LYTHAM.—On the 13th December, 1859, the brigantine Robert and Henry, of Dundalk, ran ashore on the Horse Bank, at the entrance of the River Mersey; intelligence being conveyed to Lytham of the disaster, the Institution's life-boat at that place proceeded at once to her aid, and after remaining by her during a great part of the night, took off the crew and landed them at Lytham.

On the 21st of December, at daylight, a vessel was seen in a most critical position on the Horse Bank, the wind blowing a hard gale from the west at the time. The Lytham life-boat was at once launched, and proceeded to her, arriving just in time to save her crew of 7 persons, who had hoisted out and taken to their own boat, which was swamped by a sea alongside the vessel at the moment of the life-boat's arriving to their assistance. The vessel, which proved to be the brigantine Hannah Jane, of London, was subsequently saved by the instrumentality of the life-boat.

On the 9th April, this boat was again called into use. The brigantine Nancy, of Teignmouth, was observed to part her cables, and go ashore at the Horse Bank; the life-boat was promptly launched, and proceeded to the aid of her crew, which she succeeded in effecting after a hard row of two hours. Seven of the crew had secured themselves to the stump of the foremast, and the remaining 2 to the mainmast. All were safely got into the boat and landed at Lytham.

BARMOUTH.—On the 30th December, the large American ship Britannia went ashore at Talybout, four miles from Barmouth, the wind blowing a hard gale from S.W. at the time. The Barmouth life-boat proceeded to her, and took off 14 men through a heavy sea, which repeatedly broke over and filled her.

FLEETWOOD, LANCASHIRE. — On the evening of the 22nd January, the schooner Ann Mitchell went ashore near Fleetwood.

The new life-boat, not long before placed there by the NATIONAL LIFE BOAT INSTITUTION, was immediately launched, and taken in tow by a tug-steamer, a strong tide running in against her at the time, and the wind blowing a hard gale from W.N.W.: Captain WASEY, R.N., Inspecting Commander of Coast-guard, to encourage the boatmen who manned the life-boat, went off in her. After two hours straggling against wind, sea, and tide, the tow-rope was cast off, and the life-boat with difficulty got within a few yards of the wreck, when a a heavy sea struck and filled her, breaking some of her oars. She was then anchored, and attempted to be veered down to the unfortunate vessel; but the strong tide running, defeated the intention. The anchor being then weighed, another attempt was made to board the vessel to leeward, but a heavy sea striking her, threw her over altogether, her masts falling within a few feet of the life-boat, to the imminent danger of those within her. Again, therefore, it became necessary to anchor the boat to windward and veer down, which was done, and this time they succeeded, lines being thrown on board her and secured. One of the wrecked crew then threw himself into the sea, and was drawn into the boat; but the others appeared fearful, or unable to do so, and from the pitchy darkness and the noise of the elements, no intelligible communications passed between them and those in the boat. The latter also learned from the man who had been saved, that one of those left on board (the boy} had his legs broken, and the master his back injured.

A heavy sea then breaking over the vessel and the boat, carried away the lines, and the life-boat was swept some 300 yards to leeward.

Another, and final effort was then made to save the 3 remaining persons on board; but on getting once more alongside, they had disappeared, to the great disappointment of Captain WASEY and his gallant crew : they had, therefore, to return to the shore with 1 only of the 4 poor fellows whose lives they had done their best to save; the remainder of whom had, from fear or disability, been prevented availing themselves of the proffered aid.

This distinguished and persevering service was performed in a small life-boat rowing six oars only, and occupied nearly nine hours of untiring exertion and exposure, during a dark winter's night; the life-boat having been launched at 6 P.M. on the 22nd, and returning to the shore at 2'40 A.M. on the 23rd.

Soon after daylight another vessel was observed to be apparently sunk on one of the shoals, which surround and extend to a long distance from the port of Fleetwood.

Again Captain WASEY and the Coxswain of the life-boat. JOHN Fox, Chief Boatman of Coast-guard, proceeded in her, with two of the former crew, JAMES TURNER and JOHN ASPINGALL, fishermen. After being towed for two hours against a strong tide and heavy sea by the steam-tug, they reached the wreck, and succeeded in taking from her rigging her crew of 6 men, landing them safely at Fleetwood. The wrecked vessel proved to be the schooner Jane Roper, of Ulverstone. For their very gallant services the silver medal of the Institution was awarded to Captain WASEY, and to JOHN Fox the Coxswain.

On the 19th February the services of the Fleetwood life-boat were again called into requisition. A vessel with a flag of distress flying, was observed to be on shore; the wind blowing a gale from N.N.W. at the time, with heavy squalls. The life-boat was at once launched, Captain WASEY again going in her, and succeeded in taking off her crew, landing them safely at Fleetwood.

This vessel was the schooner Catherine, of Nevvry.

ALNMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.—On the 12th June the brig Ann, of Blyth, parted her cables in a S.E. gale, in Alnmouth Bay, and was driven ashore. The small four-oared self-righting life-boat belonging to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION was quickly launched in a heavy surf, and succeeded in taking off her crew of 8 men, landing them in safety.

The last man was scarcely taken in when the masts of the wreck went by the board, providentially falling clear of the lifeboat.

The boat is reported to have behaved admirably on the occasion.

As attempts have been recently made by persons unacquainted -with this class of life-boats to impugn their character and shake the confidence of their crews in them ; and as this boat, which has rendered so valuable a service, is not only the smallest of the class, but much smaller than any other life-boat in the United Kingdom, a few comments may here be of service.

In the year 1851, Mr. BEECHING, boatbuilder, of Great Yarmouth, obtained the prize of IOOL. which His Grace the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND had offered for the best model of a life-boat. A large boat was then built on that model by Mr. BEECHING, and purchased by the Ramsgate Harbour Commissioners. She has since then, from time to time, rendered invaluable services in saving lives from numerous wrecks. In this Number of our JOURNAL (pp. 309 to 315) will be found a graphic account of the last and not the least service of this boat and her gallant crew.

Mr. BEECHING, in the same year, in testimony of his appreciation of the public spirit of the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, built a small life-boat on the same plan, and presented it to Her Grace the DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND. This boat was then stationed at Alnmouth, near His Grace's seat, Alnwick Castle, and subsequently, with other life-boats which the Duke had placed on the Northumberland coast, was transferred to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, of which His Grace is the President.

It is, perhaps, not an unfortunate coincidence, that we should thus have to record at the same time the valuable services of the largest and smallest of this class of lifeboats which have been built, since, if they are both capable of rendering such valuable services, it might fairly be inferred, even without the multiplied proofs which have been afforded, that the whole of the boats of the same class, of. intermediate sizes, were equally trustworthy; and that the Institution was not covering the coasts of, the United Kingdom with boats of a theoretical and unproved character.

The little Alnmouth life-boat is indeed so small, that she has been called, and not altogether inappropriately so, a " toy lifeboat." All the stronger proof, therefore, is this service of the efficiency of the selfrighting class of rowing life-boats, and all the greater credit does it reflect on the gallant crew who manned her on the occasion.

We regret to add that a poor labouring man, in his anxiety to render some aid by assisting to drag the life-boat on her carriage to the vicinity of the wreck, missed his footing, and falling under the wheels of the carriage, was so severely crushed that, if he recovers, it is feared he will never again be able to work for his livelihood.

Such an accident is not of a solitary nature, but is an illustration of the danger which, even by those on the shore, is sometimes incurred in the generous attempt to rescue a shipwrecked crew.

[We are compelled, from want of space, to reserve for a future number the additional services of various life-boats.

For the same reason we are obliged to postpone an account of the new' life-boat stations.