[Abridged from the Newcastle-on- Tyne Daily Papers.] THE new life-boat, recently presented by GEORGE JOHN FENWICK, Esq., to the port of Tynemouth, was launched there on Friday, the 13th November, with an unusual degree of ceremony. The boat is 33 feet long and 8 feet wide. She was exhibited during the past summer in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, contiguous to the International Exhibition, as a specimen of a British life-boat thoroughly equipped for service.

The weather being very fine, a large crowd assembled on the North Pier and around the Prior's Haven, which was gaily decorated with flags. The new boat was placed on the stone slipway fronting the fine new life-boat and rockethouse, recently erected on the spot where a much smaller and less commodious one had stood for several years. The boat, which is large and handsome in appearance, was mounted on its carriage, awaiting the moment when it should be launched into its native element; whilst on either side of it were gathered its crew, a sturdy company of men, clad in the cork-jackets which have been found so useful on many a stormy voyage in similar vessels. A body of the men of the Royal Naval Reserve were also present; whilst a large number of ladies, gentlemen, seamen, fishermen, and others, were interested spectators of the scene. The launching of the boat and the subsequent experiments with her were under the superintendence of Captain WARD, R.N., Inspector of Life-boats of the Institution.

About two o'clock, LORD RAVENSWOHTH, accompanied by the VENERABLE ARCHDEACON BLAND and WILLIAM ADAMSON, Esq., Honorary Secretary of the Newcastle and Tynemouth branch of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, arrived at the spot. The band having played the " National Anthem," LORD RAVENSWORTH stepped forward and said— Ladies and gentlemen, I have been requested by those who have undertaken the arrangement of matters on this day to address a very few words to you, though they are scarcely necessary, in explanation of our meeting together. The occasion on which we are assembled is one upon which I may offer you my sincere congratulations. By the generosity of a gentleman of our own county, this port has to-day been presented with a lifeboat which, it is hoped, under the blessing of Providence, may be instrumental in saving the lives of many who may have the misfortune to be shipwrecked on this dangerous coast. Gentlemen, I wish that my place had been occupied to-day by a nobleman dear to the hearts of you all—I mean the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, Admiral of the British Navy, and Lord High Admiral, by inheritance, of the coast of Northumberland. I say 1 wish he had been able to honour this meeting with his presence to-day, both because he would have been a more able exponent of the advantages of this boat which is before you, and because it is a subject on which he himself has taken the most leading interest during past years. But, although he is prevented from being present in person amongst you, I can assure you that he is with us in spirit. I well know the interest taken by that noble duke in all matters connected with the safety of the sailor, and the interests of the naval service, whether it be the service of her Majesty the Queen or the service of the commercial marine; and in no respect has he instanced that zeal for the service with more effect, and with more advantage to this county, than by the encouragement which he has given to the establishment of life-boats on this coast. But, gentlemen, in the absence of that noble duke, you will, perhaps, accept from me a slight explanation of the subject more immediately connected with this day's proceedings. The boat, then, is, as you know, presented to this port by a gentleman who, I lament to say, is prevented by illness from attending at this ceremony. He, too, will regard the proceedings of to-day with no common interest. To him is accorded the merit of giving, by his liberality, this present to the port; and the name of FENWICK receives in him an addition to the long list of worthies of that name who are well known in the history of Northumberland; and to him will be given the prayers of many a shipwrecked sailor, who, but for his liberality, might perhaps have lost his life in the dangers of shipwreck—of many a wife who, but for his assistance and liberality, might have become a widow; and of many a child who, but for the same assistance, might have been an orphan through the-different perils and vicissitudes which environ your«oast. Therefore, gentlemen, I call upon you to give due honour to the name of GEORGE JOHN FENWICK, the liberal donor of this useful gift to your port; and, so far as human ingenuity can supply some refuge for the shipwrecked sailor, it is to be hoped that, under the auspices under which this boat is launched, every precaution has been taken to effect the desired results. We have present among us to-day Captain WARD, R.N., the Society's Inspector of Life-boats, and we have also the advantage of the presence of Mr. LEWIS, the Secretary of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. They are prepared, no doubt, to stand sponsors for the excellence of this vessel; and we may rest assured that, with that intrepidity which distinguishes the seamen of this country at large, and of this particular district in general, manned as this boat will be with brave hearts and able hands, everything that can be done to mitigate the dangers of shipwreck will be done in the future course and career of this vessel. Now, gentlemen, as we are told that, " Except the Lord build the house, vain is the art of the builder to protect it," so it is requisite and proper that a prayer should be addressed to the Supreme Dispenser of all human events, that he may be graciously pleased to watch over the safety of the crew who shall undertake the management of this vessel; and, in offering up those prayers, let us humbly hope that they may be heard, and that all that can be done in the future, by bravery and zeal in the service, will be done by those who have the conduct of the vessel. I now, therefore, gentlemen, beg to call upon the VENERABLE ARCHDEACON BLAND to offer up a prayer to Almighty God.

ARCHDEACON BLAND then offered up the following prayer:— O God, from whom are the preparations of the heart in man, we thank Thee that Thou hast put into the heart of Thy servant to build this boat, for preserving the lives of those who may be in perils in the sea. Let Thy blessing be upon him, and this his charitable work. Be with those, we beseech Thee, who shall go forth to succour them who are in danger and distress; and grant that they may not put their trust in their own skill or courage alone, but in Thee, our Mighty and Merciful Protector. And to all who shall by their means be delivered out of the depths of misery and the jaws of death, give Thy grace that they may show forth their thankfulness, not only by words, but also by their lives, serving Thee in ail holy obedience, that so they may pass safely through all spiritual dangers, till they come to the haven of everlasting rest, through Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.

As soon as the Ven. Archdeacon had concluded his prayer, Mrs. WILLIAM ADAMSON, of Cullercoats, the lady of the Honorary Secretary of this Branch of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, stepped forward to the bow of the boat, from whence was suspended a bottle of wine. Swinging this smartly against the side of the noble little vessel, she broke it, and, as its contents fell upon the boat, said, " I name this boat the Constance ; may God speed it!" (The name, we may mention, was given to the boat at the particular request of the donor, Mr. G. J. FENWICK, that being the Christian name of his esteemed lady.) As soon as the boat had thus received the name by which it will for the future be known, and under w-hich it will, we trust, become famous in the annals of the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, two or three score of willing hands seized the long ropes attached to the carriage, and in a moment the vessel flew down to the water's edge, amid the cheers of the assembled multitude, and the stirring strains of " Rule Britannia," played by the fine band of the 41st Regiment. After a pause, the boat with her crew on board was launched from her carriage into her native element, accompanied by the huzzas of all present.

The moment the Constance got fairly into the water, she seemed to be as much at home as if she had never known a more stable element, and floated like a swan over the now tranquil waters of the Haven, whilst her crew rapidly propelled her towards the open sea. All the small boats in the Haven, so well known to summer pleasureseekers from Newcastle, crowded round their newborn sister, whilst the Percy life-boat from Cullercoats, and the William Wake, a large salvageboat, belonging to North Shields, were also in attendance.

The spectators at once proceeded to the North Pier, from whence they witnessed the evolutions of the Constance. First of all, the men pulled her round the Haven; and then, proceeding to the landing-stage for ROQERSON'S steamers, they dismantled her of her gear, and proper tackling being attached to her, some thirty or forty men, standing upon the landing-stage, succeeded with great difficulty in hauling her bottom-up on the water. The moment the vessel reached that position, however, it righted itself instantaneously in the most easy manner, and the water, which entered it during the operation of capsizing, was expelled again in about thirty seconds. This operation was twice repeated. The crew then again took to the oars, in order to try her rowing qualities; and other two boats—the Cullercoats life-boat, manned by her able and efficient crew, and the Shields salvage-boat—also took part in the contest; the Cullercoats, having the strongest crew, had, from beginning to end, the best of the race, and won with comparative ease. During the time the boats were pulling the race, one of DENNETT'S rockets was fired from the battery cliff over the Haven and across the North Pier. The rocket Hue was quickly secured by the men of the Naval Reserve, the cradle was soon got into working order, and volunteers were found in profusion, quite willing to make an aerial voyage from the pier to the cliff, over the Haven. One of the Naval Reserve men was the first to attempt the voyage; embarking on the cradle, he was speedily landed on the cliff. Another volunteer was found on the cliff, and he was dragged as speedily to the pier. The life-boat, after being put through various evolutions, was pulled to the shore, remounted on her carriage, and placed in her house.

As a close to the day's proceedings, about 120 of the principal gentry of the district and several of the mayors of the surrounding towns sat down to an excellent dinner at the Bath Hotel, Tynemouth.

After the cloth had been removed, The usual loyal toasts were drunk with great applause.

The healths of the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND and of Mr. FENWICK were afterwards proposed with much eclat.

The Chairman then, in an eloquent and feeling speech, proposed "Success to the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION," coupling with it the name of its Secretary, RICHARD LEWIS, Esq.

The toast having been received with great applause, Mr. LEWIS said:— "My Lord and Gentlemen,—I beg, on behalf of the Committee, to thank you sincerely for the kind manner with which you have proposed and received the toast of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. I confess that, in an assembly like this, comprising some of your largest shipowners and merchants, your kind reception of that toast has not astonished me. The objects of the LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION are so truly benevolent and national in their character, that they cannot fail to elicit the admiration of every assembly of Englishmen, and of every humane person in every land. But here, in this renowned locality, the services of the life-boat come home to you; and yet their true significance can only be properly and gratefully appreciated by those seamen whose lives, in the tempest, have been snatched from the jaws of death by the life-boat. Long may these noble services be perpetuated amongst you, and long may the race of hardy seamen, whom no storm alarms, and whom no danger appals, be found ready to man the life-boat in cases of shipwreck on your dangerous bar. Although you are familiar with these noble deeds of daring, I am glad to find, from the splendid demonstration of to-day, and this large assembly to-night, that you continue to take as much interest in the prosperity of this good work as your forefathers took, who cradled, nursed, and brought to maturity, at Shields, the first life-boat ever used. Long may rivalry in doing acts of mercy continue amongst you; and by whichever life-boat it may be—whether that of the National Institution or a Shields one—so long as human life is saved, the congratulations of all will be equally sincere. The NATIONAL INSTITUTION has only come to assist in extending, and not to supersede your good work.

In lieu of dwelling on subjects so familiar to you, it has been suggested to me that I might advantageously to-night give, as briefly as I possibly can, a sketch of the history of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, its present position, and its prospects.

About the year 1823 some dreadful shipwrecks occurred on our coasts. On the Isle of Man lived a noble-hearted baronet, the late Sir WILLIAM HILLARY. He was not then a rich man. He had lost his fortune in the West Indies, and in equipping some Essex yeomanry, when the first NAPOLEON was threatening to invade this sea-girt isle of ours. But Sir WILLIAM possessed an active spirit and a vigorous intellect. His thrilling appeal on behalf of the shipwrecked sailor fortunately reached a benevolent and rich merchant of the City of London—the late Mr. THOMAS WILSON —who was then the M P. for that city, and who was a native of West Hartlepool. Some of the most influential City merchants heartily concurred in Mr. WILSON'S views, that something practical should be organized on our shores to render assistance to the shipwrecked sailor. Lord LIVERPOOL, who was the Prime Minister at the time, helped Mr. WILSON in every way in his power. A large public meeting was held at the London Tavern in the beginning of 1824. Dr. MANNERS SUTTON, who was then ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, most worthily filled the Chair. He was supported by the great WILBERFORCE, LORD JOHN RUSSELL, now EARL RUSSELL, who was then just entering on public life, and many other distinguished men of that day. GEORGE IV. became the Patron of the Society, and the Dukes of KENT, SUSSEX, and other members of the Royal Family became its Vice-patrons. As you might have expected, the noble house of PERCY was foremost in fostering the new Institution, the late Duke becoming its Vice-President, and a munificent contributor to its funds. One of the earliest branches of the Institution was established in Northumberland.

Two years, however, had not elapsed before the country was overwhelmed in a commercial crisis.

Some of the most liberal supporters of the Institution succumbed to it; and the Society never overcame it. It struggled on, however, doing all the good in its power, with an income of 400Z. or 5007.

a year, Mr. WILSON continuing steadfast as its Chairman until the day of his death. A life-boat had been placed on the Isle of Man. Sir WM.

HILLARY went off in her several times, and saved many lives. On one occasion he nearly lost his life by being thrown out of the boat, when several of his ribs were broken, and from that accident he never recovered. In December, 1849, a fearful calamity occurred on Tynemouth bar. Twentyfour gallant men had put off in your life-boat with a view of saving the lives of their fellow-creatures.

In the noble effort the life-boat capsized, and twenty of her crew unhappily perished. I perfectly recollect the great anxiety of the present DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND at the time — his deep, earnest desire to prevent, if possible, such a calamity occurring to a life-boat again. He had several interviews with Mr. WILSON and the Committee on the subject. At last his Grace decided to offer a prize of 105Z. for a life-boat that possessed, in addition to other indispensable qualities, the very important one of self-righting if capsized.

The Duke was very fortunate in securing the valuable services of two able men in his good work—I allude to Admiral WASHINGTON and Mr.

JAMES PEAKE, the present master shipwright of Her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport, who were assisted by Mr. J. PROWSE, of Woolwich Dockyard.

About 280 models and plans were sent in to compete for the Northumberland Prize. These two gentlemen assiduously devoted themselves for about six months to a most careful examination of the models. The result was that the prize was given to JAMES BEECHING, of Great Yarmouth: but the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION was not entirely satisfied with his boat, so Mr. PEAKE was called upon to build such a boat as he could safely recommend for adoption by the Institution. He did build such a boat—but even that plan has since been considerably modified by experience.

The splendid boat you have launched to-day is one of the latest boats of the Society, on that plan, and has, in London, elicited the admiration of thousands of people. In the year 1850 the late much-lamented PRINCE CONSORT accepted, on the invitation of the Committee, the office of Vice- Patron of the Institution; and subsequently in the same year, the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND became its active President, and generations to come will remember with gratitude his connection with its merciful operations. About the same time some new members were added to its Committee; and my friend, Capt. WARD, R.N., was appointed the Life-boat Inspector of the Institution.

Three or four years afterwards Mr. THOMAS CHAPMAN was elected its Deputy-Chairman; and has most worthily, and greatly to the advantage of the cause of humanity, filled that office ever since. Sir EDWARD PERROTT, Bart., as the Chairman of its Sub-Committees, has also most zealously helped forward the good work. Few benevolent societies have a more active and zealous committee than the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION ; and its Committee often devote gratuitously, at this period of the. year, at their Meetings, five or six hours to the important business of the Institution.

In 1856 the late benevolent Capt. FITZGERALD, of the Royal Navy, left the Lifeboat Institution a legacy of 10,000i., without any conditions whatsoever. The committee at once decided unanimously to spend forthwith the whole of that large sum in building new lifeboats.

The public, observing that the Institution was now earnestly and successfully pushing on its great work, came forward with their support. No work of real benevolence will ever be allowed in this country to languish for want of funds. The fearful Hartley Colliery calamity in this neighbourhood clearly testified that; and the present Lancashire distress excites a universal desire to succour it. In 1850 the Institution possessed only about a dozen life-boats; it has now a noble fleet of 123 life-boat establishments, all somewhat like your Tynemouth Station. The boats in that year were hardly the means of saving a dozen lives; but at the present period they save on an average about 300 shipwrecked sailors every year. It requires no stretch of the imagination to perceive at once the large number of persons that are thus spared the great affliction of widowhood and orphanage.

These are great facts, and they come home with irresistible force to the hearts of the highest as well as of the lowest amongst us. Her Majesty the Queen sends every year to the Lifeboat Institution 50/., the child of an old sailor sends also 5s. towards the same object, and contributions are often received at the Institution from Englishmen in all parts of the world, and even from foreigners. A kind-hearted lady called at the Institution some time ago with the cost of a life-boat. She gave no name, and we don't know her name to this day; and she repeated her munificent gift the second, third, and fourth time.

When she gave the cost of the fourth boat, she said to me, " If ever I shall have the happiness to hear that one of these boats has been the means of saving a single life, 1 shall be amply rewarded." Last winter her wishes were, in a very remarkable manner, gratified. One of her life-boats is stationed in Dundrum Bay. A fearful wreck occurred there last January. It had been an awful night. With the dawn of the day a poor fellow was seen lashed to the rigging of a sunken vessel.

A shore-boat at once put off to the wreck; but no sooner was it in the surf than it capsized, her crew of six men having a most narrow escape for their lives. The benevolent lady's life-boat put off, and soon reached the wreck, and took off the poor man. He was found insensible, but on reaching the land he was soon restored. He was the master of the vessel. He stated that his crew of three men had been washed overboard in the course of the tempestuous night. The following circumstance is another remarkable illustration of the value of these life-boat services:—Some two or three years ago a lady was on a visit, on board a friend's yacht, on the Irish coast. A fishing-lugger came into collision with the yacht, and capsized it. The lady and her friends were instantly thrown into the sea, but she was fortunately saved by the very gallant exertions of her friend, who dived after her, and brought her safely to land. As a " thank-offering," she gave 300/. to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, to enable it to station am additional life-boat on the Irish coast. That life-boat was placed at Carnsore, on the coast of Wexford—a very dangerous point, and a very poor locality. In the course of the ensuing winter a fearful wreck occurred off Carnsore —that of the bark Guyana, of Glasgow. In- telligence of the wreck having been conveyed to the life-boat station, the crew of the life-boat were called up about three o'clock in the morning, and the boat immediately started on her mission of mercy. Owing, however, to the dreadful state of the roads from heavy rains, and the circuitous route of many miles that the boat had to travel, it was nearly nine o'clock before she reached the scene of disaster, notwithstanding that no less than seven horses were employed to draw her. The life-boat had then to be taken off her carriage, and lowered down a steep cliff eighty feet in height. This was successfully accomplished, and the boat was then launched through a high surf, and proceeded to the wreck.

On arriving near the vessel, however, the force of the wind, tide, and sea was so great that it was found impossible to reach her; the boat was therefore anchored for a while to rest the* crew. Another attempt was then made, and the whole crew, numbering no less than nineteen, were then safely got into her and conveyed to the shore, which was reached after more than five hours' severe exposure and exertion.

Several other ladies have also given the Institution the cost of life-boats, which have since saved scores of lives ! The town of Ipswich collected last year 500Z., and presented the amount to the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. The Society stationed the life-boat, which is called the Ipswich, at Thorpe, on the Suffolk coast. During a midnight tempest, about three weeks ago, that very boat was the means of saving five poor men from an inevitable death. Long; I say, may Mr. FENWICK'S life-boat at Tynemouth, and those at Shields, be enabled, with the blessing of God, to render similar services to the distressed shipwrecked sailor on your bar. A gentleman called on me last Saturday, and said he not only wished to give the Institution the cost of a life-boat, but permanently to endow it, in memory of his mother: he is probably carrying out the dying wishes of either his father or mother in the matter. Mrs. HARTLEY, of Devonshire, collected 300/., and Miss BERTIE CATOR 210/., towards placing two additional life-boats on the coast. The women of England are more distinguished in the present age for their acts of charity and useful benevolence than they were in any former period of our history, and the shipwrecked sailor has in them a steadfast friend. Such is the character of the work of the great Institution to which you have so cordially wished success this evening. Since its first establishment, it has expended nearly 70,OOW. on its life-boat stations; and during the whole period of its existence it has, directly and indirectly, contributed to the saving of nearly 13,000 shipwrecked persons, for rescuing whom it has paid as rewards 16,000/., in addition to voting 800 medals, for distinguished services. Not the least part of the work of the Institution is its system of rewards for saving life from shipwrecks, either by life-boats or shore-boats. The Society fosters the courage, the daring, and the best feelings of our coast population by its system of rewards for saving life. It has such a fleet of lifeboats as the world has never before seen. Each life-boat station, like this one at Tynemouth, requires about 401. a year to keep it in a state of efficiency. That amount does not include the rewards granted for saving, or attempting to save, life: I am sure you will agree with me, that you would not like to see a repetition of the pittance that was granted many years ago to the crew of the Holy Island life-boat for rescuing life, namely, Is. 3d. per man, The NATIONAL INSTITUTION has a fixed scale of payments for its life-boat crews, and with that scale the men have hitherto expressed their satisfaction. A sum of 10s. is given to each man of the crew for going off to save life in the day time, and 20s. per man for night duty. These payments are doubled in cases of extraordinary services. Wherever a life-boat is stationed, it is managed by a local committee, who, like the committee of the parent Institution, readily give their services gratuitously. Without the cordial co-operation of our local committees, it would hardly be possible for us to carry on the important work of the Institution on the coast. Fortunately we have succeeded in obtaining the cordial co-operation of such committees. Again, the Institution has been most fortunate in securing the valuable services of Capt. WARD, R.N., as its inspector of life-boats during the past twelve years. He is the Admiral of its large life-saving fleet. He has organized every station, and he is thoroughly familiar with the qualities of each boat. The perpetuity of this humane work, however, depends to a great extent on the support the public at large will continue to extend to it. "There can be no mistake in the work of a life-boat—it is palpable and tangible to all," as Mr. HUGH TAYLOR, of Earsdon, the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S respected commissioner, told me last night, and his sentiment is echoed by every one. The poor men saved, and their families, testify with gratitude to its great value.

About a fortnight ago, Capt. BROWN, a native of this locality, and who is in command of some of the Royal Naval Brigade, in London, assisted in the metropolitan life-boat procession of your lifeboat.

He told me—u I naturally take great interest in this boat, for I shall never cease to express my gratitude for being saved, many years ago, by one of the Shields life-boats." I hold in my hand a long list of the names of the vessels, and of the number of their crews, belonging to your own ports, saved during the last two or three years by the life-boats of the Institution.* On an average 1,000 vessels are wrecked en our coasts every year; and from these about 3,000 persons are rescued by life-boats, the rocket apparatus, shore boats, and other means. But it is a lamentable fact, nevertheless, that 800 poor creatures perish every year from these disasters on our shores. During the late fearful gales, I feel convinced that some scores of poor fellows might have been saved had the vessels had on board the means of saving life—amongst other valuable auxiliaries, I would particularly recommend good life-belts. I beg, in the name of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, to thank your Lordship for the prompt and cordial response you made to the invitation to assist us so efficiently this day, and so worthily to occupy the Chair on this interesting occasion. The acknowledgments of the Institution are also most assuredly due to Mr. HUGH TAYLOR, for collecting the large sum of 350/. to pay for the beautiful house in which the Tynemouth new life-boat and the rocket apparatus are kept. Capt ADAMSON, Mr. JOHN STRAKER, the Rev. Mr. WHEELER, and other members of the local committee have also been indefatigable in their valuable services on this occasion, and to * Brig Flying Fish, of Whitby, 5; Brig Frodroma, of Stockton, 11; Brig Eliza, of Mlddlesborough, 7 ; Brig Gloucester, of South Shields, 1; Brig Lovely NeUy, of Seaham, 6 ; Schooner Prospect, of Berwick, 6; Brig Pallas, of Shields, 3; Barque Niagara, of Shields, 11; Brig Zephyr, of Whitby, 6; Coble Honour, of Cullercoats, 3; Schooner Eliza, of North Shields, 1; Brig Scotia, of Sunderland, 6; Sloop Three Brothers, of Goole, 5; Brig Arm, of Blyih, 8 ; Schooner Fly, of Whitby—Saved vessel and crew, 4; Fishing-boats of Whitbnrn, 16; Brig Arethusa, of Blyth, 8 ; "Brig Providence, of Shields, 8; Brig May/lower, of Newcastle, 8; Brig Roman Empress, of Shields, 10 ; Barque Pen-severance, of Scarborough, 5 ; Barque Vruid, of Sunderland, 9 ; Brig Sisters, of Whitby, 9; Brig Jane, of North Shields, 10; Barque Robert Watson, of Sunderland, 5 ; Brig Content, of Sunderland, 5. Total, 188.

them the best thanks of the Committee are also tendered. To Mr. MESSENT, the able engineer of your magnificent and important pier works, and to Mr. LAWTON, their enterprising contractor, the thanks of the Institution are likewise due, for their co-operation in connection with building the boat-house. In conclusion, I beg to thank you very much for so patiently giving me your attention, while my statements have been placed in a hasty manner before you; and I trust you will, in time to come, ponder over them, and continue to do your part consistently in this great work of saving life from shipwreck. (Loud applause.) RICHARD HODGSON, Esq., M.P., proposed the health of the noble Chairman in an eulogistic speech, and the thanks of the assembly to Mr.

LEWIS for his able and eloquent address.

Other toasts followed, and the proceedings were brought to a close.