SHAKESPEARE compares England to a fortress, and the Channel to a moat; but if he saw the leviathan steamers now coming up that channel, he would be the first to acknowledge that the comparison did not hold good in the present day. We do not now look upon the sea as itself giving us a defence ; it is only our chief medium of defence.

But it is now, as in the days of Drake, our great commercial highway and source of our strength, girdling us, if it does not guard us, and bearing into our havens all the products of the known globe. All who leave us or approach us must do so by this great highway, which carries on its bosom in the course of one year alone, to and from our own ports, no less than 267,770 ships, including repeated voyages, and which ships have probably been manned by 1,600,000 souls.

Such is the field of operations over which these dry statistics of the Board of Trade cany us. As usual, they have been most ably drawn up and collated in every possible form. Yet on nearly every page of this Register these startling facts, in admonitory terms, face us, that 1,494 shipwrecks occurred on British shores last year, from which 884 people are known to have perished.

The number of wrecks last year has unfortunately exceeded the number during any of the preceding nine years, and it is 260 in excess of the annual average of the last six years.

It is a lamentable fact that shipwrecks on our coasts have been of late years on the increase. Thus, during the last seven years, we find the following account:—in 1855, 1,141; 1856,1,153; 1857,1,143; 1858, 1,170; 1859,1,416; 1860,1,379; 1861, 1,494! The accompanying Wreck Chart clearly shows the spot where each casualty occurred, and the number of lives lost by it.

We are told that this great increase of disasters in 1861 was owing to the fearful gales of January, February, and November of that year, when 842 wrecks took place, principally amongst our rotten collier class of vessels. Gales, even of a moderate character, are always destructive to these ships; or, in other words, they are doomed to certain destruction under circumstances in which a ship, if seaworthy, and properly manned and found, ought to be able to keep the sea. The best harbours of refuge in the world would not, therefore, prevent a tithe of these disasters, which unfortunately too often occur where neither the life-boat nor the rocket apparatus is available to succour their unfortunate crews.

We regret to find that the number of collisions is also on the increase. No calamity is more fearful than that of a collision at sea during a dark, stormy night. Its destructive effects are instantaneous, and frequently a large number of persons go down with either ship. The collisions in British waters were in 1859, 349; in 1860, 298; and in 1861, 323! But what is very remarkable in regard to these fearful collisions is the fact that, during the past six years, 750 collisions have taken place in clear and fine weather, 378 from bad look-out, 264 from neglect of rule of road at sea, and 61 from actual want of seamanship. The gross total of collisions during the past six years having been 1,864.

A natural sequence of the increase of vessels wrecked is the increase of precious lives lost. The number of persons who thus lost their lives in 1861 was, as previously stated, 884; while in 1860, it was only 536.

This, let it be remembered, is not a casual loss. It is a continual, if not an ever increasing one. The drain on our sailors and fishermen goes on year after year, notwithstanding all the benevolent and strenuous efforts made at the present day to stay the ravage. The sea is dreadfiilly exacting in its demands ; and season after season, when the equinoctial gales blow, when the winter sets in, or when the summer, as our last one did, yields to the temporary but powerful influence of storms, our shores are converted into altars, on which the Ocean offers his victims. It is unlikely that we shall ever effectually obtain the mastery over the waves; but, even at this moment, we are able to contend successfully with them in their blind efforts to swallow up life against our endeavours to save. If, for instance, during 1861, .eight hundred and eighty-four people lost their lives on our coasts by shipwreck, yet no less than four thousand six hundred and twenty-four were directly saved from such a fate. The whole number makes up a considerable fleet of seamen,—men for whom, perhaps, in moments of national emergency, we would give any money,—and many of these were preserved under the most perilous circumstances by the craft of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

The total number of casualties in two years is 2,873, out of which 1,660, or about seven-twelfths of the whole, happened to ships of the collier class—a fearful disproportion, and calling loudly for a thorough and searching investigation.

The following table distinguishes clearly the description and tonnage of the ships lost during the past year:— Vessels.

Vessels under 50 Tons - - 228 51 and under 100 „ - - 434 101 „ 300 „ - - 639 301 „ 600 „ - - 135 601 „ 900 „ - - 31 901 „ 1,200 „ - - 18 1,200 and upwards - - - 5 Unknown — — — — - 4 Total - - - 1,494 Let us briefly analyse the causes of this great destruction of property:—We find that 10 wrecks took place in a perfectly still sea, 14 in light airs, 51 in light breezes, 43 in gentle breezes, 103 in moderate breezes, 171 in fresh breezes, 149 in strong breezes, 66 in moderate gales, 124 in fresh gales, 230 in strong gales, 311 in whole gales, 102 in storms, 52 in hurricanes, and 68 in unknown and variable weather. Total wrecks, 1,494. Of these 619 took place amongst ships in the home and coasting trade, commanded by men not required by law to have certificates of competency. 266 wrecks only occurred amongst vessels in the home trade, commanded by masters holding certificates of service; so that the rivalry between ignorance and knowledge is an unequal one, as it ever has been and ever will be.

The estimated loss on these 1,494 wrecks is upwards of one million sterling. But who can estimate the loss of the valuable lives who also thus perished with the ships! Many a widow and orphan in our seaport towns and fishing villages will tell us how severely they have felt their bereavement! The accompanying roll of the loss of life on British shores and waters during the past twelve years will be perused with melancholy interest. The districts are thus classified :— Lives lost.

Farn Islands to Flamborough Head - - 670 Flamborough Head to the North Foreland - 1,068 North Foreland to St. Catherine's Point - 514 St. Catherine's Point to Start Point - - 82 Start Point to the Land's End - - - 460 Land's End to Hartland Point, including Sciliy _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 5 3 Hartland Point to St. David's Head - - 473 St. David's Head and Carnsore Point to Lambay Island and Skerries, Anglesey. - 969 Skerries and Lambay to Fair Head and Mull o f Cantire _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1,597 Cape Wrath to Buchan Ness - - - - 257 Buchan Ness to Farn Islands - - - - 280 All other parts of the Coast - - - - 922 Total lives lost - - - 7,645 It is thus seen that the most serious wrecks, as was urged in Parliament last session, do not happen on the north-east coast of England, but in those seas and channels mostly frequented by large foreigngoing ships. This is a matter deserving earnest public attention. Some hundred thousands of pounds judiciously laid out in improving our great natural harbours of refuge would, we think, be attended with the greatest possible benefit.

Again this fearful list tells us in legible terms that man cannot avert the storm — nor prevent the occurrence of wreck and violent death at sea. The proudest vessels that he builds of wood and iron are but as larger straws before the winds of heaven.

A breath can dash them on the shore, and they perish in their pride, and our vanity is humbled. We may never hope to rise superior to every storm or cause of wreck.

It is our duty, however, to strive for safety — to continue to wrestle hard with danger — to confine disaster and death within the narrowest limits which human efforts can impose upon them.

How happily then the efforts of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, the BOARD OF TRADE, and kindred bodies on the coast have been blessed during the past six years! During that period alone 16,119 persons have been saved from shipwrecks by means of the life-boats, the lifepreserving apparatus, shore boats, and other appliances, as the annexed list shows : — 1856 _ 1857 - 1858 - 1859 - 1860 - 1861 - Lives saved.

- 2,243 _ 1,668 - 1,555 - 2,332 - 3,697 - 4,624 16,119* He must be less than man who can read unmoved and without a glow of admiration the account of such services and of those given in that Institution's Report. Take the rescue of the crew of the brig Sisters, of Whitby, on the 26th February last. It will serve as a suitable illustration of the dangers that have to be encountered by the skill, courage, and endurance that are needed of the brave fellows who man the Society's life-saving fleet : — The Sisters was laden with coals, and had been driven on shore on the South Barber Sand off Caistor. Her signals of distress having been seen from the beach, the Caistor boatmen proceeded to launch the life-boat there through a tremendous surf, the wind blowing a heavy gale from the east at the time, and the night being intensely dark. Under these difficult circumstances, although more than 100 persons were engaged in helping to launch the boat, an hour elapsed before she could be got off the beach and warped to the hauling-off anchor laid down outside the surf. Sail being then made on her, she worked to windward to the scene of the -wreck, where the anchor being let go, she was veered down, but owing to the darkness and the fearful sea breaking over the vessel, it then took an hour to get the crew of 9 men into the boat, and that at very great risk, as the life-boat was often lifted by the sea high above the vessel's sides, and several times dashed violently against her and on the sand, thereby incurring considerable damage; also losing one hundred fathoms of her rope gear, which had to be cut away on hauling off from the wreck. It was indeed life for life, but humanity prevailed in the courageous encounter, and the wrecked crew were ultimately got safely in, and landed through a heavy surf. Forty-five pounds were paid by the Institution for this service, viz., 401.

to the 20 men forming the life-boat's crew, and 5L to the parties assisting to launch the life-boat.

Englishmen in every part of the world may surely pause with pride over such chronicles of life-boat services on our coast, as also over the reports of the cheerful liberality with which the NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION is supported to enable it to continue and extend with unabated vigour its merciful operations on our coasts.

We will recapitulate some of these beneficent gifts, and allude briefly to the Society's operations.

Lord Chief Justice ERLE, and the Corporation of London, and the Members of the Royal Thames and the Victoria Yacht Clubs, contributed liberally for the safety of the seamen. A citizen of Newcastle-on- Tyne, to whom a legacy of 19?. had been left, passed it over, not to his own banker, but to that of the Institution; " N. L.," residing in Manchester, sent 2501. to defray the cost of the Kirkcudbright life-boat; and a stranger, " who would not give his name," left at the Institution a bank-note for 2001. Mrs. E. HOPE, carrying out the dying wishes of her husband, the Rev.

F. W. HOPE, gives 34:01. to buy a new life-boat for Appledore, Devon. The ladies of Newbiggin realized for the funds 301Z. 16s.

by a bazaar; Mrs. HARTLEY and Miss BERTIE GATOR, promoting life-boat funds, were enabled to raise six hundred guineas; Miss BORDETT COUTTS, in her exhaustless beneficence, gave the cost of the Plymouth and Silloth life-boats; Mr. G. J. FENWICK, of Seaton Burn, contributed 250Z. to provide the Tynemonth life-boat. Miss BRIGHTWELL, honouring her father, pays the cost of the Blakeney boat, and calls it after his name; and certain travellers in the smoking saloon of the North Kent Railway, bethinking them of the claims of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, extemporised a subscription to increase its resources.

Even from Abo, in Finland, oOl.

is sent to the Institution in admiration of its services to the shipwrecked crews of all nations.

We have a list before us of the names of upwards of one hundred wrecks, from which, within the space of two years and a half, 726 lives were saved by the life-boats of the Society. It is on this list — this trophy of success—that the committee of this Institution found their latest appeal.

During that period its establishments on the coasts of the United Kingdom have cost 27,260?. They have voted 2,458?. as rewards to the crews of their life-boats, and 572L to those who, by shore-boats and other means, saved 562 shipwrecked persons, in addition to the above 726 ; making a total of 1,288 persons saved from a watery grave during the last two years and a halfir Since its formation, the Institution has been instrumental, by its life-boats and other means, in saving 12,680 lives; and having now 123 life-boats under its management, it requires a large annual income to meet the demands upon its priceless services..