TO THE EDITOR Or THE TIMES.

SIR The severe loss of life occasioned by shipwrecks off the coasts of the United Kingdom during the last year ought to direct the attention of every friend of humanity to the most efficacious means of preventing such lamentable evils. No less than 1,646 of our fellow-creatures met with a watery grave in that year, to which number must be added those who have since perished in the fearful, and, for the season, unprecedented storms of the last few weeks. We cannot prevent the recurrence of .such visitations, nor stem the fury of the tempest; but it is in the power, and is the duty of man, to mitigate the calamities that result from them. It appears from the annual official return of the Board of Trade that 2,332 lives were saved in the past year, of which number 291 were preserved by life-boats; and the total number of •persons rescued from shipwreck since the first establishment of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION in 1824, and for rescuing whom it has granted honorary and pecuniary rewards, amounts to 11,401.

At present the number of boats belonging to the Institution amounts to 103; but the Coast-guard officers and Lloyd's agents reported last year that many more were needed; and, although several new boats have since then been placed on the coasts, there are still very many exposed localities, especially on the coast of Scotland, where hardly a year passes without a great loss of life, which might be, to a great extent, prevented if life-boats were stationed in the vicinity. In the single gale of August 17,1848, the results of which were so ably inquired into and reported on to the House of Commons by Captain Washington, R.N., no less than 100 men were drowned,'and 124 boats lost or damaged, involving a pecuniary loss of 7,011/.; and in that of the 23rd of November, 1857, 44 fishermen, mostly in the prime of life, perished, and no fewer than 27 widows and 79 orphans were left to bewail their loss. Such calamities are of frequent occurrence, and 1 am sure only require to be stated to induce-all who sympathize with the sufferings of others to give whatever aid may be in their power towards diminishing them. The first cost of each new lifeboat station," including, besides the boat, the necessary gear, life-belts for the crew, boat-house, and carriage to convey the boat to any spot where a wreck has taken place, averages between 3001.

and 400/., and its subsequent maintenance comes to about 302. per annum. The wreck-chart annually published by the Board of Trade gives melancholy evidence as to the spots where these boats are most required; and I trust that in this age of philanthropy sufficient funds will be forthcoming to enable one of these messengers of life and safety to be stationed on all exposed points of our shores where they can render succour to the ship- Wrecked sailor.

Tour obedient servant, MONTAGUE GORE.

6, Vere Street, London, June 16.