THE accompanying illustration of one of the life-boats of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION proceeding off to a wreck, is from an exquisite picture painted by Mr. SAMUEL WALTERS, an eminent marine artist of Bootle, near Liverpool. He was induced to paint it from a generous motive, to help forward the philanthropic objects of the Institution, by bringing before the public, by a peculiar process of photography, a correct and picturesque view of the valuable services of one of its boats. The vessel is supposed to have struck on the outer ridge of rocks called the Filey Bridge, on the Yorkshire coast. The raging sea, the wild and angry sky, and the rocky coast are depicted with a vigour and a truthfulness of delineation, which serves to impress the fearful realities of such a scene vividly upon the mind; while the sight of the life-boat manned by her gallant crew, proceeding steadily in the face of the tempest, on her errand of mercy, conveys an idea of the ability of the life-boat service, and its claims upon the benevolent sympathies of the public, which it would be in vain to attempt to convey by any mere verbal description.

There is a matter-of-fact simplicity, a living eloquence, in the materials thus brought together, and arranged by the skill of the artist into so pathetic, yet so unexaggerated a story, that renders the appeal which it makes irresistible.

The annexed tabulated list of the important services rendered by the life-boats of the Institution during the year which has just closed has its own significance.

It tells with unmistakeable accuracy, and with a fidelity that is too thankfully felt in many a sailor's home, that Two hundred of our fellow-creatures have been rescued during the past twelve months from what may be considered an almost certain death; for it should be borne in mind, that the majority of these life-boat services were of such a character that could not possibly be performed by any other human agency. Let us give one such illustration out of many.

A few weeks ago it blew a heavy gale off Lyme Regis. About eight o'clock at night the alarm was given that a vessel was in distress in the offing. It was pitchy dark; indeed the intense darkness, the strong gale, and the heavy surf on shore were enough, said the Mayor of the town, to appal any men entering the life-boat. After some short delay, however, the boat was manned by a gallant crew—her coxswain, THOMAS BRADLEY, being early at his post. Tarbarrels were lighted up on shore, and the boat proceeded on her mission of mercy.

So truly awful was the night, that nearly every one on shore believed she would never return again. After baffling the fury of the storm, and after an absence of about an hour and a half, the life-boat did return, laden with the shipwrecked crew of three men belonging to the smack Elizabeth Ann of Lyme Regis. The inhabitants of the town were perfectly amazed at the lifeboat's performances, and the no less daring behaviour of her skilful coxswain and crew.

This case alone shows the inestimable value of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION ; but how much more might be said of the services it has rendered throughout its long career of usefulness, to what may be called the private and hidden circles of our life ! In addition to the 200 persons saved from a watery grave by the life-boats of the Institution during the past year, they also went off 40 times in reply to signals of distress from vessels, which afterwards had either got out of danger, or had their crews rescued by other means. Life-boat crews also assembled in stormy weather on several occasions, both during the day and night, in order to be ready for any emergency that might arise.

For these valuable services, the total amount paid was 792?. On occasions of service and quarterly exercise during the year, the lifeboats were manned by upwards of 5,000 persons.

All the life-boat services took place in stormy weather, and frequently in the dark hour of the night. Surely, then, such an Institution, with 108 life-boats under its charge, devoted to such worthy and comprehensive purposes, need not appeal for pecuniary support in vain. Much has been done, but much yet remains to be done. Munificent donations from the wealthy few have poured in, in some cases the establishment of a perfect station having been presented; but it is from the contributions of the many, and the endowments of the humane, that such an establishment must derive its vitality and future power to keep up its immense life-saving fleet. We therefore trust that the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has only to be more generally known to be placed upon a more permanent and extended footing.