WE have much pleasure in publishing the following letter from Dr. PAGET-BLAKE, of Torquay, which shows the importance of retaining in the new Directions of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION a portion of Dr. MARSHALL HALL'S .valuable method for the Restoration of the Apparently dead from drowning :— " Anglesey House, Torquay, " July 1st, 1864.

" SIR,—As an old Subscriber and warm admirer of your most valuable Institution, I beg to address you on the subject of the first article of your ' Life-boat,' which I received this morning. Being a medical man in practice here, I think I ought to add my mite, however small, to help you in your search after what, by weight of evidence, must eventually influence you in your laudable endeavour to discover what is the best plan of restoring persons apparently drowned.

" I was walking leisurely along Victoria Parade here about a week ago, when I saw a crowd collecting on the pier-head, round a pleasure-boat, which had just come in. Anxious to know what was the cause, I proceeded down towards the crowd, and there found the body of a gentleman's servant laid on two planks, apparently quite dead.

I asked, 'What is the matter?'—'Oh, sir, he has fallen overboard, and was ten minutes in the water before we could pick him up, and then got hold of him with a boat-hook, pulled him on board, and brought him here; but we fear he's dead, for this was some distance out near Paignton!' " I waited not a moment, but pushing through the crowd, I got to the body, and securing in an instant the help of three powerful men, to do as I bid them, I proceeded, without even taking off my gloves (they fitting very tightly, and so urgent was the necessity for haste), to use the ' Marshall Hall method' for restoring respiration.

We kept regularly and steadily at it for ten minutes Or a quarter of an hour ere there was the least apparent consciousness, and being a very stout, heavy man, this was really hard work: then there was a long-drawn gasp. "We continued ' the method,' and in half-an-hour were rejoiced to find natural respiration restored. Then we took off the remainder of his wet things, and rubbed vigorously, giving also brandy-and-water, which he could now swallow ; and as soon as some warmth was felt, we put him into a carriage and sent him home. The result has been that in four days he was at his usual occupation. On looking at his watch, I found it had stopped at the very time (half-past four) he had fallen into the water.

" Having also had several cases of apparently still-born children brought to animation and life by this most admirable and thoroughly physiological plan of proceeding, I think it only due to the memory of that truly illustrious member of our profession to add my humble testimony in favour of the ' Marshall Hall method,' which is to my mind unhesitatingly the best ever yet proposed.

;'The man's watch being stopped, proved he must have been a considerable time in the water.

He could swim a very little; but says that the waves were so high and the wind so strong he was soon overpowered after a few strokes, and he does not recollect any more.

" I am, &c., C. PAGET BLAKE, M.D., Edin.; M.R.C.P. Lond.

" To the Secretary of the National Life-boat Institution.".