CAISTER, NORFOLK,—About 9 o'clock on the evening of Sunday, the 1st October last, during a strong easterly breeze, a brig struck on the Barber Sands, the sea immediately breaking over her. This being observed from the shore, the Caister lifeboat was at once launched, and before she was fairly off, signal lights of distress were thrown up from the vessel, which was reached about 9.45 p.m., and was found lying on the Sand and striking violently.

The life-boat's crew were fortunately successful in working the vessel off the Sand, and in bringing her up into the Roads about midnight: she was then towed by means of a steam-tug into Yarmouth Harbour. The vessel proved to be the brig Nautilus, of South Shields, and had a crew of 9 men on board.

About half-past 7 o'clock, P.M., on the 4th October last, during a gale from S.E., signal lights were seen off the Scroby Sand. The Caister life-boat was again launched, and in about an hour from the time the signals were seen she arrived at the spot thus indicated, and found a brig in the middle of the Scroby Sand— she was full of water, with her rudder gone, and the sea breaking completely over her. The beachmen having boarded the vessel, at once commenced working at the pumps; but after labouring hard at them for about an hour, they were compelled to leave the vessel, taking with them the crew of 9 men, whom they landed in safety at about 11 *30, P.M. The following day the beachmen, finding that the vessel was still on the Sand, again went off in the life-boat, and finally succeeded in getting her off, and in taking her into Lowestoft Harbour. The brig proved to be the Harlingtan, of Sunderland, laden with railway sleepers.

About 7 o'clock on the evening of the 9th October, two guns were fired and rockets thrown up from the Cockle Floating light. The night was dark and rainy, with a strong wind and a heavy sea on the beach. The Caister life-boat was launched without a moment's delay, and, on the way to the light-ship, fell in with the brig Kathleen, of Hartlepool, at anchor close by the breakers of the Cockle Sand. The vessel had run foul of the floating light, which in the collision had carried away a part of her bulwarks and her port-main rigging. The beachmen, after much difficulty, succeeded in getting close to the vessel, and having put 6 of their crew on board, slipped her anchor and succeeded in taking her over the north end of the Sands, and ultimately in bringing her up in Hemsby Hole, where they cast anchor and waited for daybreak.

The life-boat, with the remainder of her crew on board, followed, being towed by the ship. The peril of the life-boat was great in this service, and the men's courage and resolution, when she was towed by the Kathleen, were much tried. The rush of the ship, while dashed along by the sea, and pitched at times nearly on her beam ends, pulled the boat close on the vessel, partially submerging her bows at times in the water, so that the men (both the beachmen in the ship and her crew) were on such occasions more afraid for the life-boat and her crew than for themselves. But the spring of the boat drew her up from her submersions: the men calmly and steadily kept their seats, and cleared her off the vessel; and their confidence in the boat, as well as admiration of her qualifications, was great. When the collision took place, three out of six of the vessel's crew jumped on board the floating-light, and in the morning the life-boat went off again to the light-ship, and brought the 3 men ashore. One of them had his foot severely crushed, the result of the previous night's catastrophe.

The above services complete the glorious career of the Caister old life-boat, built about eighteen years ago, which, since January, 1858 (when she was transferred to the Institution), has been out 23 times on service, and has been the means of saving no less than 133 lives from shipwreck, besides bringing several vessels safely into port, and helping others out of situations of extreme peril. The boat has now become unfit for further service, and has accordingly been replaced by another lifeboat, the gift of the artisans of Birmingham, and called the ' James Pearce, Birmingham No. 2,' after the benevolent working man who first suggested that the working men of Birmingham might testify, by the gift of two life-boats, their appreciation of the noble services rendered on our coasts to shipwrecked crews.

Singularly enough, the beachmen, on their way home from Yarmouth to Caister with the new life-boat, on the 25th October, during a thick squall from N.W., discovered a schooner on the Scroby Sand, riding there with both anchors down and a signal of distress hoisted. They bore directly to her, she being then two miles distant, and found her in a helpless condition, and requiring immediate assistance, which the beachmen at once afforded, and took her safely into Yarmouth Roads. The schooner was found to be the Maria, of Hull, laden with timber and having 3 men on board.

The services of the new life-boat were again called into requisition on the 8th November.

About 6 o'clock on the evening, the Cockle Light-ship threw up a rocket and fired a gun, and the Caister new lifeboat was immediately launched. A vessel in that neighbourhood also showed a light as a signal of distress shortly after the firing of the gun, and the life-boat therefore made towards her, and found that she had struck on the Cockle Sand. The vessel had broken one anchor, but had let go her second, which kept her from the breakers until the arrival of the life-boat. The lifeboat's crew were the means of clearing her from the Sands, and of taking her safely into Yarmouth Roads. The vessel was the brig Raven, of London, bound to Seaham, in ballast, with the captain, his wife, and a crew of 8 men; DUNBAR, N.B.—At daybreak, on the 13th October, during a gale from N.E., and a very heavy sea, a schooner, which had been knocking about in the month of the Firth of Forth for several days, was observed off Dunbar in distress, with masts cut away, and driving on a lee-shore. T he alarm having been given, the life-boat Wallace was at once launched to the rescue, and succeeded in taking oft' the crew of 5 men through the surf, into the life-boat, and bringing them safely ashore. The vessel was a Prussian schooner named the Patrios, of Barth, bound to Leith in ballast, NEWBIGGIN,—On the 1.7th October, during stormy weather from E.S.E., the sloop Robert Hood, of Newcastle, which was at anchor about two miles S.E. of Newbiggin, was observed to hoist a signal of distress.

The life-boat was got out with the utmost promptitude, but before she could be launched, the vessel foundered. In order, therefore, to use the utmost despatch, the oars of the boat were double-banked, and the life-boat quickly reached the spot and picked up the vessel's crew of 2 men, who had taken to their small boat, which, considering the state of the sea and wind at the time, would undoubtedly have been either capsized or swamped before she could have reached the land.

On the 25th of October the same lifeboat was again instrumental in saving life.

The fishing cobles at Newbiggin had gone out, as usual, to their fishing-ground, bat were suddenly overtaken by a tremendous gale from the S.E; The cobles thereupon, made for the harbour, running before the heavy sea as it came rushing into the bay. The life-boat lay off in the fearful sea for about three hours, to render assistance to the boats as they came in. The last coble was given up for lost, but the life-boat took the men out, and the boat in tow. As they rounded the point a tremendous sea hurled the coble bottom up, and nearly sent her on to the life-boat, to the imminent peril of the crew; but fortunately the life-boat escaped with but slight injury. For this service to their fellow fishermen, the life-boat's crew made no charge on the Institution.

MARGATE.—Early on the morning of the 28th October the schooner Reaper, of Scarborough, was observed, during stormy weather, endeavouring to beat off shore.

The sea breaking completely over the vessel, she filled rapidly and sunk. The life-boat being in readiness; was launched, and fortunately succeeded in reaching the wreck just as she struck, and saved the crew of 9 men; HAYLING ISLAND, HAMPSHIRE.—On the 29th October, daring the heavy southerly gale which raged along the south coast, several vessels were discovered amid the dangerous breakers off the island. The life-boat, Olive Leaf, recently placed on this station, was immediately launched, and dashed through the surf to render assistance. After speaking one or two vessels which did not require immediate assistance, she came to the barque Atlas, of Shields, which was stranded on the Woolsiner Sands, and took off her crew of 13 men, as well as one man belonging to the Norwegian barque Sirius, who was on board the Atlas, and then landed them safely. The life-boat afterwards put off and proceeded to the Sirius, which was found abandoned; and after lying by her for some time, ultimately succeeded in getting her out to sea, and taking her into Portsmouth Harbour.

POOLBEG, DUBLIN BAY.—On the morning of the 29th October, during a terrific gale from S.S.E., the schooner Emma, of Barrow, bound to Newport, Wales, with a cargo of pig-iron, was reported to be ashore on the South Bull Sand in the bay. The Poolbeg life-boat was at once launched to the rescue, and after considerable difficulty, j owing to the heavy broken sea, took off the crew of 6 men and landed them in safety.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT, N. B.—Early on the morning of the 29th October, the schooner Franklin, of Belfast, was driven, during a heavy gale of wind from S.S.E. into the River Dee. She anchored in Manxman's Lake, but shortly afterwards dragged her anchors, and drifted towards the point of St. Mary's Isle. Whilst in this most dangerous position, intelligence reached Kirkcudbright, and the life-boat was immediately launched. The vessel was reached in about an hour, and with very considerable difficulty, owing to the violence of the gale.

The life-boat took off the crew of 4 men.

WHITBURN, NEAR SUNDERLAND. — On the 26th October, the brig Anne and Mary, of North Shields, bound from the Tyne, with coals, was forced, during a heavy gale, to return by stress of weather; but when off this place, it being very thick and hazy, she struck on the Whitburn Steel Rocks.

Although it was very dark at the time, the fishermen, observing some lights seaward, launched their new life-boat (the Thomas Wilson) and proceeded out in the stormy weather. In the meantime the crew of the brig had been forced to take to their own boat, and were out in the offing, in great danger, on account of the heavy surf that was breaking along the coast. The lifeboat's crew, finding the vessel was abandoned, concluded the crew were pulling to seaward, and accordingly went in search of them. After rowing about for some, time, and shouting, they fortunately fell in with the brig's boat, containing her entire crew of 9 men, who gladly got into the life-boat, and were safely landed. The poor shipwrecked men were very grateful for the timely aid thus rendered them by the lifeboat.

Again on the 14th November this valuable life-boat was instrumental in rescuing the crew of 6 men of the schooner Token, of Jersey, which had struck on Whitburn Rocks in a heavy sea. Two cobles had previously gone off with the view of saving the men, but the sea was so high that they were compelled to return to the shore without effecting their object.

Again on the 24th November, during heavy squalls from S.S.W., and a high surf, a large light being observed off Souter Point as if from a vessel on fire, the life-boat was thereupon launched, and, after a pull of two or three miles, discovered the schooner Test, of Southampton, on fire. It appeared that the ship had burnt a tar-barrel as a signal of distress, and that this had communicated to the vessel, and had set light to her cabin. The life-boat boarded her, extinguished the fire, and took the crew of 6 men out, and after a heavy pull back, all were safely landed about midnight. The fishermen, assisted by three steam-tugs, got the vessel off, leaky, at high water the next morning, and took her to Shields.

THEDDLETHORPE, LINCOLNSHIRE. — This life-boat was instrumental, on the 17th November, in saving 9 men from the fishingsmack Splendid, of Grimsby. The smack was full of water, and her crew had taken to their own small boat, which was found approaching the surf, where she would probably have been capsized and her crew drowned, but for the timely services of the Dorinda and Barbara life-boat, which was promptly launched, and was fortunately successful in rescuing the shipwrecked men.

HOWTH, DUBLIN BAY.—On the 22nd November, during a very heavy squall of wind, a lighter, in the employ of the Board of Works engaged in removing sand from Howth Harbour to the Sound, was observed to be in a very dangerous position close to the east pier head. She held on merely ' by a slight rope, which, had it broken, she must either have drifted out to sea, or else have been dashed to pieces against the east pier, the men on board her, five in number, being in either case in great peril of their lives. The Howth life-boat was, at the earnest request of the master of the steam dredging-machine — no other aid being available—launched, and the five men rescued from their dangerous position.

PLYMOUTH.—On the 22nd November a heavy gale from the W.S.W. set in at Plymouth ; considerable damage resulted to the shipping, a larger number of vessels having been driven ashore than has been known at that port oil any previous occasions for many years. The Prince Consort life-boat was launched at an early hour, and was very actively employed in rendering assistance to the wrecked vessels, rescuing eleven men from the Belgian brig Espoir, which had been in collision with another vessel, and bringing them safely ashore. A large concourse of spectators assembled at the pier to see the shipwrecked crew landed by the life-boat.

The same life-boat also rendered good service on the 25th November. A vessel was observed coming into the Sound during the heavy gale that was blowing from the S.W., and anchoring dead to leeward near the Batten Ledge. At half-past five o'clock two rockets wore sent up from the Mount Batten Coastguard Station. The Prince Consort life-boat was thereupon immediately launched, and in a very short time neared the brig, which was found ashore on the Ledge. The Liverpool steam- j tug, Napoleon, was near the wreck, and the master informed the coxswain that he had'! saved 5 of the crew in two trips, by veering a small boat down to the brig; but : the latter having got so far on the ledge, I and the sea being so very heavy, the j steamer could not again approach the wreck, j The life-boat was then veered by her own j rope attached to the steamer to leeward | of the brig, and succeeded in getting out the j other 6 men. The life-boat afterwards took off' the 5 men from the steamer, and j was then towed by the tug to the Royal William Yard, and the rescued crew were taken to the Sailors' Home. The wrecked vessel was the brig CommerzieweathinHaupt, of Mecklenburg, with a cargo of wheat.

PENZANCE.—As soon as day broke on the 25th November, intelligence was brought to Penzance that a vessel was ashore on the beach near Marazion. It was blowing a very heavy gale of wind from the S.S.W.

at the time, with a tremendous sea on. The life-boat, named after the secretary of the parent Institution, was at once taken on her carriage to the scene of the wreck. On arriving there it was found that the immense seas were making a clean breach over the vessel: her bulwarks were smashed, and she was evidently nearly gutted. Several men were seen in the rigging. A line had been fired across the wreck by means of the rocket apparatus, but the poor fellows were unable to reach it, and it was soon carried away by the sea. The life-boat was promptly launched, and after great exertion and much danger, reached the vessel, into the bow of which she was nearly thrown by one of the waves; and amid the seas that raged around her, the boat was scarcely visible from the land. However, the vessel was at last successfully grappled, and the crew of 5 men taken into the life-boat, and after some difficulty brought safely ashore, and landed amidst the cheers of thousands of spectators. The vessel was the brigantine Toboco, of Hamburgh, bound from Tabaco in Mexico to Hamburgh with a cargo of logwood. She afterwards became a total wreck.

WEXFORD AND CAHORE, IRELAND.—On the morning or the 7th November, during a strong breeze from E.N.E., the iron ship, Savoir fairs, of Liverpool, bound from that port to Calcutta, with salt, went ashore on the Blackwater Bank. The Wexford and Cahore life-boats put off—the steam-tug Ruby towing the former boat — and fortunately succeeded in rescuing 23 of the vessel's crew. The remainder of the crew, 10 in number, came ashore in one of the ship's boats.

Again, on the evening of the 9th December, intelligence reached Wexford that a vessel was on the Blackwater Bank. The Wexford life-boat was thereupon immediately launched, and taken in tow by a tug along the inside of the Bank. The wind had freshened to a gale, and the sea ran very high, boarding the tug frequently, and threatening to pat out her fires. The weather, however, was so very thick that nothing could be seen j and no guns or other signals being heard, it was concluded that the vessel must have got clear; so after a search of nearly 4 hours, under very trying circumstances, the life-boat returned to her station. The next day, the weather being clearer, although the wind was still blowing strong, the steamer Ruby took the life-boat again in, tow, and went out to the Bank. On approaching the north end of it, a mast was observed out of the water with 4 men clinging to it. The sea was breaking literally mountains high, and the greatest danger existed in nearing the wreck, as, the vessel having gone to pieces, the machinery and other portions of her were strewed about in the vicinity of the mast to which the sailors were clinging. The life-boat attempted five times to get to the mast, and was sometimes so close as to cheer up the poor fellows, but as many times she failed to accomplish her noble purpose. It was now evident that the crew of the life-boat were becoming exhausted, having been 4 hours at their fruitless task, but summoning all their remaining strength, they determined to make a last final effort, as the mast, to all appearances, was about to fall. The anchor was then let go, and the boat pulled close to the mast, which was grappled this time, and the life-boat then rescued the 4 poor sailors, who had been in their perilous position for upwards of 27 hours, with nothing to eat but a small portion of uncooked meat.

Although half dead, the rescued men requested the life-boat to proceed to the lightvessel to see if any of the crew of the wrecked steamer were on board, but they had heard nothing of them. The life-boat then brought the 4 men on shore. The vessel proved to be the screw-steamer Barbadian, of Liverpool, bound to Barbadoes, and out of the crew and passengers, 37 in number, 12, including the captain and chief mate, perished, only 25 persons reaching the shore, FOWEY, CORNWALL.—During the heavy gale of the 24th November, two large vessels —a barque and a brig—were seen in distress in St. Austell's Bay, driving before the wind towards Par Sands. The Fowey life-boat was soon launched, and making her way through the breakers towards the ships, which had now taken the ground, and were broadside on. to the fearful breakers, which were running high over the topmast heads.

With great difficulty the crew managed to get the life-boat about midway between the station and the stranded ships, when the sea rose so high that six of the boat's oars were snapped asunder, so that the crew could make no headway against the violence of the increasing storm. The coxswain, with great presence of mind, allowed the boat to drift to leeward for some distance, and then, knowing her sailing qualities, hoisted canvas and steered her close to the wind's eye, so as at last to reach the pier at Par. The boat behaved nobly under her canvas, without which she could not have reached the ships. The crew of the brig, despairing of the life-boat reaching them, proceeded to launch their boat, and 2 of the crew got on board; but so fearful was the aspect of the broken water, that one of the crew returned to the ship, and before the other could follow, the hawser snapped, and the boat, falling into the breakers, was swamped, The man clung to the boat; and the lifeboat's crew, abandoning the vessels for a time, pulled off and rescued him just as he was sinking. He was soon landed, along with a cat which had clung to him during his perilous situation. The life-boat again made for the barque, and her crew, including the master, 13 in all, were taken off and safely landed. The life-boat again proceeded on her errand of mercy, and after a severe struggle, the gale having increased in its fury, reached the brig, and took off the captain and 8 hands, and also landed them safely. They were also amply provided for.

The barque proved to be the Drydens, of North Shields, and the brig was the Wearmouth, of Sunderland. The crew were in the boat for 5 hours, and her behaviour was the admiration of all present, both sailors and landsmen.

We are compelled, by want of space, to postpone giving further details of the additional valuable services of the life-boats of the Institution, during the fearful storms of the last three months; but we append the following list:— List of the Services of the Life-boats of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION during the past year (1865):— Lives saved.