AT the Annual General Meeting of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the Mansion House, by the kind permission of the LORD MAYOR of London, on Thursday, the 28th of February, 1867, His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.G., in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee was read:— THE Committee of! the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION; with feelings of gratitude and satisfaction, once more present to its supporters and to the British Public their Annual Report.

The generous co-operation of their countrymen has now happily relieved them from all anxiety for the present efficiency of the Life-boat Service, so far as the same is dependent on pecuniary aid; and the confidence that is reposed in them, alike by the public and by the hardy boatmen of our coasts, with whose help they are enabled to effect the benevolent object for which the Society was instituted, affords them every encouragement in the prosecution of it.

The Institution has, during the past twelve months, continued to receive the noble assistance of inland towns and private individuals, by the presentation of the entire cost of Life-boats, so that an increasing number of these towns are now represented in this way by their own boats on the coast—a gratifying indication, not only of general sympathy with, the humane work of the Society, but probably also of a growing sense of the indebtedness of the whole of the inhabitants of these islands to our maritime population, and of the duty of protecting them, as far as possible, from the dangers of shipwreck on their own shores.

In the last Annual Report, the Committee expressed their gratification at the establishment in France of a Life-boat Society, founded on the same principles as our own, and that it then already possessed 11 self-righting Life-boats, built by Messrs.

FORRESTT, of Limehouse, under the superintendence of this Institution. It affords the Committee further pleasure to be able to report that that Society has now 17 Life-boat stations complete, and 8 others nearly so, whilst 7 more are in course of formation, so that, ere long, it will possess no less than 32 Life-boat establishments.

These boats are now all being built in France, on the plan of this Institution.

In a former Report it was stated that this Committee proposed to build and place, at selected stations, a few improved fishingboats, provided with safety fittings, hoping thereby to gradually introduce such improvements in the smaller class of coast fishingboats as might lead to a considerable diminution in the loss of life, which so frequently occurs from their being overtaken by gales of wind when at a distance from the land.

Two of these boats are now completed, and in the hands of trustworthy fishermen on the coast of Scotland, and three more will shortly be ready. At their next Annual Meeting, the Committee hope to be able to report satisfactory results from the experiment.

The Committee, actuated by the loyal ! feelings which so happily pervade all classes in this kingdom, ventured to invite His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES to preside at this their Forty-third Annual Meeting.

With that urbanity and kindness which ! distinguish him on all occasions, His Royal ! Highness most kindly and promptly acceded ENGLAND.

NORTHUMBERLAND YORKSHIRE NORFOLK . . .

SUFFOLK . . .

KENT SUSSEX , DORSET .

DEVONSHIRE / CORNWALL SOMERSET .

. Boulmer.

Blyth.

. Redcar.

. Mundesley.

Sheringham.

. Gorlestone.

Southwold.

. Margate.

. Winchelsea.

Brighton.

West Wittering.

. Chapman's Fool.

Lyme Regis.

. Brixham.

Braunton.

. Looe.

Fowey.

Falmouth.

St. Ives.

. Burnham.

Carriages have also been provided for most of the above boats, and boat-houses erected at all the new stations.

The Life-boats of the Institution now number one hundred and seventy-four.

They have been the means of saving four hundred and twenty~six lives during the past twelve months—nearly the whole of them under circumstances when no other description of boat could with safety have been employed in such a service.

XTp to the commencement of February, the Committee had hoped to be able to congratulate this Meeting on the entire exemption from accident in their Life-boat Fleet during the past twelve months, as until the 6th of that month no life had been lost. However, on that day, a fearful calamity happened to the crew of the Institution's Life-boat at Padstow, on the north to their request; and the Committee now beg to congratulate the supporters and wellwishers of the Institution on that auspicious event, and publicly to tender His Royal Highness their grateful thanks for the important favour he has thus bestowed on the Life-boat Cause.

The details of the work of the Institution during the past year may be thus summarised.

Life-boats.—Thirty-three new Life-boats have been built; of these, thirteen have been provided for new stations, and the remainder to replace worn out or inferior boats. They are stationed as follows :— WALES.

GLAMORGANSHIRE . Swansea.

MERIONETHSHIRE . Barmouth.

CARNABVONSHIKE . Portmadoc.

ANGLESEY .

CHESHIRE Llanddwyn.

New Brighton.

SCOTLAND.

ORKNET ISLANDS . . Stromness.

ELGINSHIRE . . . Lossiemouth.

IRELAND.

Co. Down .

DUBLIN CORK .

Tyrella.

Poolbeg.

Skerries.

Ballycotton.

Queenstown.

Courtmacsherry.

coast of Cornwall. The boat, while proceeding to the aid of the crew of the schooner Georgina, of Boston, U.S., wrecked on the Doom Bar, was upset, and although she immediately self-righted, her crew Were prevented from regaining her by the violence of the surf, and five of them unhappily perished —thus painfully reminding the Committee of the perilous character of the work which they have undertaken to guide and superintend.

Shipwrecks and Loss of Life.—Disasters at sea during the past year have been very numerous, and many of them were of a most distressing nature. It is only necessary to refer to the awful catastrophe to the Australian Screw Steamer London, on the llth of January, 1866; to the lamentable scenes about the same period in Torbay, and on other parts of the coast; to awaken sad remembrance of the peculiarly fatal character of these visitations.

No one who has witnessed a storm on our coasts, when the waves are mountains high, can have failed to be impressed with the terrific character of the scene, nor to think with feelings of the liveliest pity on those who are exposed to its fury. While every human effort to render aid is often baffled by the violence of the tempest, the niiud is penetrated with a sense of the mighty power of Him who " holdeth the waters in the hollow of His hand," and can say to the tossing billows, " Peace, be still!" The Wreck Register of the Board of Trade informs us that the number of shipwrecks during the past year was 1787, accompanied by the loss of 602 lives.

Great efforts continue to be made to render every possible assistance to shipwrecked crews.* And this assistance is by no means limited to the efforts of our hardy Life-boat men. Men of all ranks come forward not only to lend a helping hand, but also freely to risk their own lives to save the life of the drowning mariner.

As illustrative of this gratifying fact, the Committee have much satisfaction in. referring to the noble exertions of the Rev. CHARLES COBB, of Dymchurch, Kent, in rescuing from the rigging on Sunday morning, the 6th January last, one of the crew of the French lugger, Cannier de -Dieppe, which was wrecked off Dymchurch, in a strong gale of wind and heavy sea.

The Gold Medallion of the Institution has been voted to Mr. COBB, in testimony of his heroic exertions, and the Silver Medal to JoH!f BATIST, the Coastguard-man, who bravely helped Mr. COBB on that eventful occasion.

* The Life-boats of the Institution were instrumental in saving, in 1866, the Crews of the following wrecked vessels: Steamer Bessie, of Hayle 9 Barque Fictorine, of Ostend 1 Brig Ostp, of Fairae 1 Scnooner Black Agnes, of Shields ,. 3 Brigantlne Fremad, of Bergen 1 Schooner Laurel, of Goole 3 Brig Tartar, of Sunderland—Saved vessel and crew 8 Schooner George, of Goole—Saved vessel and crew 6 Brig Thoughtful, of Sunderland ... 8 Brig Jessie, of London 8 Brig ChtMre Witch, of London... 3 Schooner Zephyr, of Banff 6 Barque Lymun Cann, of St. John's 1 Ship Iran Crown, of Liverpool— Rendered assistance.

Brigantine Isabella, of Waterford— Assisted to Rave vessel and crew 5 Brig Pen, of Whitby 1 Barque Reliance, of Whitby 9 Smack Oty, of Wexford 6 Schooner Sarah Ann, of Jersey— Saved vessel and crew 6 Steamer Lady Beatrix, of Sunderland —Saved vessel.

Brig-fiUiw, of Lisbon 10 Flat Morning Star, of Carnarvon .. 3 G-alliot Johanna, of Soon, Norway 7 Ship Amsterdam, of Sunderland... 14 Brig MKurka, of Dundee 10 Brig Claudia, of Belfast-Saved Teasel and crew 7 Brig Vetta, of Whitby 1 Schooner Lender, of Liverpool— Assisted to save vessel and crew. 6 Billy Boy Giptey, of Wisbeach.... 4 Barque Julia, of Liverpool 9 Schooner Peerless, of AberysUrith. 5 Smack .Elizabeth, of Cardigan 6 Smack Jenny Jones, of Barmou th.. 5 Brigantfne Pearl, of Montrose— Saved vessel.

Schooner Ann, of Torquay 3 Ship Alarm, of Belfast 11 Brig n-ovidentia, of Svelvig 8 Smack Shamrock, of Wexford 6 Mary and Elizabeth, of Whiiby... 11 Schooner Treaty, of Goole—Saved vessel and crew 4 Steamer Carbon, of Newcastle— Saved vessel and crew 12 Yacht Oagmar, of Middlesboro'... 2 Ship Mary Roe, of Quebec 1 Lugger Betsy Ann, of Port Gordon 5 Brigantine «/eune Francois—Assisted to save vessel and crew 6 Brigantine Nicholas Banxa, of Hayle 8 Brigantine Columbia, of Carnarvon 5 Pilot Coble of Blakeney—Saved coble and crew :. 3 Fishing Smack Favourite, of Peel Isle of Man 8 Barque Volima, of Liverpool— Saved vessel 5 Barque Coriven, of Londonderry— Rendered assistance.

Schooner Margaret CaldicM, of Portrush 6 Sloop Pomona, of Ipswich 2 Sloop Superior, of Goole 2 Sloop Queen, of Goole 3 Sloop Cupid, of Goole 4 Schooner Anaconda, of Lerwick... 5 Schooner Swann, of Goole 4 Steamer Euda, of Loith —Assisted to save vessel and crew.

Schooner Coronation, of London .. 4 Schooner Toy, of Dundee 5 Barque Salmi—Assisted to save vessel and crew 16 Barque Margaret & Jane, of Shields a Barque Caroline BUsabetk, of London 13 Norwegian Barque Inga 13 Ship Himalaya, of Liverpool—Rendered assistance.

Smack Cymro, of Almwch 2 Lugger William and Mary, of Yarmouth 1 Brigantine Zilluh, of Liverpool- Saved vessel and crew s Ship Indus, of Maitland, N.S 2 Brig George, of Lowestoft 6 Shore-boat, of Wexford 9 Schooner Lion, of Goole 5 Brig A'a'pie, of London—Saved vessel and crew 8 Total Lives saved in 1866 by Liteboats , 426 During the same period the Institution has granted rewards for saving Lives by fishing and other boats.495 Grand Total 921 GENERAL SUMMARY FOR 1866.

Number of Lives rescued by Life-boats, in addition to 17 vessels saved by them Number of Lives saved by Shore-boats, tc.

Amount of Pecuniary Rewards for Saving Life during the Year .

Honorary Rewards: Silver Medals Votes of Thanks on Vellum and Parchment Total 4:6 495 £. t. a.

2,172 5 6 _ 41 921 £2,172 5 6 The Committee would also refer to the exertions on the same day, and at about the same hour, of the Rev. P. VYVYAN ROBINSON, of Llandewednack, who, while proceeding to church, heard of a fearful shipwreck at Mullion Cove, six miles from the Lizard Life-boat station. He immediately ordered the Life-boat out, and proceeded overland with it; but, unfortunately, it arrived too late, the whole of the crew having, sad to say, unfortunately previously perished.

The Committee have decided to establish forthwith a Life-boat station at Mullion Cove. The Wesleyan Methodists having collected the cost of a complete Life-boat station, in memory of the late Rev. D. J. DRAPER, an able and zealous minister of that connection in Australia, who unhappily perished in the ship London, in the Bay or Biscay last year, and who was a native of Cornwall, the Draper Life-boat will be placed at Mullion Cove.

In addition to the large number of 426 lives and 17 vessels saved exclusively by the Life-boats of the Institution, 495 lives were rescued last year by fishing-boats and other means—a result arising from the encouragement given by the Institution in rewarding all who are instrumental in saving life from shipwreck on our coasts.

This large number of 921 lives is independent of 350 lives saved by the Rocket Apparatus, worked by the Coastguard, and which is provided by the Board of Trade, by which apparatus 123 lives were saved, in a single instance, on the 3rd December last, from the wreck of the Swedish man-ofwar Oradd. That department continues to co-operate cordially with the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION in carrying out the great and national work it has undertaken to perform, and which has hitherto proved so successful.

The total number of lives saved during the forty-three years from the establishment of the Institution in 1824, to the end of'the year 1866, either by its Life-boats, or by special exertions for which it has granted rewards, is as follows :— In the Tear 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 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 Total 15,901 The Committee wish to express their thankfulness for this glorious harvest of human lives saved from a watery grave.

In the presence of facts like these, the Life-boat Institution need have no misgiving in respect to a continuance of that pecuniary support which has hitherto enabled it to pursue with unabated vigour and success the great and benevolent objects for the promotion of which it was established more than forty-three years ago.

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 16 Silver Medals, 25 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and parchment, and 2,1721. have been granted for saving the lives of 921 persons by lifeboats, shore and fishing-boats, and other means, on the coasts and outlying banks of the United Kingdom.

The Committee continue to devote their constant attention to these grants. Each case is previously carefully inquired into, through the co-operation of the Officers of Coastguard and Customs, the local Honorary Secretaries of the several Branches of the Institution, or other responsible persons; and afterwards it is thoroughly sifted and considered by a Sub-Committee, previous to its being dealt with by the General Committee. Our boatmen and fishermen know that their laudable services everywhere in saving life from shipwreck are promptly and liberally rewarded in proportion to the risk and exposure incurred; and in this way a spirit of emulation and activity is cherished on the coasts of the British Isles, productive of the best results to the shipwrecked sailor. j In this important work the Committee j have continued to receive the prompt and cordial co-operation of their active colleague, Commodore J. W. TARLETOU, R.N., C.B., Controller-General; also of Capt. G. W ODEHOUSE, R.N., Deputy-Controller-Genera], 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 167,570?., and has voted 83 Gold and 773 Silver Medals for saving life, and pecuniary rewards to the amount of 24,573?.

Local Committees.—The Committee acknowledge again the continued kind cooperation 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 1866 has been 41,718?.

Is. 4d.; and the Committee are grateful to be able again to announce, that of this sum no less than 16,974?. 12s. 4d. were special gifts to defray the cost of the following 35 Life-boats:— Mundesley— Grocers of England, per Wm. Reed, Esq .....

Hasborough— Collected in Huddersfield, by Thomas Cresswell, Esq..

Yarmouth, Ko. 2— X.Y.Z. . . .

Gorlestone — Collected in Leicester, by Mrs. Hodges, W. Green, Esq., and others .......

Quiver Life-boat Fund, per Messrs. Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, and Rev. Teignmouth Shore . . .

by Capt.

Southwild, JSio. 2.

£. s. d- 435 0 5 1,034 1 6 G20 0 0 708 13 4 Bonlmer—Collected in Nottingham, by Samuel Collinson, Esq., including 200/. from T.F. Gimson, Esq.

Blyth . . i Manchester Branch, T ™. w™:., I Per R- Whitworth, Lyme Regis and Rey_ £ Llanddwyn J Hewlett . . .

Runswick—Collected in Sheffield, by Aldermen T. Jessop, W. E.

Laycock, and R. Jackson . . .

Sheringham-—Miss Duncan . . .

d.

350 0 0 1,450 0 0 475 17 6 350 0 0 Margate Queenstown Aldborough— Collected Montagu Pasco, R.N.

Winchelsea—Solicitors' and Proctors' Life-Boat Fund, Collected by F. Ouvry, and W. M. Wilkinson, Esqrs Brighton—London Sunday School Life-Boat Fund, per C. Seare, Esq., and J. R. Burchett, Esq. .

West Wittering—Richard Thornton West, Esq. and Mrs. West . .

Chapman's Pool—E. M. S. . . .

Brixham—City of .Exeter Life-boat Fund, per Mr. T. B. Gibbs, W.

Brodie, Esq., and others .

Looe—The late Sir John Pollard Willoughby, Bart Fowey—Collected in Rochdale, by R. T. Heape, Esq Falmouth—Collected in Gloucester, by E. L. Kendall, Esq., 3 .P.: S. 11.

T. Mayer, Esq., and V. S.'Morwood, Esq Kayle — Oxford University Lifeboat Fund, per Rev. G. S. Ward Ilfracombe — Robert Broadwater, Esq., and Friends Burnham — Collected; in Cheltenham, by Rev. W. Hodgson, Capt.

Young, R.N., Mr. W. Witchell, and others Swansea — Collected in Wolverhampton, by Mr. S. Hand, and others Barmouth—E. P. S Port Logan—Edinburgh Working Men's Life-boat Fund, per R. M.

Ballantyne, Esq Lossiemouth —" Bristol Histrionic " Life-boat Fund, per Miss F. Hill, E. Austin, E. Hancock, Esqrs., and others Ballywalter—The Misses Meynell Ingram Poolbeg—"G. V. Brooke" Lifeboat Fund, per J. W. Anson, Esq., and others Wicklow— family of the late B. T.

Garden, Esq Cahore—General Sir George Bowles, K.C.B. (2nd Gift) Wexford, No. 2— Civil Service Lifeboat Fund, Collected by M. Goldsmith, and J. A. Dow, Esqrs.

Ballycotton—A Lady . . . .

Since the last Report the Institution lias received many gratifying donations, amongst which the following occur, the receipt of 1,878 1 11 431 5 0 350 0 0 550 0 0 620 0 0 300 0 0 642 2 0 420 0 0 531 18 2 450 0 0 475 0 0 471 9 10 G10 6 8 420 0 0 360 0 0 381 0 0 450 0 0 5UO 0 0 292 1G 0 GOO 0 0 265 0 0 300 0 0 252 0 0 which the Committee gratefully acknowledge :— 100/. from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, per Mr. Alderman COPELAND ; 100?. from JAMES EDWARDS, Esq., of Wolstanton; 101. from "A Sailor's Widow;" 51., "Almsgiving on Humiliation Day, from One who has not suffered loss by disease amongst his cattle or sheep;" 1621. 6s. 9d., additional, on account of the Simla Life-boat fund, which had been collected by Captain A. R. WESTOS, of the P. and O.

steamer of that name; 157?. 11s. from E. CHAMBERS, Esq., of Reigate, being the first instalment of the amount he is collecting towards defraying the cost of a Life-boat to be named the Reigate ; 21. 10s. from the officers and crew of the Sea Breeze, of London, per Captain T. R. HABEY ; 800?. from a benevolent lady (Mrs. H. H., of Bristol); 16?. 16s., from a collection made in the Volunteer camp, Lytham, at the suggestion of Colonel HAEGREAVES, after a sermon by the Rev. R.

ROBINSON ; 4001. from Miss H CTCHESSON, of Dover; 343?. 1«. llrf. from the Ancient Order of Foresters, per SAMUEL SHAVCROSS, Esq.; 100?. from Miss LYDIA HARRIS, of Peckham; 43?. 18s. 6d., in Donations, and 147Z. 7s. in Annual Subscriptions collected in the City of London, by E. ABSOLOH, Esq., of Rood Lane, and Snaresbrook; 50?. from Miss HAMILL, at the request of her late brother, JAMES HAMILL, Esq., of Ninch, Co. Meath; 50/.

from Miss RHODES ; 10?. from Lady H (a thankoffering) ; 50/. in aid of the Isle of Wight Life-boats from the Ryde Amateur Musical Society, being the proceeds of a concert by the Society; part of Balance of Accident Fund, by the Ship's Company of H.M.S Pylades, 51. 8s.; 1?. 7s. additionally collected by the late Master EDGAR BRADFORD GORKI E, "the Invalid Boy," and 51., the amount of his Legacy to the Institution; 100?. from " S. H. E.;" 51. in aid of the Norfolk Life-boats from the San dringham Estate Cottage Horticultural Society's Show Fund; 150?. 6s. 9rf. from the " Working Man" Life-boat Fund, per Messrs. Cassell, Fetter, and Galpin, and the Rev. TEIGNMOOTH SHORE, M.A.; 300?. from the DDKE or NORTHUMBERLAND, being a contribution out of arrears of Naval half-pay of the late DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND ; 100?. from C. D.; 100?. from Admiral the EARL OF CARYSFORT; 40?. from the Committee for conducting the Edzell Drawing of Prizes, 27th August, 1866; and 1,000?., through the Treasurer of the Manchester Branch (ROBERT WHITWORTH, Esq.), as an anonymous donation from "H. W." Legacies have been bequeathed to the Institution during the past twelve months by— £. s. d.

George Anstice, Esq., Chipping Norton 100 0 0 Joseph Blundell, Esq., Kingstonupon- Hull . . . . . . . . . 15 0 0 George Scott, Esq., Warborongh .

Richard Dalton, Esq., Wigton 50 100 o o I 0 0 i £. t. d.

John Barnard, Esq., Walworth . . 10 0 0 John Graham Gilbert, Esq., Torkhill 100 0 0 Mrs. Mary Ann Story, Kensington . 500 0 0 Samuel Travis, Esq., Cheltenham . 100 0 0 Miss Goodman, E v e r s h o l t . . . . GOO 0 0 Mrs. MacGregor, Camberwell . . 50 0 0 William Pearson, Esq., Tork . . . 20 0 0 Miss J. M. Laing, Abergele . . . 50 0 0 Mrs. Mary Clarke, King's Lynn . . 30 0 0 Master Edgar B. Corrie, Great Maplestead 500 Mrs. Anne Frith, Deptford. . . . 100 0 0 Mrs. E. Neilson, Newcastle, Co. Down 49 0 0 During the past year 18,844/. 2s. Id.

were expended on additional Life-boats, transporting-carriages, boat-houses, and necessary gear; 6,932i. 3s. 3d. on the expenses of repairs, painting, refitting, &c.; and 6,022Z. 13s. lOd. in rewards for services to shipwrecked crews, coxswains' salaries, and quarterly practice of the boats' crews; 1,072Z. 15s. for five safety Fishing-boats and their gear; making altogether, including liabilities amounting to 7.472Z. 9s. for Lifeboat Stations now in course of formation, and other expenses, a total of 42,344Z. 15s. lOd.

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 very 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, audited, as usual, by Mr. BEGBIE, the public Accountant.

The Institution has now under its charge 174 Boats, and it is only reasonable to expect, that in such a fleet frequent damages will take place, in addition to the fact that boats will decay every year from natural causes.

The operations of the Institution extend all over the British Isles, and the Committee are determined, with the continued blessing of Almighty God and the sympathy and support of the British public, to leave no effort untried that can assist in any way in lessening the annual loss of life on our shores.