At the Annual General Meeting of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION held at the London Tavern on Thursday the 21st day of March, 1861;, Vice-Admiral the Eight Honourable the Earl of HARDWICKE in the Chair, The following report of the Committee was read:— the gratuitous preparation of the draft of the Charter of Incorporation the Institution is indebted to Messrs. CLAYTON and SON, FOR several successive years the Committee of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have, happily, been.able to report its steady progress, and its advancement in public favour. Year by year the field of its operations has extended—its life-saving fleet has been added to—and the greater in proportion to the number of wrecks on our coasts have been the number of lives that have been saved from premature death through its instrumentality.

For the continued success by which their efforts have been crowned the Committee desire to acknowledge their deep gratitude to the Almighty; and they tender their thanks to those persons whose liberality has' supplied; them with the means that have been instrumental in effecting the same.

The most important fact in the history of the Institution during the past year is, that of its incorporation by Royal' Charter, which, in their last Annual Report the Committee intimated it was proposed to obtain. By that important document the Institution now stands on a solid and enduring basis: it has assumed a greater national' importance- and it will reap other' contingent advantages, such; for instance, as that of being legally entitled, by the bequests of deceased persons,1 to possess- landed'property to"the extent of 2,0007: per annum. For of Lancaster Place, Strand, its Honorary Solicitors, to whom the Committee tender their best thanks.

Another important and interesting characteristic of the past year is, that no less than fourteen new life-boats have been presented to the Institution during that period by philanthropic individuals.' A detailed list of those noble gifts is' given in the Financial Statement, but .the Committee cannot refrain from' alluding to one of" them of an especially interesting' character, it being a presentation by two English ladies, in memory of a departed' sister. This life-boat,' which' is stationed'at' Llandudno, in' North Wales, has been appropriately named at their request the Sisters" Memorial.

The Committee have the satisfaction to state, that HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN who since 1837 has been the' kind Patroness' of* the Society, has, in appreciation' of tn 'important and national character of  the Work of the Institution, become an Annual'Subscriber of' 50L to its funds.

The proceedings of the Institution during the- past year will be related under the several heads as follows:— Life-boats.—During the past year the Institution has placed 17 new life-boats on the coast, viz.: at Thurso, Buckie, Banff, and North Berwick, in Scotland. At Newbiggin, Winterton, Walmer, Dungeness, Brooke, and Grange (Isle of Wight); Newquay, Penarth, Porthcawl, Llandudno, and Silloth, in England and Wales; and at Portrush and Tyrella, in Ireland.

Others are in course of construction for Tynemouth, Whitby, Selsey, St. Ives, Llanddwyn, Southport, Irvine, and Campbeltown.

The Institution's life-saving fleet now consists of no less than 110 life-boats, nearly the whole of which are comparatively new, 100 of them having been built within the past ten years, all are in good repair, and in readiness for instantaneous service.

The life-boats of the Institution have undergone their usual periodical exercise, often in the roughest surfs; and they continue to maintain their high character for safety and efficiency.

With the exception of those on the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk, and one or two others, they have all been inspected and taken afloat by the Inspector of the Society, Captain WARD, K.N., during the past twelve months.

They have in the same period been directly instrumental in saving two hundred and ten lives from thirty-four shipwrecks, and have, on forty-six other occasions, gone off to vessels in apparent danger, or which have shown signals of distress, but which have ultimately got out of danger, or whose crews have not needed to be taken off. The whole of these valuable services have been performed without the loss of a single life amongst those who have manned them.

On numerous other occasions the crews of life-boats have assembled in stormy weather and kept watch during the night when disasters have been expected.

Although not strictly within the limit of this Report, which extends only to the termination of the year 1860, the Committee feel that it will be gratifying to the supporters of the Institution to know, that since the 1st of January last, the life-boats of the Society have saved no fewer than one hundred and sixty-two persons, seventy-eight of which number were rescued during the destructive gale of the 9th and 10th of February.

Nineteen of these were saved by the Carnsore life-boat from the barque Guyana, of Glasgow. The cost (300/.) of this lifeboat and transporting-carriage was presented to the Institution as a Thank-offering, by a lady whose life was saved from drowning by H. A. HAMILTON, Esq., of Balbriggan, on board whose yacht she was when the accident happened.

Life-boat Carriages.—New life-boat carriages have been built during the past year for the life-boats at Thurso, Buckie, Banff, North Berwick, Saltburn, Filey, Winterton, Walmer, Brooke, Grange, Newquay, Penarth, Llandudno, Dungeness, Portrush, and Tyrella. Others are in course of construction for various stations.

Boathouses.—New boat-houses have been erected during the past twelve months at Ayr, Thurso, Buckie, Banff, St. Andrew's, North Berwick, Saltburn, Brooke, Grange, Newquay, Penarth, Porthcawl, Llandudno, Silloth, Portrush, and Tyrella.

Barometers.—The Committee have taken steps to provide the life-boat stations of the Institution, wherever desirable, with standard Barometers, properly fitted up, and the daily indications of which will be registered on a chart or diagram by the side of the instrument.

It seems probable that with such powers placed in their hands, the calamities now endured by our fishermen and coasters may, in many instances, be avoided. A good Barometer in a public situation may warn them in time what weather to expect; and they may thus be frequently able to avoid exposing themselves to the terrible consequences of storms, so often at present proving fatal to them. The Committee have received much valuable assistance from Rear-Admiral FiTZRoy, F.R.S., and JAMES GLAISHER, Esq., F.R.S., of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in carrying out this important undertaking.

Mr. GLAISHER kindly verifies, by the Greenwich standard, each Barometer supplied to the Institution, which greatly enhances the value of the instrument, and makes it the standard of the neighbourhood in which it is situated.

Shipwrecks and Loss of Life.—Notwithstanding the almost unparalleled stormy character of the year 1860, the number of shipwrecks attended with loss of life was considerably below the average, and, happily, there was no wholesale sacrifice of human Kfe as in the cases of the Pomona and Royal Charter in the previous year, when upwards of 800 persons perished from these two ships alone. The total number of wrecks on the coasts of the United Kingdom during the year 1860 was 1379; the average of the last seven years being 1184, whilst the total loss of lives in 1860 was 536, the average for the last seven years being 800.

On the contemplation of so great a sacrifice of human life the thought will arise, Are there no means available, hitherto untried, which might lessen its amount in future years? — Is the country doing its duty to that part of its seafaring population who man our merchant ships, and especially those, in our coasting trade ?—If these questions cannot be replied to as satisfactorily as could be wished, it is yet to be hoped that the yearly increasing amount of property and number of human lives that are hazarded in our commercial world, will impress on the country generally the importance of the most energetic and systematic efforts being made to reduce the amount of loss, both of life and property, to the smallest practicable limit.

The number of lives saved during the year 1860, as shown by the official returns of the Board of Trade, is as follows:— By Life-boats 326 By rocket and mortar apparatus . . 408 By ships' own boats, shore boats, steamers, &c 2,949 By individual exertion 14 Total . . . 3,697 Those saved by life-boats have all been rescued under perilous circumstances, and when, in nearly all such cases, they could have been saved by no other means. One example of such services may here be mentioned:— A few months 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. However, after battling with 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 of the smack Elizabeth Ann of Lyme Regis. The inhabitants of the town were perfectly amazed at the life-boat's performances, and the daring behaviour of her skilful coxswain and crew.

The total number of 'persons saved from shipwreck from the establishment of the Institution in 1824 to the end of the year 1860, either by its life-boats, or for which it has granted rewards, is as follows:— In the Year 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 No. of Lives I Saved. I 124 | 218 175 163 301 463 372 287 310 449 214 364 225 272 456 279 353 128 276 In the Year 1843 1844 1845 1846 * 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 No. of Lives Saved'.

236 193 235 134 157 123 209 470 230 773 678 355 406 473 374 427 499 455 Total . . 11,856 Rewards.—A summary of. the cases in which, honorary and pecuniary rewards have been, voted by the Institution during the past year for saving, or attempting to save, life, will be found: in the Appendix to this Report. The total in number and amounts as follows:—16 silver medals, 14,votes of thanks inscribed on vellum, and the sum of 1,1111.12s. 4d. in pecuniary rewards. Great care has been, as usual, bestowed by the Committee in the investigation of the merits of every case of application for reward for saving life from wrecks. In that important work they have continued to receive the prompt and cordial co-operation of the Commodore Comptroller-General, the late and present Deputy Comptrollers-General, and of the officers of the Coast-guard service. The scale or amount of reward is, as a general rule, made, proportionate to the amount of personal risk and exposure incurred by the parties performing the service.

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 means would otherwise allow.

The Committee have reason to know that the best effects are produced by the rewards given by the Institution. Its medals and other honorary awards are much coveted by : the coast boatmen and men of the Coastguard .service, and .the amount and prompt I payment of it?, pecuniary rewards afford ; genera;! satisfaction. ' Its medals are not unfrequently presented at public meetings.

; The operations of the Committee may be i thus briefly stated:—Since the formation-of ; the Institution it has expended on life-boat establishments 46,350?. 8s. 3d., and has voted 82 gold and 666 silver medals for distinguished services for saving life, besides pecuniary awards, amounting together to 14j016?.

Local Committees.—The Committee desire to acknowledge the cordial co-operation of the local Branch Committees, which constitute so important a portion of the machinery for the supervision of the several life-boat establishments of the Institution.

They have likewise especially to express their sense of the valuable and gratuitous services of. the Honorary Secretaries of those Committees, who conduct the correspondence with the central managing body.

Finances.—The total receipts during the year 1860 amounted to 14,027?. lls. Id. : of this sum no less than 2,721?. was given by individuals to defray the cost of fourteen life-boats as follows:— St. lyes, 1 £. e. d.

Nevquay, }A Friend 540 0 0 Tyrella j Selsey— Some Members of the Society ofEriends 150 0 0 Grange—Royal,Victoria Yacht Club . 282 0 0 Penarth—George Gay, Esq. . . 180 0 0 Llandudno—The Misses Browne . 200 0 0 Southport—James Knowles, Esq. . 199 0 0 Silloth—Miss Burdett Coutts . . 180 0 0 Irvine—Miss Pringle Kidd . . . 180 0 0 Cantyre—Lady Murray (on account) . 300 0 0 North Berwick—Messrs. Jaffray and Son 180 0 0 Whitby —A. W. Jaffray, Esq. . . . 180 0 0 Tynemouth—Mrs. M. Hartley, collected by her 150 0 0 The Committee have likewise to express their thanks to Mrs. HARTLEY, of York House, Bideford, for her zealous exertions in collecting this year, in addition to the sum,above named, 100?. towards the cost of the Tynemouth life-boat establishment.

The following very liberal contributions have, also been received during ie }'ear: H. S. C., in memory of a deceased husband, 100?., and 5Qt for barometers for life-boat, stations; Mrs. BLYTH, 105?.; Mrs. SLATER, 100?.; Sijr J. W. COPLEY, Bart., 100?.; SENOR DON CHRISTOVAL DE M0u- EIETA, 100?. ; B. C. W., 100?. ; the UNIVERSAL MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY, 52?. 10s.; and from the workmen of the Messrs. FORRESTT, boat-builders, Limehouse (second donation), 10?. 10s.

The following legacies have likewise been left to the Institution since the last Report: Miss E. S. B. PALMER, of St. Ann's Gardens, St. John's Wood, 50?.; THOMAS FISHER HEMINGTON, Esq., of Uplyme, Devon, 100?.; Captain BOWERBANK, R.N., 100?.; Miss ANNA BRAITHWAITE, of Kendal, 10?.; Mrs. ANN E. BARBER, of Warwick, 50?.; and J. R. JUDKIN, Esq., of Hackney, 105?.

The expenditure during the same period was 13,085?. 8s. lid., of which sura 6.834Z. 17s. 4d., were expended on additional life-boat transporting-carriages, boathouses, and necessary gear; and 3,0562. 3s.

on the necessary expenses of repairs, painting, refitting, and inspection; 1,266?. 15s. lOrf.

in payment of services to shipwrecked crews; and 1,664?. 10s. 2d. (including what was paid by the local Branch funds) on coxswains' salaries, and for the quarterly practice of the boats' crews.

For a considerable saving in the item of transport to their stations, of new life-boats and carriages, the Committee have to express their thanks to the several Railway and Steam Packet Companies, who have most liberally conveyed them to all parts of the United Kingdom, almost without exception, free of charge.

The items of receipt kand expenditure are detailed in the financial statement annexed to this Report, from which it will also be seen, that the Committee h'aVe incurred further liabilities amounting to 4,419?. for Various life-boat establishments, &c.

Whilst the Committee are, happily, able to report so favourable 'and encouraging a state of the financial department of the Institution, they feel that, looking at the vicissittudes of the future, and the unforeseen magnitude which the operations of the Society have assumed, they must not for a moment relax their endeavours to enlist that co-operation and pecuniary assistance of all classes of their countrymen, which can alone Secure the permanent efficiency of the important work which they have undertaken to superintend. They therefore appeal to the country at large to assist them to maintain, in a state of thorough efficiency, their numerous life-boat establishments