's lifeboats in December last; the Aldborough life-boat having been upset in a very high surf, on proceeding to a vessel in distress, and three of her crew, out of 15, having unhappily perished on the occasion. Much «s the Committee regret this unfortunate occurrence, it is a consolation to them that no larger number lost their lives, which must have been the case had not this boat self-righted immediately, and thus enabled the greater portion of her crew to get into her again. Indeed, had not the weather and the water been intensely cold at the time, it was considered probable that no life would have been lost. The crew have also since expressed their continued confidence in their boat, and have stated that in their opinion any boat in the world would have been upset under the same circumstances.

In recording this sad and only interruption to the success and immunity from accident which have so long attended the operations of the Institution, the Committee cannot but be deeply impressed with the fact, that the work which they have undertaken the great responsibility of conducting is, of necessity, a dangerous one; and that, whatever amount of care, diligence, and knowledge they may be able to exert in its prosecution, they may not expect that the results of their labours shall be relieved from that universal law which stamps imperfection on all the works of man.

The Committee nevertheless feel that they have much reason for thankfulness to the Almighty that their labours for the relief of human suffering have met with so great success, and been attended by so little loss.

They likewise entertain a heartfelt sense of the admiration and encouragement which are due to the brave men who so readily and nobly undertake the performance of this hazardous and important work, to the dangers of which they are themselves fully alive.

It is gratifying to find that the little pamphlet which the Committee issued last year on the Management of Boats in Heavy Surfs and Broken Water, has been extensively circulated on the coasts of the United Kingdom. It has also been approved of by the Lords of the Admiralty, who have ordered its distribution throughout Her Majesty's Fleet; and by the Minister of War, who has directed its circulation in all the Military Libraries at home and abroad.

The instructions have also been translated into French, Spanish, and Swedish; and it is not improbable they may be rendered into other foreign languages; and that thus the Institution may indirectly be the means of saving life from drowning over many parts of the globe.

Carriages.—New life-boat carriages have been built during the past year for St. Andrew's, Whitburn, Cullercoats, Great Yarmouth, the Lizard, Carmarthen Bay, Ayr, Skerries, Silloth, and Porthcawl. Whilst several others are being constructed for other life-boats.

Boat-houses.—New boat-houses have been built at Redcar, Fowey, The Lizard, Exmouth, Carmarthen Bay, Barmouth, Rhoscolyn, and Fleetwood, and numerous others are in course of erection.

Local Committees.—The Committee continue to receive the cordial co-operation of their several Branch Committees, which form so important a department of the machinery for the supervision and control of the working establishment of the Institution. They desire to express their deep sense of the same, and especially of the valuable gratuitous labours of the several honorary secretaries, who conduct the correspondence with the central managing body in London.

Shipwrecks. — Notwithstanding the unparalleled exertions that have been made during the past year to save life from shipwrecks, not only by life-boats, but also by other available means, the Committee lament to have to report that the number of wrecks in the seas and on the coasts of the British Isles, and the consequent loss of life therefrom, have been unprecedentedly large; no less than 1646 of our fellow creatures having met with a watery grave.

In the case of two wrecks alone—viz., those of the Royal Charter and the Pomona— upwards of 800 persons perished in the darkness of the night, without the possibility of any assistance reaching them.

Lives saved. —It is, however, consoling to find, that the exertions which have been made during the past year to save life from shipwreck have been attended with great and encouraging success, as is shown by the annexed official return of the Board of Trade:— By Life-boats 291 By rocket-mortar apparatus, &c. . . 260 By ships'own boats, shore-boats, and 'steam-vessels 1,775* By individual exertion of a meritorious character • 6 Total 2,332 It will be observed that, as usual, a greater number of the lives saved have been rescued by ordinary boats, ships and their boats, luggers, and steamers, than by lifeboats.

This must always necessarily be so ; the largest number of lives saved from collisions and wrecks on outlying sandbanks, being by fishing-smacks and other craft, which are fortunately often at hand.

It should also be borne in mind, that the services of a life-boat are usually only called into requisition when it would not be safe for any other kind of vessel to approach the wreck. One illustration may be given on this point:—On the 30th January last the ship Ann Mitchell, of Glasgow, was wrecked on Arklow Banks. Several fishing-smacks attempted in vain to approach her. The steamer Ruby, bound for Bristol, laid-to for five hours with the laudable view of succouring the crew; but the sea was so very heavy that neither smacks nor steamer could even come within hail of the wreck.

The Arklow life-boat, belonging to this Institution, made her appearance. She nobly ran through the heavy breakers, and succeeded in taking off the whole nine men from the wreck.

The total number of persons saved from shipwreck since the first establishment of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and * A considerable proportion of these lives were saved at little or no risk.

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 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 No. of Lives Saved.

276 236 193 235 134 157 123 209 470 230 773 678 355 406 473 374 427 499 Total . .11,401 Language fails adequately to describe the amount of happiness which the saving of so many thousands of persons must have conferred.

It can only have been fully appreciated by the parties themselves, and by their relatives and friends, whose expressions of gratitude for such important benefits are often of the most feeling character.

Rewards.—In the Appendix will be found a summary of the cases in which honorary and other rewards have been voted by the Institution. During the past year one gold medal, 20 silver medals, 13 votes of thanks, inscribed on vellum, and 1,1Q8?. 15,s. 3d. have been granted for saying the Jives of 499 persons by life-boats, shpre-bpats, and other means, on the coasts and outlying banks of the United Kingdom. Many of these services have been of the most gallant and laudable character, performed at imminent risk of life.

The Committee have abundant proofs of the local appreciation of these rewards, and especially of the high esteem in which the Society's medals and other honorary distinctions are held on the coast. No other proof is needed of their beneficial effect as an encouragement to daring exertions in the rescue of shipwrecked persons.

In order to enhance the value of the medals, of the Institution, they are never granted except when risk of life is believed to have been incurred; and the most careful investigation is made of every case of application for reward before it is decided on.

On the same principle the bestowal of the gold medal is of very rare occurrence, it being only given for services of an extra- Ordinary and exceptional character.

Of such a nature was deemed the noble and perilous act of JOSEPH RODGERS, the Maltese seaman of the Royal Charter, who with a line round him swam through the heavy surf to the rocky shore, when that unfortunate vessel was wrecked on the Anglesey coast in October last, which line was the means of saving many persons, and which, had not the vessel broken up in so short a time, would undoubtedly have been the means of saving most of those on board. (Vide p. 254.) 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, by inquiring into the merits of such services, and by affording their zealous general co-operation on all occasions.

The Committee desire also to acknowledge the valuable assistance received by the Institution from the Mercantile Marine .Fund, through Her Majesty's Board of Trade, which enables the Institution to make more liberal pecuniary rewards and payments to its life-boat crews than its limited means would otherwise allow.

The operations of the Committee may be thus briefly stated :—Since the formation of the Institution it has expended on life-boat establishments 36,948?. 5s. 8d., and has voted 82 gold and 658 silver medals for distinguished services for saving life, besides pecuniary awards, amounting together to 12,759?. 15s. 3d.

Finances.—From the annexed statement of the income and expenditure of the Institution during the past year, it will be seen that the following expenses have been incurred, on either additional new Life-boat stations, or the replacing of old boats, transporting-carriages, and houses, by new ones:—Berwick-on- Tweed, 149?. 5s. 5d.; Cullercoats, 254?. 10s.; Middlesborough, 110?. 10s. 9d. ; Redcar, 148/. 10s.; Yarmouth, 1801. ; Kingsgate, 180?. 9s. 6d. ; Isle of Wight (two boats, Brooke and Grange), 406?. 19s,; Exmouth, 2371. 4s. Id, ; Fowey, 333L ; Lizard, 314?.

9s. Id.; Braunton, 59Z. 18s.; Porthcawl, 3231. 19s. ; Carmarthen Bay, 3751. 9s. 6d. ; Aberdovey, 146?. 15s. Id. ; Barmouth and Portmadoc, 409?. 19s. Id. ; Rhoscolyn (Anglesey), 148?. Os. Id.; Fleetwood, 174Z. 18s. 6d.; Silloth, 291?. 19s. 6d. ; Thurso, 203?. 19s. ; Banff, 203?. 9s. 6d. ; Lossiemouth, 180?. 15. 6d. ; St. Andrew's, 261?. ; North Berwick, 203?. 9s. Qd. ; Ayr, 259?. 14s. 8d. ; Portrush, 203?. 19s. ; Dundalk, 117?. 13s. 6e?. ; Carnsore, 124?. 10s.; Dnngarvan, 130?. 2s. The Institution has also expended on the repairs, stores, alterations, and inspection of its numerous lifeboats, boat-houses, and transporting-carriages, 3,47(3?. 16s. 2d., and 1,500?. for exercising the crews of its life-boats ; making altogether a total of 11,120?. 18s. 3d.

As previously stated, the Institution has also granted, during the .same period, 1,108?. 15s. 3d., as awards for saving 499 persons from a large number of shipwrecks on our coasts. This great and national work has, however, only been accomplished by the Society incurring liabilities to the extent of a further sum of 3,834?.

The receipts of the Institution, from all sources, amounted last year to 11,652?.

lls. Qd. ; and amongst the interesting incidents connected therewith, the Committee gratefully acknowledge the accompanying gifts, specially appropriated at the request of the donors themselves to the cost of the following life-boats : — Exmouth £. s. d.

Lady Kolle . . . 375 0 0 A.C.S. . . . 3800 0 Kingsgate .

St. Andrew's . A. W. Jaffray, Esq., 560 0 0 Thurso . .

North Berwick, Messrs. Jaffray & Son, 180 0 0 Lizard . . . The Hon. Mrs. Agar and T. J. Agar Robartes, Esq., M.P. 269 13 7 Fowey . . . Vm. Kashleigh, Esq., and the Hon. Mrs.

Kashleigh . . . 100 0 0 Banff . . . Messrs. Macfie & Sons, 180 0 0 The Committee have also recently received the following contributions in aid of the general objects of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION :—A Friend, 300?.; MRS. CHAD WICK, in memoriam, 100?.; E.

W. GARLAND, Esq., 100L ; T. B. POTTER, Esq., F.P., 105Z.; Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation (fourth donation), 1051.; F. MAGENIS, Esq., 100?. Royal Mersey Yacht Club, 751. Also from Glasgow, per A. A. RANKEN, Esq., Hon. Sec., 331. 8s.

in Annual Subscriptions, and 1531. 2s. §d.

in Donations; from Huntingdon and St.

Ives, per MESSES. POTTO BROWN and SONS, 22?. 6s. in Annual Subscriptions, and 81. 2s.

in Donations; and from the sister Institution, the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, chiefly collected in threepences from its seamen members in aid of life-boats (eighth donation), 150?.

In the same period legacies have been left to the Institution by Miss CHURCH, Berkeley, 1001. GEORGE BIGGS, Esq., Strand, 100?.; EDWIN CUTHBERT, Esq., Denmark Hill, 501. ; and from MRS. ANN THOMPSON, of Blackheath, payable after the death of a sister, 100?.* In again reviewing, at the close of another year, the extensive operations of the Institution, the Committee feel thankful that the services of its life-boats have been successful * As questions may occasionally arise whether Legacies are intended for this or any other Society, the Committee request that bequests may be made to the Treasurer of the ROYAL NATIONAL LITE-BOAT INSTITUTION, London, for the use of the said Institution.

in snatching so many as 227 of their fellowcreatures from a watery grave. It is also most encouraging to them to know that it is steadily progressing in public estimation and national importance. It must surely also be a source of satisfaction to its supporters to find that, not only is the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION now one of the most important benevolent Societies in our land? but that its operations are known to all the maritime powers of the world. Many of these governments have had life-boats built under the superintendence of the Institution ; and some of these boats have already been the means, on the shores of the Black Sea and Australia, of saving a considerable number of lives from various wrecks. Englishmen also resident in distant parts of the globe often send tokens of their approval of its philanthropic labours.

The Committee feel assured that such an Institution as this will not readily be allowed to languish ram the want of adequate public support. No Society has a stronger claim on the sympathy of the philanthropist than the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, whose life-boats have so often preserved to an otherwise desolate home a husband, father, or brother. The Committee therefore make their present earnest appeal on its behalf, in the full assurance, that those who will extend to it their support, will not only enhance a work of benevolence and mercy, but of national importance, and will thus aid in helping onward the best interests of the cause of humanity in our country.