AT the Annual General Meeting of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION held at the London Tavern, on Tuesday, the 15th day of March, 1864, the Eight Honourable Sir JOHN S. PAKINGTON, Bart., G.C.B., M.P., in the Chair, The following Report of the Committee was read :— ON this the fortieth anniversary of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, the. Committee have the satisfaction to present to its supporters and to the British people, the Annual Report of their proceedings —once more have they to place on record the success which, with the Divine blessing, has rested on their labours, and to express their gratitude to a liberal public for its continued support.

In their last Annual Statement, the Committee had to report a falling off in the previous year's income, as compared with that of the year before, consequent on the distress then prevailing in the manufacturing districts. They trust that the considerable increase on the income of the past year, which they are happily now able to announce, may be deemed to indicate that the cloud of misfortune which has so long hung over a large, important, and industrious section of the community, is passing away.

Perhaps the most striking feature in the history of the Institution during the past year is the large number of noble gifts, in the shape of the entire cost of new lifeboats, which have been presented to it by philanthropic individuals, a list of which is enumerated in another part of the Report.

Through such assistance the Committee lave been enabled to replace several lifeboats of inferior description, or obsolete character, by others embodying all the latest improvements.

To one of those gifts the Committee have much pleasure in drawing especial attention, not alone on account of its large amount, but as one springing from the very highest order of motives on the part of a commercial firm, and which cannot but be appreciated in this great mart of commerce, while it is invested with additional interest as proceeding from members of one of the most highly respected native communities amongst our fellow-subjects in India. The splendid gift to which they allude, is that of 2,0001.

given by Messrs. CAMA and Co., Parsee merchants, London, for the purpose of providing the whole cost, and the future maintenance of a life-boat establishment, on the coast of the United Kingdom, in acknowledgement of the success which had attended their business transactions during eight years' residence in this metropolis, and in testimony of the courtesy and kindness which they bad invariably received from its inhabitants.

The Committee are likewise able to report that the last remaining of the County Shipwreck Associations, viz., that in Lincolnshire, has decided on coming into union with the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and that a complete renovation of the four life-boat stations on the coast of that county will, as soon as practicable, be effected.

New boats, carriages, houses, and equipment will be provided, and the several establishments made thoroughly efficient in every respect, at a cost of about 2,000?., which will be defrayed jointly from the funds of the Parent and Branch Institutions.

The Committee have the gratification to know that the Lords of the Admiralty are taking steps to provide every ship-of-war with an efficient life-boat, their Lordships having paid the Institution the complitnent to consult it on that important subject.

Experimental life-boats are now in course of construction, and the Committee trust that their general adoption m the Royal Navy may lead to improvement in the life-boats of the Mercantile Marine.

The Committee having now formed stations on almost every dangerous part of the United Kingdom where a life-boat can be effectively manned, contemplate entering on another sphere of usefulness, by introducing an improved mode of fitting the interior of the larger class of open and half-decked fishing and hovelling boats on our coasts, so that they could at any time be made insubmergible.

Our fishing-boats number about' 40,000, and are probably manned by 160,000 men and boys, who are ever ready to risk their own lives to save those of their fellow creatures on occasions of shipwreck.

The Committee propose to accomplish this object by building and placing at some of the principal fishing-stations model or standard boats, from which, after sufficient trial, others might be built in the several localities; and thus a permanent improvement be established, which might lead to the saving of many lives on occasions of such boats being overtaken by gales of wind when at long distances from land.

The general proceedings of the Institution may be epitomized as follows, under the usual headings:— Lifeboats.—During the past year the Institution has been enabled to send no less than 15 new life-boats to the coast, and numerous others are in course of construction.

The stations to which they have been sent are Drogheda, Fishguard, Budehaven, Tenby, Lytham, Hastings, Blakeney, Swansea, Teigntnouth, Filey, Arklow, Eastbourne, Pembrey, Palling, and Greencastle, near Londonderry. The whole of these, except that at Greencastle, have gone to replace worn-out or obsolete boats. No less than nine of them are gift boats.

The life-boats of the Institution now number one hundred and thirty-two; and some pf them were the means of saving no less than four hundred and seventeen lives during, the past year, nearly the whole of them under dangerous circumstances, amidst high surfs, when no other description of boats could have been launched with safety. They were also instrumental in taking safely into port or materially assisting seventeen vessels, which had stranded or otherwise got into danger. On forty-nine other occasions the life-boats of the Society were launched, and proceeded to the assistance of vessels that had shown signals of distress, or that were in evident danger, but which did not ultimately require their services. The crews of the life-boats also assembled during stormy weather on many occasions, in readiness to proceed to the aid of vessels. For these services—and for saving 297 shipwrecked persons by fishing and shore boats or other means—the Institution has granted rewards amounting to 1,297Z.

These valuable services have happily been performed without a single accident attended with loss of life occurring to those who have manned the boats. On such occasions, and on those of quarterly exercise of the life-boats, about 6,000 persons were afloat in them.

life-boat Carriages. — Transporting-carriages have been provided for the whole of the above-named life-boats, except those at Tenby, Blakeney, Eastbourne, Teignmouth, and Arklow Boat-houses.—New boat-houses have been built at Budehaven, Lytham, Fleetwood, Teignmouth, Pembrey, and Greencastle, whilst others are in course of erection at other places.

Shipwrecks. — The Committee regret to have to report that the number of wrecks during the past year was, as usual, very large, and that the gales of October and December were perhaps the most destructive that ever visited the shores and the seas of the British Isles. The widows and orphans, caused by the storm of the three early days of December, are to be numbered by hundreds in the towns of Yarmouth, North and South Shields, and other places.

It is, however, most gratifying to be able to report, that during the time that storm lasted, the life-boats were providentially the means of rescuing no less than 250 shipwrecked persons. Of these, 120 were saved by the Ramsgate life-boat in conjunction with the steam-tug Aid, and 48 by the Holyhead life-boat. Noble deeds of daring were also performed by the crews of the Institution's life-boats at Bacton, Fleetwood, Southport, Tenby, Llanddwyn, Skerries, and other places.* On numerous occasions when services were equally perilous and gallant, it is difficult to select any particular cases for narration, but they are all briefly detailed in the Appendix to this Report.

With a shipping representing about sixtyone millions of tons, and 400,000 vessels which cleared outwards and entered inwards from British ports during the past year, a large number of shipwrecks has become almost a natural sequence. Accordingly it is found that 1,602 casualties took place last year on the shores and in the seas of the British Isles, accompanied with the loss of 568 valuable lives—lives of the utmost consequence to the commerce and defence of the country.

However, it is gratifying to find that during the same period 4,565 persons were rescued by life-boats, the rocket-apparatus, shore-boats, and other means; 498 of these owe their preservation to life-boats, 329 to the rocket apparatus and 3,738 to ships' own boats, steamers,fishing-boats,and other means.

Those saved by life-boats, which are, as it were, the " forlorn hope " of the army of rescue, have, in nearly every instance, been saved under perilous circumstances, when they probably must have perished in the absence of such aid. The British public are now sensible of that fact, and their generous support to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has been proportionately liberal. Our countrymen in all parts of the world manifest by their contributions their interest in its welfare; and its successful operations on our coasts have awakened in foreign countries a desire to provide similar means for saving life from shipwreck on their shores.

The total number of lives saved during the forty years from the establishment of the Institution in 1824, to the end of the year 1863, either by its life-boats, or by special exertions 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 1843 1844 No. of Lives Saved.

124 218 175 163 301 463 372 287 310 449 214 364 225 272 456 279 353 128 276 236 193 In the Year 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 No. of Live! Saved.

235 134 157 123 209 470 230 773 678 355 406 473 374 427 499 455 424 574 714 Total . . 13,568 * During the storms of October and December last some of the life-boats of the Institution, and that at Ramsgate which belongs to the Board of Trade, were the means of saving the lives of 371 persons from the following wrecked vessels:— Brig Marietta,, of Lisbon 1 Schooner Sir Colin Campbell, of Whitby— Saved vessel and crew. 6 Ketch Snip, of Amsterdam — Assisted to save vessel arid crew... 5 Brigantine Arion, of Workington .. 4 Schooner Guilia, of Palermo—Saved vessel and crew 10 Schooner Northern Lights, of Preston 4 Smack Gipsy, of Drogheda 4 Italian Brig Camoglino—Assisted to save vessel and crew 8 Barque Tamu:orth, of Skien, Norway 17 Barque Providence, of Dantzic 7 Smack Saucy Jack, of Inverness.,. 1 Barque Ina, of North Shields 14 Ship David White fflinton, of New York 8 Fishing -boat of Tenby 3 Schooner Margaret and Jane, of Dublin 6 Barque Duke of Northumberland, of London 18 Fishing-boat of Filey 2 Ship Jvpiter, of London—Assisted vessel and crew of eight men, after a collision.

Schooner Economy, of Portmadoc— Saved vessel and crew 5 Lugger Vigilant, of Peel—Saved vessel and crew 7 Schooner Maria of Amlwch 4 Schooner V'Esperance, of Nantes .. 2 Schooner Hairy Russell, of Glasgow —Saved vessel and crew -.. 8 Schooner Elizabeth, of Whitehaven 4 Elizabeth JforroWt of Glasgow 19 Barque Confiance, of Liverpool.... 23 Brig JIary Ann, of Scilly—Saved .

vessel and crew 7 Smack Leims, of Campbeltown .... 3 Schooner Caledonia, of Preston— Saved vessel Schooner Fame, of Maryport—Saved vessel and crew 5 Barque Graces, of Shields 15 Brigantine Etten, of Jersey 8 Ship British India, of Liverpool— Assisted to save vessel and crew 27 Fishing-boat of Aldborough 3 Emigrant ship Fusileer, of London 102 Barque Demerara, of Greenock.... 18 Total 377 The Committee are thankful to be able to report that so many of their fellowcreatures have thus been rescued from the perils of the deep, and restored to their families and to the service of their country, Every contributor to the Institution is entitled to participate, in that satisfaction, as an assistant in the great and good work. It will likewise be felt, that the thanks of all are eminently due to the gallant men who have so readily manned the life-boats on every occasion, and to all others who have personally aided in saving so many thousands of persons from a -watery grave.

Rewards.—In the Appendix will be found a summary of the cases in which honorary and other rewards have been voted by the Institution. During the past year 15 silver medals, 26 votes of thanks inscribed on vellum and parchment, and 1,2971. have been granted for saving the lives of 714 persons by life-boats, shore and fishing boats, and other means, on the coasts and outlying banks of the United Kingdom.

In reference to these grants, our boatmen and fishermen everywhere know that their exertions in saving life from shipwreck will be promptly rewarded by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION in proportion to the risk and exposure incurred in the service.

Thus a spirit of emulation and activity is fostered and encouraged by the Institution on the coasts of the British Isles, productive of the best results.

With the special object of enhancing the value of the medals of the Institution, they are never granted except when risk of life is believed to have been incurred, and great gallantry displayed; and the most careful investigation is made of every case before it is decided on. In that important work the Committee have received the prompt and cordial co-operation of Commodore A. P.

RYDER, R.N., Controller-General, and Capt.

J. W. TARLETON, B.N., C.B., Deputy Controller- General, and of the Officers of the Coast-guard service, to whom the best thanks of the Institution are hereby tendered.

The Committee again acknowledge the valuable assistance received from the Mercantile Marine Fund, through the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, which assists the Institution to continue its liberal scale of payments to the life-boat crews.

The proceedings of the Committee on this head may be thus briefly stated:—Since the formation of the Institution it has expended oa life-boat establishments neatly 100,0001., and has voted 82 gold and 738 silver medals for saving life, besides pecuniary awards, amounting together to 17,8301.

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 zealous Honorary Secretaries of those Committees, who conduct the correspondence with the central managing body in London.

Finances.—The total amount of receipts during the past year was 21,101?. 6s. 3d.; and of this sum the Committee are happy to report that 4,944?. 5s. 0(7. were special donations given to defray the cost of the bllowing twelve life-boats:— ?iley—Lord Mayor and Lady May- £. s. d.

oress of York, K. W. Hollon, Esq., and Mrs. Hollon 250 0 0 iridlington—Collected in Manchester by K. "Whitworth, Esq., and the Kev.

E. Hewlett 250 0 0 'ailing—Messrs. Cama and Co., for the life-boat station, and its permanent maintenance 2,000 0 0 Eastbourne—J. S. D 300 0 0 ?eignmouth—Collected in China by W. H. Barton, Esq 251 15 0 Budehaven—Family of the late R. T.

Garden, Esq., for life-boat, boathouse, and transporting-carriage . 600 0 0 'embrey—Collected in Bath by f.

Bedwell, Esq 180 0 0 'enby—F. E. Magenis, Esq. . . . 262 10 0 .ytham—T. Clayton, Esq 250 0 0 )unbar—Lady Cuningham-Fairlie . 300 0 0 i. W. Cooke, Esq., R.A., F.K.S. . 200 0 0 Sir Hugh Myddleton Life-boat Fund, on account 100 0 0 Amongst the most gratifying recent donaions to the Institution occur the following, lie receipt of which the Committee grateully acknowledge:— 100?. from a Sailor's Daughter, per Messrs.

DRUMMONDS ; 100?. as a Thank-Offering for Preservation at Sea daring the storm of the 31st October last; II. 6s. M., being the amount of a Collection at St. John's Sunday School, Manchester, per Mr. R. HANLEY ; 31. 18s. 8d. collected in Mochrum Parish Church, as a New Year's Offering to the Institution, per Rev. R. CRAIG ; 201. as a Thank-offering from E. JONES, Esq., and Mrs. JONES, for Preservation from imminent Danger at Sea; 100Z. from ' A Friend,' in gratitude to God for the Preservation of his Wife for another year; 201. from a Seaman's Daughter (C. T.), the produce of her Needlework; 200?. Consols, from GEORGE WHEELHOUSE, Esq. of Deptford, and 120?. collected from seamen and others by the agents of the Sister Institution, the J O ' Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society.

The Committee have also especially to express their best thanks to W. N. RUDGE, Esq., for collecting 607Z. 15s. 6d. on the London Stock Exchange, for the Institution ; to ROBERT WHITWORTH, Esq., and the Rev. E. HEWLETT, for collecting nearly 1,OOOZ. amongst their friends and others in Manchester; and to many other valuable coadjutors at Birmingham, Pontefract, Tunstall and Wolverhampton in Staffordshire, Bristol, Huntingdon, and other places.

The following Legacies, less duty, have also been bequeathed to the Society since the publication of the last Report:—JAMES MILLER, Esq., of Glasgow, 100Z.; WM.

CURRIE, Esq., of Cornhill, London, "200Z.; JOHN FARNELL, Esq., of Isleworth, 1,000?.

(fvee of duty); MILBORNE WILLIAMS, Esq., of Whitchurch, 501; BERIAH BOTFIELD, Esq., M.P., of Norton, 10?. 10s.; Mrs.

ADAMS, of St. Michael's Terrace, Stoke, 1001.; Mrs. M. A. DUROUKE, of Blackheath, 50?.; Miss EMMA KEATE, of Kensington, 300?.; and RICHARD SPENCER, Esq., of Gower Street, London, 200?.

The expenditure of the Institution in the year 1863 was 16,672?. 6s. 8d., of which sum 6,417?. 14s. 3 £ were expended on additional life-boats, transporting-carriages, boat-houses, and necessary gear; and 4,9592.19s. lOd. on the necessary expenses of repairs, painting, refitting, and inspection; 1,351?. 6s. 4d. tn rewards for services to shipwrecked crews; and 2,441?. 9s. Id. for coxswains' salaries, and 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 again to express their thanks to the several Railway and Steam Packet Companies, who have most liberally con-veyed them to all parts of the United Kingdom, free of charge.

The items of receipt and expenditure are detailed in the financial statement annexed to this Report.

Considering the magnitude and unavoidable costliness of the operations of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, embracing the whole of the Coasts of the British Isles, a large permanent annual income is indispensable to enable it to maintain, in an effective state, its One hundred and thirty-two life-boats, and to increase their number, should circumstances render it desirable to do so.

The Committee appeal to the British public with fresh confidence for support to an Institution whose mission of mercy must come home to every one, and plead for sympathy and support; and they feel assured that they will not make that appeal in vain; for if it be a high privilege and duty to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to heal the sick, and to teach the ignorant, it is surely, if possible, a still higher privilege and duty to rescue from a premature and sudden death fellow-creatures who may be preserved for a long career of future usefulness.