This large number of 714 lives is entirely independent of the 180 lives saved by the rocket apparatus, which is worked by the Coastguard, and provided by the Board of Trade, who continue to co-operate heartily and zealously with the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

Altogether nearly 4,000 lives were saved last year from various shipwrecks in the seas and on the coasts of the British Isles by life-boats, the rocket apparatus, and various other appliances, such as steamers, ships' boats, fishing and shore boats, &c.

The Committee cannot abstain from expressing their deep sorrow at the calamitous loss of life from the foundering of the*iron steamship London, in the Bay of Biscay, during a fearful storm on the 11th. of January last. Like the wreck of the Royal Charter, in November 1859, when no less than 455 of her crew and passengers perished—the destruction of the & np London, with the loss of the brave Capt. Martin and the 220 people under his charge—has caused woe and lamentation in many a home in these lands.

" On the other hand," as the Times so eloquently remarked at the time, " there is one consolatory reflection, and one only, suggested by the sad records of the frightful disaster of the steam-ship London. If we are tempted to feel that man, with all his boasted triumphs over the forces of nature, is still but the sport of the elements when they put forth their full strength against him, we may find comfort in dwelling on the courage which, inspired by a sense of duty, raises even men of ordinary mould to the moral level of heroes and martyrs. Could a history be written of all the services rendered by the life-boats of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, it would contain more golden deeds than Plutarch and his successors ever culled from the annals of war." The total number of lives saved during the forty-two years from the establishment of the Institution in 1824, to the end of the year 1865, 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 1838 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 No. of Lives Saved.

124 218 175 163 301 463 372 287 310 449 214 364 225 272 456 279 353 128 276 236 193 235 134 In the Year 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1805 Total . . 14,980 Let any one think of the large number of human beings thus rescued, in numerous instances, from the very jaws of death, as in the service so nobly and perseveringly performed by the St. Ives life-boat before referred to; and let him think, on the other hand, of the fearful calamities that have overtaken the unhappy crews and passengers of the ships London, Royal Charter, and others, and he will then have some conception of the gratitude which British and foreign sailors, who are constantly exposed to such calamities, express to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION and its supporters, for the magnificent fleet of life-boats provided on our shores for their succour in the hour of their deep distress. And here it may be mentioned that the life-boats of the Institution have, during the past four years, been manned on occasions of service and quarterly practice by about 26,550 persons, and that out of that large number only six have lost their lives.

Rewards.—In the Appendix will be found a summary of the cases in which honorary and other rewards have been voted.

During the past year 9 Silver Medals, 27 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and parchment, and 1,790Z. have been granted for saving-the lives of 714 persons by lifeboats, shore and fishing-boats, and other means, on the coasts and outlying banks of the United Kingdom.

In reference to these grants, the Committee continue to devote the most assiduous attention to this important and interesting part of their duties. Each case is previously carefully inquired into, through the instrumentality of the Officers of Coastguard and Customs, the local Honorary Secretaries of the several Branches of the Institution, or other responsible persons; and afterwards thoroughly sifted and considered by a Sub-Committee, previous to its being considered by the General Committee.

Our boatmen and fishermen, all over the coast, know now that their exertions in saving life from shipwreck are promptly and liberally rewarded by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, in proportion to the risk and exposure incurred in the service; and in this way a spirit of emulation and activity is fostered and encouraged on the coasts of the British Isles, productive of the best results to the shipwrecked sailor.

In this important work the Committee have continued to receive the prompt and cordial co-operation of their active colleague, Commodore A. P. RYDER, R.N., Controller- General ; also of Capt. J. W. TARLETON, R. N., C. B., Deputy - Controller- General, and of the Officers and men of the Coastguard Service, to whom the best thanks of the Institution are hereby tendered.

Since the formation of the Society it has expended on life-boat establishments 136,881?., and has voted 82 Gold and 759 Silver Medals for saving life, and pecuniary rewards to the amount of 22,140?.

Local Committees.—The Committee acknowledge again 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 also to express their acknowledgments 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 year 1865 has been 28,932?.

3s. 3d.; and the Committee are grateful to be able again to announce, that of this sura no less than 9,254?. 6s..7d. were special gifts to defray the cost of the following 23 life-boats:— £. s. d.

Holy Island—Lady W 600 0 0 North Sunderland—Mrs. Anstice. . 400 0 0 Hauxley—Eleanor Duchess of Northumberland 450 0 0 Newbiggin—Miss Hopkinson . . . 400 0 0 Cullercoats—P. Reid.Esq 400 0 0 Tynemouth— Collected in Pontefract and Goole, by A. Hale, Esq., and W. Porter, Esq. . . . . • . 200 0 0 Sunderland—Collected in Derby by W. Peat, Esq., and others . . . 480 0 0 Bacton—A Lady, per T. Jones Gibb, Esq 300 0 0 Ramsgate—Collected in Bradford, by Charles Semon, Esq., ex-Mayor . 400 0 0 Kingsdown—William Ferguson, Esq. 300 0 0 Shoreham—Miss Robertson . . . 300 0 0 Hayling—Messrs. Leaf, Sons, and Co. 550 0 0 Worthing—Miss M. Wasey. . . . 582 0 0 Ilfracombe—George Jeremy, Esq., and Mrs. Jeremy 400 0 0 Aberdovey — Collected in Berkshire, by Capt. Stephens and others . . 489 16 8 Cemlyn—Mrs. Vernon 200 0 0 Whitehaven—Miss Leicester . . . 300 0 0 Maryport—Henry Nixson, Esq. . . 550 0 0 Castletown—Commercial Travellers' No. 2, per Messrs. Bishop, Affleck, and others 252 9 11 Peterhead—Dundee People's Journal} Arbroath—Ditto, No. 2—Collected by | 80° ° ° J. Leng, Esq., and W. D. Latto, Esq.J Anstruther—A Lady (H. H.) . . . 600 0 0 Courtown—Collected in Manchester, by Robert Whitworth, Esq., and others 300 0 0 , Amongst the many gratifying donations to the Institution since the last Report, occur the following, the receipt of which the Committee gratefully acknowledge:— Miss MARY ANN SANFORD, per HENRY WITTEY, Esq., Colchester, 500/.; JOSEPH PEASE, Esq., Darlington, ICO/.; Lady MAXWELL'S Box in the hall of her house, 3rd donation, 21. 15s.; the Quiver Magazine Life-boat Fund, per Messrs. CASSELL, FETTER and GALPIN, and the Rev. TEIGNMODTH SHORE (on account), 1,200/.; X. T. Z., 100?.; Offertory at St. James's Church, Ratcliffe, including 240 farthings, the savings of a Sailor's Widow, per Rev. J. MALCOLMSON, I/. Is.; Lady MARTIN, in memory of her Brother, the late Admiral Sir H. BYAM MARTIN, K.C.B., 1007.; collected by Master HENRY HALL, of Clevedon, and one or two of his Schoolfellows, 8s.; a Sailor's Daughter, per Messrs. DRUMMONDS, 4th donation, 1001.; F. BLOCKEY, Esq., for finding the body of a gentleman drowned off Baghdad, 51.; proceeds of the Devon and Cornwall Life-boat Bazaar, per Mr.

G. P. ROWELL, 464/. 5s.; W. GORE LASGTON, Esq.

lOW.; Indemnity Mutual Marine Insurance Company, 5th donation, 105/.; collected by Miss HABTON, Highbury, III. 11s.; collected by an Invalid Boy, per Kev. E. S. CUBBLE, Maplestead, 21. 16s.; proceeds of a Penny Beading at the Patterdale , Working Men's Reading-room, per Rev. W. T.

ROOKE, II. 17s. 6d.; the Dowager Lady CABEW, 10(M.; collected at Bristol by Mr. JOHN PARSONS, bookbinder, amongst his fellow-workmen, 11.; collected by a little Girl at St. Ives, per Mr. JAMES ] YOUNG, 10s.; Penny Readings' Committee at Blockley, per R. B. BELCHER, Esq., 51. 14s. 9 f.; ANNIE, for those in peril on the sea, II. Is.; Officers and Ships' Company of H.M.S. Peterel, per J. RICHARDS, Esq., R.N., f l. 10s.; Miss FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE, 20/., with her prayer "that God would continue to bless as he had so manifestly blessed the humane work of the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION ;" a Widow's mite, 2s. 6d.; the Ancient Order of Foresters, additional donation, 90/. Is.; a " Middle-class Man," 10W.; contributions in coppers by Pupils at Surrey House, Littlehampton, per G. NEAME, Esq., 21.; OSGOOD HANBDKT, Esq., a small token of respect to the memory of bis son, who was drowned ia H.M.S. Nerlnulda, wrecked off Cape AguiHas, 101. 10s.; Mr. Deputy TEGG, 100 Copies of Mr. N. MICHELL'S beautiful Poem "The Wreck of the Homeward Bound;" Children at the Worsley National School near Manchester, per Mr. J. BALDWIN, 12s.: from the Officers of the 7th Rifle Depot Battalion, Winchester, per R. NORTON CARTWRIGHT, Esq., 152. 3s. 6d.; City of Exeter Life-boat Fund, per Mr., T. B. GIBBS (first instalment) 4001. • the Sheffield Life-boat Fund, per T. JESSOP, Esq., 300/.: Scholars of Wesleyan Day School, Bristol, per Mr. MAWBEY, 101. 13s.; from Hamburgh, by "One Saved, with God's help, by a British life-boat from a wrecked steamer," S 1. ; Proceeds of a Concert given by some of the crew of H.M.S. Lizard, Oban, N.B., per Lieut. J. B.

TELFEE, R.N., 8/. 9s. 6d.; A Sailor's Widow, 0l.; collected from Seamen and others by the Agents of the sister Institution—The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Society, 90J.; the Oxford University Life-boat Fund, collected per Rev.

G. S. WARD (first instalment), 4001.; and the Cheltenham Life-boat Fund (first instalment), collected per Rev. W. HODGSON, and Capt. YOCNG, R.N., 400Z.

Legacies have been bequeathed to the Institution during the past twelve months by— £. «. d.

Capt. Hugh Brown, Kilmarnock, N.B. 100 0 0 John Thomas Roper, Esq., Woolwich 500 0 0 Mrs. Anne Warner, Widcombe . . 250 0 0 Miss Anne Frances Smith, Greenwich 50 15 0 Miss Mary Frances Woodburn, Kensington Park Gardens . . . . 300 0 0 William Boiling, Esq., Over Wallop, Southampton (Stock) £00 0 0 Richard Thornton, Esq., Old Swan Wharf, London Bridge . . . . 2000 0 0 Mrs.Frances Gates, Leamington Priors 5 0 0 £. s. d.

Samuel Horton, Esq., Priors Lee . . 100 0 0 Mrs. Mary Rustou, Kingston-upon- Hull 100 0 0 Miss Jemima Bennett, Sloane Street, Chelsea 90 0 0 John Jacobson, Esq., Glasson Dock, Lancaster 19 13 0 Capt. John Sykes, R.N., Bolsover Street, Portland Place . . . . 100 0 0 Mrs. Betty Coles, Tunbridge Wells . 50 0 0 Thos. Travers Taylor, Esq., Southport 500 0 0 James Davidson Shaw, -Esq., Newcastle- on-Tyne 400 0 0 William Chafyn Grove, Esq., Mere . 100 0 0 During the past year 16,259Z. 2s. lid were expended on additional life-boats, transporting-carriages, boat-houses, and necessary gear; 5,4781. 9s. lid. on the expenses of repairs, painting, refitting, &c.; and 4,986Z. Is. Id. in rewards for services to shipwrecked crews, coxswains' salaries, and quarterly practice of the boats' crews; making altogether, including liabilities amounting to 8,249Z. 2s. IQd. for Life-boat Stations now in course of formation, and other expenses, a total of 36.725Z. 17s. 4d.

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 Kailway and Steam Packet Companies, who have most liberally conveyed 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.

For a long period, the Committee have had the satisfaction to report that, year by year, the sphere of the operations of the Institution has continued to extend, and they are happy to be in a position also to state that the public support has fully corresponded with the extension of those labours.

The Committee would, however, strongly urge on all who recognise the sacredness of human life, the duty and even the privilege to help forward the life-boat work—a work which has hitherto been manifestly blessed by Providence, and which has brought relief to many thousands of men who, instead of being on this very day valuable members of the community, would have been long ago ingulfed in the raging waves of the tempest, leaving in many cases widows and orphans to suffer not only the misery of bereavement, but the pangs of destitution.