SEATON CAREW, DURHAM.—On the night of April 12th, signals of distress were observed on the North Gare Sand, at the entrance to the River Tees, the wind from the S.E. with a high sea on. The Seaton Carew life-boat was at once launched and taken to the spot; when they found the signals to have proceeded from the brig Regalia, of Whitby, which had driven over the bank and stranded on the shore. The life-boat took off her crew, 7 in number, and landed them in safety. The coxswain of this lifeboat, ROBERT HOOD, having been no less than forty-three times engaged in this and the former Seaton Carew life-boat in assisting the crews of wrecked vessels, and many of those occasions being since his appointment to the coxswainship of the present boat, the Institution awarded him its Silver Medal for his long and valuable services, in addition to the usual pecuniary payment on this occasion.

HASTINGS.—On the 19th May, the fishing- smack Britannia, standing too near the shore at Hastings, struck on the rocks off the east end of the town, and sunk; the wind blowing a strong gale from the east at the time. The Hastings life-boat was immediately launched, and took off her crew of 4 men, landing them in safety.

THORPE, SUFFOLK.—On the night of the 11th June, in a heavy gale from S.S.W., the brig Florence Nightingale, of London, coal laden, stranded on the Sizewell Bank, near Thorpeness. A tar-barrel being burned, was seen from the shore, and the Thorpe life-boat was quickly launched, through a tremendous surf, and proceeded to her. On nearing the wreck, her masts went by the board, making the operation of taking off the crew a very difficult one. The anchor, however, being let go to windward, the boat was veered down, and the wrecked crew, 6 in number, hauled on board by lines. One of the life-boat's crew was washed overboard by a heavy sea which struck the boat; but being supported by his life-belt, and a line being thrown to him, he was enabled safely to regain her.

This excellent life-boat was presented to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION by residents in the town and neighbourhood of Ipswich, in 1862, and this was the second shipwrecked crew she had saved from a watery grave during the few months she had been on the station.

In acknowledgment of his services on these occasions and previously in the former Thorpe life-boat, the coxswain, WILLIAM ALEXANDER, was voted the Silver Medal of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, which was publicly presented to him at Ipswich, by the Mayor, G. C. E. BACON, Esq., on the 16th July last.

ST. IVES, CORNWALL.— On the 12th June, during a heavy gale of wind from N.N.W., with rain, the schooner Azores Packet, of Falmouth, stranded in making for the harbour at St. Ives. The life-boat of the Institution was quickly launched, and rescued her crew of 4 persons, landing them in safety. The cost of this life boat and of those at Newquay, Cornwall; Tyrella, Dundrurn Bay; and Buckie, Banffshire, was presented to the Institution by a benevolent lady who has withheld her name.

NEW BRIGHTON, LANCASHIRE.—On the 27th June, the schooner Vigilant, of Kirkcaldy, stranded on Taylor's Bank, at the entrance of the Mersey. Being seen from New Brighton, the tubular life-boat stationed there by the Institution quickly proceeded under sail to her aid, and succeeded in taking off her crew, the vessel shortly after capsizing and becoming a total wreck.

ABERDOVEY.—On the llth August last, the barque William Bromham, of Gloucester, when running for the harbour of Aberdovey, in tow of a steam-tug, ran aground on the bar at the entrance of the river, the wind being from W.S.W., and the sea rough at the time. The surf beating over her, with the probability of her breaking up, her crew had to leave her, which seven of them contrived to do in the ship's life-boat.

The remainder, six in number, were then taken off by the Aberdovey life-boat, which had been launched and proceeded to the assistance of the barque's crew on the accident being observed from the shore.

The life-boat afterwards assisted in bringing another barque and her crew safely into port.

NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX.—On the 31st of August, the schooner Cestrian, of Chester, in running for Newhaven harbour, grounded on the bar, when the Institution's life-boat stationed there was launched, and proceeded to her aid. An attempt was at first made to save the vessel, the life-boat taking a hawser from her to the pier, but the tide rising, swept her round the pier-head into heavy breakers, and the attempt had to be given up. The life-boat then took off her crew, five in number, landing them within the harbour in safety. This was the first service performed by this boat, which had recently replaced a smaller one at the station.

She was reported to have behaved remarkably well on the occasion. This life-boat was named by the Committee the Thomas Chapman, after the Deputy-Chairman of the Institution.