IN accordance with our annual custom for many years past, we again present our readers with a synopsis of the returns just made by the Board of Trade to Parliament, of the wrecks and casualties which have taken place on the coasts, and in the seas, of the British Isles during the past year.

It may here be observed that the materials from which these valuable documents are compiled are derived from reports furnished by the Officers of Coast-guard and Receivers of Wreck, resident on the shores of the United Kingdom.

When we remember that the number of vessels which entered inwards and cleared outwards from different British ports in the course of the past year was 268,462, and that these ships had on board, probably, 1,610,000 men, it becomes almost a matter of certainty that a large number of casualties should take place amongst them every year.

The coasts of the British isles extend upwards of 5,000 miles, and on looking at the Wreck Charts which accompany the Register, it is observed that there are few parts of that continuous shore which are not studded with the usual wreck marks; and thus it is that on nearly every page of the Register this startling fact constantly presents itself—that1 during the year no less than 1,827 wrecks and casualties took place on our coasts, with the loss of 690 lives 1 Compared with previous years the Register informs us that the wreck experience of the past year is very unfavourable. But the number of lives lost is fortunately considerably under the average, owing chiefly to the valuable and prompt services of lifeboats and other means employed on occasions of wrecks on our coasts.

The wrecks and casualties in the year show a large increase on the average of those during the preceding eleven years. The number of wrecks in the last eleven years was 13,657, while the total voyages made to and from British ports in that period was 2,745,910—so that 1 ship was wrecked out of every 201. During the past year, as previously stated, the number of voyages of vessels to and from ports in the Tjnited Kingdom was 268,462, and out of this large number 1,827 casualties occurred—or 1 in every 147.

In the past eleven years, from the above wrecks 8,775 persons were lost, or nearly 800 each year. Last year, it appears from the returns that the lives of 4,729 persons were imperilled on the coasts of the British, isles, of which number 690, or 14-59 per cent, were lost. The wrecks and disasters for the year 1862 may be thus classed :— Vessels.

Totally wrecked 455 Seriously damaged 695 Totally lost in collision 66 Damaged seriously by collision . . . 272 Injured by collision 339 Total 1827 This number of disasters for last year is at the rate of five per day. The number in each month of the year is thus given:— Vessels.

January 22 February 117 March 163 April 87 May 77 June 75 July 94 August 66 September 75 October 346 November 179 December 327 Total 1827 It will thus be seen that the months of January, February, March, October, Novem-' ber, and December, have been the most destructive to ships.

The startling facts which the Wreck Register discloses each successive year have succeeded in drawing general public attention to this important subject, and frequently it is referred to in Parliament.

On a recent occasion, when Lord RAVENSWORTH alluded, in the House of Lords, to the necessity of constructing Harbours of Refuge on the north-east coast, he caused to be suspended in their Lordships' library a large wreck chart lent by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

The fearful scenes represented on that chart naturally excited their Lordships' attention. Indeed the dreadful havoc which storms commit every year in the seas and on the shores of the British Isles can only be fully realized by the aid of such a chart. It will be observed from the accompanying Wreck Chart that the position of each casualty is distinctly marked.

It is, however, satisfactory to find that the publication of the Annual Wreck Register of the Board of Trade, and other means of publicity, have materially contributed to the establishment on our coasts of a system of life-boats and life-preserving apparatus, which reflects the greatest credit on the philanthropy of the age in which we live, and on the energy with which these means have been placed on our shores, by the joint action of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION and the Board of Trade.

Amidst the desolating scenes which the Wreck Register and Chart reveal, it is consolatory to know that by means of life-boats, the life-preserving apparatus, ships' own boats, and other means, 20,158 lives have been saved from a watery grave daring the past seven years, as the annexed list shows:— Lives saved.

1856 2,243 1857 1,668 1858 J,555 1859 2,332 1860 3,697 1861 4,624 1862 4,039 Total . . . .20,158 The following Is a summary of the means used in saving the 4,039 lives from wrecks on the coasts of the United Kingdom daring the past year:— By life-boats 327* By rocket and mortar apparatus. . . 310 By ships' own boats, shore boats, steamers, &c. . . , 3389 By individual exertion 13 Total 4039 As usual, ships, ships' boats, and smacks, have saved more lives in that period than the life-boats and the rocket and mortar apparatus. This apparent discrepancy is susceptible of easy explanation. When a disaster takes place in British waters, it frequently happens that either a ship or * This number does not inpfode shipwrecked crews, who, with their vessels, were safely brought into port by lifetoato.

smack is fortunately at hand to render assistance to the crews of the distressed vessels.

Such help is seldom attended with any very great danger (although sometimes it is so), and the men are often brought ashore before any tidings at all have reached a lifeboat station. But the great value of the j services rendered by life-boats can only be appreciated by considering that they are mostly performed on occasions when no other craft could be launched from the shore with safety.

Schooners and brigs were, as usual, the most numerous description of vessels that were lost during the past year on our shores. These are usually employed in our coasting and coal trade, and the destruction of hundreds of them, even in moderate gales, is now reduced to a matter of certainty.

In December last seven vessels foundered off the east coast of England—with the Joss of all hands—while engaged in coasting voyages. One of them was a collier sloop 71 years of age! Another collier brig also foundered in October last, and 7 out of 9 of her crew were drowned. She was 99 years old! The following is an analysis of the tonnage of the ships lost last year:— Vessels.

Vessels under 50 Tons . . . . . 341 51 and under 100 „ 441 101 „ 300 , 784 301 „ 600 601 „ 900 901 „ 1200 1201 and upwards 186 44 20 11 Total 1827 The cargoes of these vessels are thus made up:— Coals 593 Ballast, not colliers 165 Colliers, in ballast 128 Metallic ores 113 Grain, oatmeal, flour, and provisions . 109 Stone, slate, &c. 100 General cargo 93 .

Timber or bark 89 fishing smacks 84 Various, or unknown 353 Total 1827 The most destructive gales of wind were those that blew from S.W., S.S.W., W.S.W., and N.W, We find that the ages of some of the vessels that were hurried out of existence were as follows :— Vessels.

Under 3 years 122 3 and not exceeding 7 years . 271 8 „ „ 10 „ 131 11 „ „ 14 „ 155 15 „ „ 20 „ 216 21 „ „ 30 „ 266 31 „ „ 40 „ 125 41 „ „ 50 „ 59 51 „ „ 60 „ . . . . 25 61 „ „ 90 „ . . . . 14 91 „ „ 100 „ . . . . 1 Unknown 442 Total 1827 We also remark that, in perfectly calm weather, 23 vessels were wrecked; in light airs, 28; in light breezes, 56; in gentle breezes, 43; in moderate breezes, 110; in fresh breezes, 187; in strong breezes, 195; in moderate gales, 75 ; in fresh gales, 170; in strong gales, 199 ; in whole gales, 218; in storms, 63; in hurricanes, 69 ; and in unknown and variable weather, 52.

We moreover observe that 321 vessels were wrecked that were under the command of masters holding certificates of competency ; while 720 were wrecked that were commanded by others who were not required by law to hold such certificates; and 266 that were commanded by foreigners not having British certificates.

We observe that of the total wrecks during the past year on our shores, irrespective of collisions, 60 vessels foundered; 41 vessels were driven or run on a lee shore; 66 parted their cables, or dragged their anchors and went on shore; 40 were wrecked from damage to hull, or the loss of masts, yard, or sails; 3 were actually capsized; 72 were wrecked from inattention, carelessness, or neglect; 25 from defects in ships or equipments; 7 from a combination of causes, while 18 arose from accident.

Of the total wrecks that took place from collisions, 18 were from bad look-out; 22 because the rule of road at sea was not observed; 1 from want of sea-room; 4 in thick and foggy weather; and 4 from neglecting to show lights; but it is worth observing that only one collision with total loss occurred from the error of the pilot who was on board; 4 occurred from negligence and want of caution.

It is also a lamentable fact, in regard to collisions, that 141 took place in fine and clear weather; the whole number of collisions during the year being 338—102 in the day time, and 236 in the night.

Last year 11 collisions occurred between steamers, and 190 between sailing-vessels, while both were under way: 32 collisions also took place between sailing-vessels, one being at anchor and the other under way at the time; but no collisions occurred between steamers under these circumstances: 46 collisions likewise took place between steamers and sailing-vessels, both being under way; and'6 only when sailing-vessels at anchor were run into by steamers: 53 collisions also occurred by vessels breaking from their anchors or moorings. We earnestly trust that the admirable regulations which the Board of Trade have just published to prevent collisions at sea will materially tend to lessen the number of these fearful disasters.

The sandbanks which have proved most disastrous to vessels during 1862 are the Vessels wrecked.

Long Sand 17 Newcome Sand . .

Kentish Knock Sand Gunfleet Sand.

Scroby Sand .

Hasbro' Sand .

Goodwin Sand Barrow Sand .

Blakeney Sand Corton Sand 6 Sbipwash Sand . . . . 5 Sizewell Bank 5 The most disastrous wrecks, with the greatest loss of life, occur between that part of the coast extending from Skerries and Lambay to Fair Head and Mull of Kantyre.

During the past thirteen years 1,641 lives were lost in that district.' The next is from the North Foreland to St. Katharine's Point, which during the same period claims 1,136 lives.

The estimated loss of property involved in the destruction of a portion, only of the vessels wrecked in the last six years amounted to four and a half millions of pounds sterling, although the total amount, being unreported, cannot be ascertained; but who can appreciate the value of the precious lives lost in those terrible disasters, except those at our seaports and fishingvillages who are now widows and orphans or friendless, who have bewailed with unutterable anguish the loss of a husband, father, or near relation ? On the other hand it is most gratifying to find that in these six years 4,169 lives were rescued from the jaws of death by life-boats and the life-saving apparatus alone. It may be proper to observe that these means of saving life are rarely used except under the most perilous circumstances.

One can hardly conceive a more pitiable sight than a noble ship stranded on a sandbank during a gale of wind, with her crew in the rigging, or firing minute-guns as signals of distress, so that they may obtain help from the shore. On observing these signals the crew of the life-boat immediately put off. Indeed we know of no spectacle more sublime, or more calculated to send the blood thrilling through the veins with admiration and awe, than the cool, determined courage and the lively charity that sends these poor and often half-starved fisher-fellows out in the dark night, in the midst of bitter frost and snow, into a tumultuous sea and surf, hungry for their bodies, in the very teeth of a furious wind, with death threatening them on all sides, and nothing but their coolness and skill to rely upon to preserve their own lives, to say nothing of the lives of others— leaving wives and families of little ones at home who may never see them in life again.

What stout hearts those must be as, jaid by yard, they struggle away from the dim shore, lost in an obscurity of scud and surf, and snow, thinking of nothing but their duty—the errand of mercy and charity before them—through the raging tempest— winning their way, though seas that to the landsman are fearful to gaze on, even from the safe standing on the beach, momentarily threaten to overwhelm them ! Out further and further yet into the dark void a speck on the waters. Another flash of the minutegun points out where the vessel is lying aground upon a shoal, the sea making a clean breach over her, and the scud and spray flying sheer over her mastheads, which threaten to go every moment. Stand to it, stout hearts! a few more minutes of the heavy toil and the boat will be well into leeward of the wreck, when the most dangerous part of the whole operations will commence; for there is danger of her being stove in momentarily, either by contact with the wreck itself, or with the floating spars which may be hanging loosely around her.

The relief of a wreck is no mere child's play—it often occupies hours of hard, dangerous, and unremitting toil. It is no mere sudden flash of generosity that is required— no enthusiasm burnt out as soon as kindled; but that steady, undaunted "pluck" which distinguishes frequently the highest as well as the lowest class of Englishmen in times of danger. How important then is the work of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION in providing these messengers of mercy on our coasts, and in encouraging noble deeds of daring in the rescue of our fellow-creatures from an awful death! It may be interesting here to recapitulate briefly the operations of the NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION, which has now 125 lifeboats under its management. During the past year, in addition to saving twenty-one vessels from destruction, 358 lives were rescued by the life-boats of the Society.

For these services rewards amounting to 915Z. 18s. Id. were voted. The number of lives saved by the life-boats of the Society, or by special exertions, for which it has granted rewards since its formation, is 13,220.

For these services 82 gold medals, 733 silver medals, and 17,200Z. in cash have been granted as rewards. The Institution has also expended 75,380Z. on life-boats, lifeboat transporting-carriages, and boat-houses.

Surely a Society which has thus been productive of the greatest services in the cause of humanity will not have to appeal in vain to the public for help to enable it to continue its merciful work on our dangerous sea-board.