LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.—The life-boat Latitia was launched about midnight on the j 12th February, 1869, in reply to signals of distress from the brig Beatrix, of Whitby, j which was riding heavily in the Roads near Gorton Gapway, with her mainmast cut; away, during a strong N.E. gale. She was [ leaking fast, and, at the request of the master, j the life-boat remained alongside for some | time; and ultimately, with the aid of a steamer, she was enabled to get the vessel and her crew safely into Lowestoft Harbour. ! The Lowestoft life-boat also went out on the 3rd March, in reply- to signals of distress ) during a heavy N.N.W. gale, and brought ', safely ashore from the schooner Anna Louisa, of Rye, the crew of 8 men of the schooner I Amelia, of Torquay, the latter vessel having been wrecked on the Holm Sand.

CADGWITH AND LIZARD, CORNWALL.— On the 29th January the brig Veritos, of Antwerp, was observed with .signals of dis- tress flying, near the Manacles Rocks, on the Cornish Coast, during a whole gale from W.N.W. The life-boat Western Commer- cial Traveller at once put off, and on arriving alongside found the vessel in possession of 3 French fishermen, who had discovered her, abandoned, off Scilly the previous day.

Some of the life-boat men boarded the brig, and, with the assistance of two steamers, she was eventually got safely into Falmouth Harbour.

The Cadgwith life-boat was also launched early on the morning of the 9th February, in a very heavy gale, and proceeded under canvas to the assistance of a large ship which was observed with bowsprit and foremast gone, and in a disabled state, about seven miles to the S.S.E. of Cadgwith. After some difficulty, on account of much loose wire- rigging, broken suspended spars, and a heavy sea, the boat came up under the quarter of the vessel. She was the ship Calcutta, of London, which, while proceed- ing to the Persian Gulf with telegraph cable, and when about 150 miles south- west of the Lizard, had been disabled by collision with the Prussian barque Emma, of Memel. The life-boat succeeded in taking off 8 men. The captain, mate, and the rest of the crew had been drowned in attempting to leave the vessel in their own boat, which was stove against the side of the ship. The 8 men welcomed with cheers the approach of the life-boat, having been beaten about so long with no means of escape. The vessel being in the trough of the sea, under no command, and rolling heavily, it required the strength of all hands to keep the life-boat clear of her. The vessel was subsequently brought into port by H.M.S. Terrible, and yielded a large amount of salvage to the officers and crew of that ship. The Lizard life-boat Anna Maria also went off with the view of ren- dering assistance to the ship. Both life- boats were obliged, in consequence of stress of weather, to put into Falmouth.

At daylight on the 12th September the brig Phillis and Mary, of Blyth, which had been dismasted during a fearful hurricane the previous night, was observed, with signals of distress flying, off this coast. The life- boats stationed at Cadgwith and the Lizard were both quickly launched to the rescue of the vessel's crew. The Cadgwith life-boat, having both wind and tide in her favour, got alongside the vessel first, and having placed one man on board, proceeded to Falmouth under canvas, and returned with a pilot. The brig was then worked into Falmouth and safely anchored. The life- boat afterwards put to sea again in the teeth of the gale, but finding it impossible to reach her station at Cadgwith, put into Porthoustock, where she remained until the following day. The Lizard life-boat, when she went off, had an ebbing tide to contend with, and a very heavy sea, which was increased by the tide acting against the wind. The boat, however, was reported to have behaved splendidly, and was fast overhauling the vessel when the Cadgwith life-boat was seen to run alongside.

HAYLING ISLAND, NEAR PORTSMOUTH.— On the 1st February the barque Lady West- moreland,of Newcastle, owing to the darkness and thick weather, grounded in a high sea on a dangerous shoal near the Church Bock, inside the Nab Light. As the tide rose she bumped heavily and started her deck-planks, the masts being momentarily expected to go by the board. The Olive Leaf life-boat went off, and found the crew prepared to quit the ship, expecting that she would soon break up. The life-boat men, however, boarded the vessel, and, after great exertion and fatigue, the anchor was slipped, and she was extricated from her perilous position. The life-boat was reported to have behaved ad- mirably on the occasion.

MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND. — The brig Robert Bruce, of Belfast, while attempting, on the 7th February, to get into Maryport Harbour, fell to leeward and struck the ground to the northward, and although the anchors were let go, she beat up into the sur£ The sea made a clean breach over her, and the crew, being afraid she would capsize, cut away the masts. The Henry Nixson life-boat was soon launched, and taken alongside the vessel. The grapnel was cast on board, but the surf was so heavy that it straightened the iron, and dashed the boat away. A second time it was thrown, but the rope was broken from the same cause: eventually, however, they suc- ceeded in taking off the shipwrecked crew of 7 men, but not before the vessel had actually begun to break up, and the floating masts and yards had rendered it very dan- gerous for the boat to near the wreck.

The life-boat behaved "remarkably well," it was said, while effecting this providential rescue.

MARGATE.—It blew a hurricane here from N.N.W. on the 12th February. About seven o'clock in the evening the schooner Friends, of West Hartlepool, went ashore near the jetty. The Quiver life-boat promptly went out to her through the very heavy sea then running, and was fortunately enabled to save the shipwrecked crew of 5 men, the boat, however, being somewhat damaged in performing the service.

The same life-boat was also afloat on the 20th March, during a heavy gale from N.N.E., and was the means of bringing ashore the crew of 4 men of the distressed barge Earnest, of Ipswich, which after- wards stranded inside the Neyland.

Another service was also performed by this life-boat on the 12th September, in going off to the assistance of a sloop which was observed with a signal of distress flying a short distance below the jetty, while a heavy gale from W.N.W. was blowing.

Before she could reach her, however, the sloop took the ground, and her crew were taken off by a coastguard boat. The life-boat then proceeded to the help of other vessels seen with signals of distress flying, and succeeded, with the assistance of a steam-tug, in saving the schooner Lady Anne, of West Hartlepool, and her crew of 5 men from destruction. She had lost both anchors, and had most of her sails blown away.

THURSO, N.B.—The schooners William Thomson, of Dumfries, and Blossom, of Thurso, were in distress during a W.N.W.

gale in Scrabster Roads on the 13th Feb- ruary. The Polly life-boat went off, and brought safely ashore the crews, consisting of 7 men. The crew of the William Thomson had previously left their vessel in their own boat, fearing she would founder, and had gone on board the Blossom.

On the 26th February this life-boat also went to the assistance of the schooners Elizabeth Miller, of Thurso, and Matilda Colder, of Findhorn, which were in distress during a heavy gale. The crews, consisting of 12 men, were brought ashore in the life- boat through a high sea.

The same boat also rendered similar' service, on the 26th October, to the crew of the brig Supply, of Stornoway, which was seen in distress, with signals for help flying, in Thurso Bay, during a heavy northerly gale. When the vessel was reached the seas were breaking completely over her, but fortunately the life-boat was successful in saving the crew of 7 men, and in landing them in safety.

WINCHELSEA, SUSSEX. — A vessel was seen from this place on the 14th February, apparently unmanageable, and showing sig- nals of distress. Soon afterwards she ran ashore at the east side of Rye Harbour. It was blowing strong from W.S.W., and there was a heavy sea running at the time.

The Solicitors' and Proctors' life-boat Storm Sprite was promptly launched and reached the vessel soon after she struck. The crew of 8 men were then taken into the boat; one of them fell into the sea in trying to reach her, but he was fortunately hauled into the boat without hart. About twenty minutes after the men had been rescued, the vessel heeled over on her beam ends and became a total wreck. She was the brig Pearl, of Shoreham, homeward-bound from the North, with coals.

NORTH DEAL.—While the wind was blowing a gale on the 24th February, the Gull Light-ship fired signals of distress for a ship on the Goodwin, and the Van Kook life-boat was at once launched, and proceeded to the sands, when the ship Ingrie, of Amsterdam, bound to Savannah, in ballast, was found stranded near the Trinity Beacon, on the east of the Good- win." Three luggers were alongside, and their crews had received charge of the vessel from the master, but as there was every appearance of her becoming a wreck, the captain asked that the life-boat might be kept alongside. To this the crew | readily consented, but unfortunately the I life-boat took the ground, and had to lie dry till the tide flowed again. The wind freshening to a strong gale with the rising tide, and the sea rolling heavily on the sands, several of the crew left in the taggers with their clothes. The master, 2 mates, and 6 of the crew were afterwards taken into the life-boat, and, as the wind and tide were against her returning to her station, she was obliged to run to Rams gate, where the men were safely landed about nine o'clock in the evening.

AYR, N.B.—On the 4th March, the schooner Doddtngtan, of Dumfries, was obliged, in consequence of the severity of the weather, to ran for Ayr Harbour, when she struck on the Nicholas Bock, This rock is about four hundred yards from the south pier, and is covered with the tide.

About, midnight, the crew of 2 men, by the direction of the master, came on shore in the small boat to obtain assistance to get the vessel on leaving only the master on board. In the meantime it came on to blow very hard, and the pilot-boat was unable to poll off to the vessel. As the captain was in imminent danger, the life- boat Qlasgt)io Worhnan was launched, went out to the schooner, and happily succeeded in saving him a few minutes before the vessel capsized and became a total wreck.

PAKEFIELD, SUFFOLK. — On the 6th March the schooner James Cuckow, of Ips- wich, went ashore on the Barnard Sand, daring a fresh gale from N.N.E. The life- boat Sisters was promptly launched to the wreck, and was fortunately the means of rescuing the whole of the crew, 7 in number, and of safely landing them in Lowestoft Harbour.

This life-boat also went off on the 22ud March and rendered important services to the brig Henrietta 6reve, of Granton, which, daring a fresh gale from E.N.E., had grounded in Pakefield Gatway, but which was got off and taken to port with all the crew safe on board.

BRIXHAM, DEVON.—The brigantiue Si- tena, was observed with signals of distress flying and drifting towards the rocks off Brixbam, during a heavy gale of wind on the 19th March. The City of Exeter life- boat was quickly manned and launched, pulled with a will through a high sea, and was soon alongside the vessel. One of the brigantine's crew, having broken his arm, was brought ashore in the life-boat, which then went oft" again and remained by the vessel until the gale abated, when she was enabled to get away in safety. '

FISHGUARD, SOUTH WALES. — On the morning of the 19th March the schooner Man/ Lloyd, of Carnarvon, came into Fish- guard Bay, and anchored in a very exposed part of it. In the afternoon, the wind sud- denly shifted to the N.N.E., and blew a terrific gale, the sea soon washing com- pletely over the vessel. The Sir Edward Perrott life-boat was immediately got ready to go to the assistance of the crew. It being low water at the time, considerable difficulty was experienced in getting her afloat, but at last she" was launched in safety. After going some distance, how- ever, the crew of the boat found it im- possible to make headway against the fear- ful storm, and they were forced to return to land, which they reached in a most exhausted state, A fresh crew was then obtained, and the oars being double-manned, the life-boat soon shot ahead, reached the vessel, and rescued the crew of 4 men, who were brought safely ashore. Nothing could exceed the admirable manner in which the boat and her brave crews behaved. The schooner ultimately stranded on the Good- wick Sands. The next morning, the wind continuing to blow a strong gale, a brigan-tine came into the bay in a distressed state, with all her sails blown away. The life- boat at once went to her assistance, and found her crew completely exhausted.

Some of the life-boat men went on board and assisted to make the vessel all snug.

After doing so, the crew of 6 men deter- mined to come ashore in the life-boat, it not being safe for them to remain, and they were accordingly safely landed. The bri- gantine was the Rebecca, of Carnarvon.

On the 26th October, while it was blowing a heavy gale from the north, with a high sea on, two vessels at anchor in the roadstead hoisted signals of distress. The same valuable life-boat was immediately launched, and went to their assistance.

She first went alongside a schooner, which proved to be the Two Sisters, of Aberyst- with. The crew, 3 in number, were soon got on board the boat, which then went to the aid of the other vessel, which was found to be the smack David, of Cardigan, and her crew of 3 men were also taken into the boat, and both crews safely landed on Goodwick Beach. The boat behaved most admirably. The schooner afterwards went down at her anchors in about five fathoms of water.

HAYLE, CORNWALL.—The brig Lizzie, of Newport, Monmouthshire, was stranded on the eastern spit of Hayle Bar, during a violent storm from the north, with showers of hail, on the 20th March. The Oxford University life-boat Isis went out, in reply to her signals of distress, and rescued the crew of 3 men. The brig had called at Queens- town for orders, and was bound for Shields, when she was overtaken by the storm, and struck on the stones off Hayle. The master, finding the vessel making a good deal oi water, beached her on the eastern spit oi the Bar, the tide being about three hours' ebb. The vessel showed a white light only, but between two and three o'clock the crew displayed a torch, which was answered by the Coastguard, between Hayle and St.

Ives, who fired a blue light. Information was immediately sent to both places that a vessel was apparently ashore near the Bar.

The usual signals were made by firing two minute-guns, and sending up two signal- rockets for the crew of the boat and the life brigade, and they soon mustered. The latter were a£ the spot first, and fired two rockets towards the vessel, but could not reach her ; and seeing that it was useless to make any further attempt, all attention was devoted to the life-boat, which was launched opposite the ferry. After a struggle which asKed for two hours, she reached the vessel, and received a rope from the crew, who were ready with it. One man also managed to get into the life-boat, but the boat was then carried away by the heavy sea. Again she neared the ship, when, two others of the crew dropped into the boat from the jib- boom. After many gallant struggles in this manner, the whole of those on board the ship were saved. Sometimes the men fell into the .water, but the brave life-boat men succeeded, with much difficulty, in rescuing them. With a good hearty cheer, the boat then made for the shore with her precious cargo, and reached the harbour in safety, after about four hours' most noble and trying service. While the boat had been thus en- gaged, the St. Ives life-boat—the Moses— had come over by land on her carriage, and had been launched with the view of aiding in the rescue of the shipwrecked crew; but finding the other boat was able to perform the service without their assistance, the men contented themselves with remaining near, to be in readiness in case of any mishap.

ST. IVES, CORNWALL.—After the Moses life-boat had returned to her station from the wreck of the Lizzie, a vessel was seen in distress in the offing. The boat was launched to her assistance; on reaching her it was found that she was in a leaky state, and likely to go on the rocks. The crew of 5 men were then taken into the life-boat and safely landed. Shortly afterwards the vessel dragged her anchors, went on the rocks, and became a total wreck. She was the schooner Ariel, of Truro, and was laden with coal.

SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.—During a heavy gale from E.N.E. on the 20th March, the schooner Frances Ann, of Goole, anchored off this place. Soon afterwards the master, find- ing the vessel had sprung a leak and that her pumps were choked, slipped the cable and made for the shore, hoisting at the same time a signal of distress. The Duncan life-boat was immediately launched, reached the schooner before she took the shore, and saved from her the crew, consisting of the master, 1 man, and a boy. The behaviour of the life-boat and crew in this service was admirable.

Another rescue was effected at this life- boat station on the 19th October. The schooner Trusty, of Boston, was stranded off Eunton about a mile and a-half eastward of Sheringham Beaeli. It was blowing a fearful gale from the NJST.E. at the time.

The life-boat put off as soon as it was seen that the schooner mast inevitably go ashore; she found the crew in the rigging, the seas having completely cleared the vessel's deck, at times hiding her from view. She suc- ceeded in taking off the crew of 3 men, and in landing them in safety.

PALLING, NORFOLK.—On the 20th March, the brig Zosteria, from London to Hartle- pool, in ballast, was observed in distress off this place while it was blowing a strong gale from E.N.E., accompanied by heavy rain. The Parsee life-boat was at once taken along the coast in the direction of the vessel. On arriving opposite her the boat was launched, and was fortunately success- ful in saving the crew of 6 men. The vio- lence of the gale afterwards drove the brig on the beach.

ILFRACOMBE, DEVON.—On the afternoon of the 20th March this coast was suddenly visited by a tremendous storm from the N.N.W., and shortly afterwards information arrived that a iarge vessel was in a most precarious position off Morte Stone, a dan- gerous reef some distance from this life-boat station. The Coast-guard immediately pro- ceeded to the spot, and about seven o'clock their officer sent word to Ilfracombe that the barque Drago, of Genoa, with her masts cut away, was at anchor, and requested that a steam-tug and the life-boat Braad- water should be at ouce despatched to her assistance. It happened that at the time a steamer was in the harbour, tat she had only recently entered it, and had encountered so much, danger in doing so, that the captain declared that a thousand pounds would not induce Mm to pat to sea whilst the storm lasted. It was quite impossible for the boat to get out unassisted, and nothing remained but to wait At two o'clock on the fol- lowing morning an attempt was made to get the boat out, bat at that early hoar it was fonnd impossible to get sufficient assist- ance to launch her, and the attempt had again to be deferred. However, at half- past ten o'clock the boat pat to sea, and after s a hard straggle, lasting four hours, succeeded in reaching the wreck, and in taking oat of her the crew of 13 men and 2 boys, and the pilot, all of whom were safely landed at'Ilfraeombe. Great risk was ran in taking the men out of the barque, occasioned by her proximity to that most dangerous reef, Morte Stone, the swinging of the ship, and the mass of spars floating around her. At one time the boat was nearly gone. She encountered great peril, too, on her way back, in tow of a steam- tag, laden as she was with 16 men, in addition to her own crew. The exer- tions of Mr. MAOTE, a barrister on the Western Circuit, and a member of the Local Life-boat Committee, in getting the crew together, &c., were beyond praise; he him- self made up a deficiency in the number of the crew by taking an oar in the life-boat.

Lieut. WILLIAMS, R.N., the officer of Coast- guard, was also very active in endeavouring to get the boat to sea at half-past six, A.M. ; but at that time she could not be got round the point. The boat lost her anchor ttnder the keel of the barque, and had two oars broken in this service.

The Ilfracombe life-boat also went off twice on the 19th October, and saved the sloop Ann JElizabeth, of Barnstaple, and the brigantine Commodore, of Waterford, and their crews, consisting of 8 men.

During a strong gale from the north, and in a heavy sea, the sloop was seen in a very perilous position about a mile and a half to the N.W. of Capstan Hill. The life-boat went out to her, and, having placed 2 men on board, she and her crew were brought safely into harbour. While entering, she very nearly foundered, having shipped a quantity of water. About half an hour afterwards the brigantine was seen with signals of distress flying, about four miles off the shore; and the life-boat was again launched, and, having placed a portion of her crew on board, accompanied the vessel into harbour. Her mainsail, foresail, and jib-boom, were gone; and the master, who was ignorant df the coast, said he must have run his vessel on shore but for the assistance of the life-boat. His crew were much exhausted, HOLTHEAB.—This life-boat, which is named the Princess of Wales, went off twice and rendered valuable assistance to the barque Adelaide, of Pernambuco, bound theace from Liverpool with a cargo of cotton, which was in a very dangerous posi- tion near the Ciipera Rocks during a heavy gale from the N.W. with a tremendous sea, on the 2nd March. The winS shifting to the N.N.E., and it being feared "the vessel would strike the ground and go to pieces at low water, it was resolved to make an NOVEMBER 1,1870.] THE LIFE-BOAT.' 547 effort to run her into Holyhead Harbour Some of the life-boat men therefore went on board, sail was made, the cables slipped and, being well handled, the barque ran in in most masterly style, to the admiration of all who witnessed the scene.

WEXFORD, IRELAND.—On the 8th Ma_ the schooner Handy, of Wexford, was stranded in the South Bay during a strong N.E. gale and in a very heavy sea. The Civi Service life-boat went off and rescued 4 men of the vessel's crew. Owing to the violence of the sea, the crew of the life- boat found it impossible, after they had effected the rescue, to keep her off the shore, upon which she was driven with great force, but fortunately those on board escaped unhurt. The remainder of the vessel's crew, 2 in number, left in their own boat, which was also dashed ashore, the men narrowly escaping with their lives.

This life-boat was also taken out on the 5th December to the schooner Columbine, of Wexford, which in running for Hantoon Channel, the entrance to Wexford Harbour, while the wind was blowing hard from the east, and the sea running high, struck the ground and showed signals of distress. On arriving alongside, the brave life-boat men found the sea breaking over the wreck, which was rolling heavily, the masts being likely to fall every moment. After many attempts and much exertion, the life-boat running great danger of being smashed alongside, the vessel's crew of 5 men were happily rescued and brought safely ashore in the boat.

There is also a large life-boat on this station, named the St. Patrick, and that boat, on the 26th September, put off to the assistance of the ship Electric Spark, of Boston, U.S., which was observed off the coast with signals of distress flying, during a strong wind from W.S.W. By the time the boat reached the vessel the latter had gone ashore near Blackwater Head, and the services of the boat were readily accepted by the master, who stated that the ship had struck on a rock early that morning near the Saltees, and was in a sinking state, having fourteen feet of water in the hold. The crew of the life- boat worked all day in assisting to save cargo, stores, &c., and also took off 21 of the crew and the master's wife, and placed them in safety on board the steam-tug Erin. The remainder of those on the vessel were saved by other means. The ship subsequently became a total wreck.

The Cahore and Courtown life-boats were likewise launched to this wreck, but the Wexford boat reached it first, and con- sequently their services were not required.