RAMSGATE AND BROADSTAIRS, KENT.—On the 20th Oct., 1869, the ship Frank Shaw, of North Shields, was totally wrecked, during a very heavy gale of wind, on the Goodwin Sands. She had sought shelter in the Downs, but was compelled .to slip her cable and try fresh anchorage off the North Foreland. On the morning of the 19th October she rode very heavily in the gale; the decks were full of water fore and aft, everything was being washed away, and she was settling down at her anchors. It was found necessary, there- fore, to slip her second anchor and ninety fathoms of cable. The ship was then run before the wind, and the crew got another anchor ready; but about two o'clock the vessel struck on the North Sand Head: the sea began to make a clean breach over her, and in fifteen minutes she broke in two—the masts, sails, and rigging being gradually washed away. All hands crowded aft for safety, and signals of distress were made. The Broadstairs life-boat Samuel Morrison Collins, and the Ramsgate life-boat Bradford, were soon on the spot; but the waves dashed over the ship so heavily and incessantly that it was found impossible to reach her then, and as the tide fell, both the boats grounded on the Goodwin, to leeward of the vessel. The ship's crew now endeavoured to launch the gig, but it was at once dashed to pieces by the waves. Another boat was then launched, and 6 of the crew got into her, landed on the Sands, and waded to the Broad- stairs life-boat. Another of the, crew was then sent, with a life-buoy, through the surf on to the Sands. The rest followed, and waded through the fearful surf to the life-boats, 200 yards distant. The current across the Sand was very strong, and 7 of the poor fellows were swept away and, unhappily, perished. One man succeeded in reaching the Ramsgate life-boat. The remaining 13 men rescued were on board the Broadstairs life-boat.

Both boats had to wait until the tide flowed before they could beat off the Sands to the steam-tug Aid, which had towed the Ramsgate life-boat out. It was ten o'clock at night before they were towed into harbour. The utmost excitement prevailed amongst the crowds assembled on the pier, and the life-boats on their arrival were greeted with ringing cheers. The poor shipwrecked fellows were in a terribly exhausted condition.

Shortly after the life-boats were brought into the harbour several rockets were fired from the Gull light-ship. The Ramsgate life-boat was quickly manned by a fresh crew, with the exception of the gallant coxswain JARMAN, who again took command of the boat. She then put to sea in tow of the Aid; but, after cruising about for some hours, nothing could be seen of the vessel supposed to be in dis- tress, and the life-boat returned to harbour about two o'clock in the morning, at which time it was blowing a perfect hurricane.

Again on the 27th October were the noble life-boat Bradford, and her consort, the steamer Aid, taken out on their mission of mercy. This time it was in response to signals of distress from the barque Emilie, of Swinemunde, which had drifted from her moorings off the North Foreland, close to the edge of the Goodwin Sands, on that night. She was on the point of striking when the life-boat arrived alongside, but the crew paying out more chain, she held by her anchors. The pilot at first re- fused to have anything to do with the life-boat, and fired off rockets for a steam- tug. The boatmen, however, knowing the vessel's danger, remained alongside until three o'clock in the morning, exposed all the time to the bitterly cold wind and the raging sea, when they threatened to leave the vessel to her fate. The pilot then consented that the ship should be taken in tow by the steam-tug Aid, and her anchor being slipped, she was brought safely into harbour with the life-boat.

DONNA NOOK, LINCOLNSHIRE.—On the 19th Oct., during one of the worst gales experienced on this coast for years, the steam-whaler Diana, of Hull, was observed stranded on the Slate Run. The wind was blowing a perfect hurricane from the north at the time. The life-boat North Briton was quickly manned and launched, and succeeded in bringing safely ashore 25 of the crew, the remaining 6 men landing in one of their own boats, with the life-boat's assistance.

The next tide the vessel went to pieces, and the valuable cargo of oil and whale- bone was strewn along the shore.

Soon after the life-boat had returned, another vessel, the schooner Blue Jacket, of Newcastle, was seen endeavouring to ride out the storm, which, however, she did not succeed in doing, as she soon drove on shore. The life-boat was again launched; and the crew made a gallant j effort to reach the wreck; but the force i of the wind and sea was so great that the ' boat was beaten back. A second, third, and fourth attempt was made, but with the same result. The men were by this time nearly exhausted by their determined and gallant endeavours to reach the wreck; but a fifth attempt was being made to launch the life-boat, when the vessel began to break up, and in a few minutes was a complete wreck, and all on board unhappily perished. The oldest inhabitants on that part of the coast stated that they never remembered so terrific a gale. The beach was literally strewn with pieces of wreck, and the cargoes of these vessels, and of others wrecked on I that part of the coast.

i On the 27th October, another severe 1 gale sprang up from the N.N.E., and the ! barque Bertolemeo Cerruti, of Genoa, which ! was riding at anchor, was observed to I drift rapidly on shore, the sea soon ; making a complete breach over her. The I life-boat was quickly launched; but the sea, wind, and tide drove her to the southward at a fearful rate, when she was got ashore again as soon as possible, and ', plenty of help being at hand, she was ! taken on her carriage to windward of the , wreck and launched again, but with the I same result at first, all attempts to throw : a line or buoy being of no avail. With heroic determination, however, the crew strenuously renewed their exertions, which ! were at last crowned with success, for, I amid the most intense anxiety on the | part of the crowds on shore, the boat, which was frequently seen to be thrown i almost end-over-end by the heavy sea, was observed to linger, by which it was evident she answered to her anchor, which had been thrown out. She was then allowed to drift right under the bows of the wreck. Some of the shipwrecked men were on the bowsprit ready with .. ropes and chains, which one of the life- boat men succeeded in grappling and in making fast to the boat. The sea at this time was running over the ship in a fearful manner, and two of the crew had a very narrow escape of being washed overboard. Now commenced the difficulty of getting the poor fellows into the life-boat. It was a difficult task, as they could only reach the life-boat when she was under the bowsprit, and then only by lowering themselves by ropes. One fell into the sea, but was quickly hauled into the boat. One after another they dropped into the arms of the life-boat men, until the whole of the vessel's crew, 14 in number, were got into the boat, which brought them safely to land. The vessel almost immediately began to break up, and soon afterwards not a vestige of her was to be seen; and had not the life-boat succeeded in reaching her at the time she did, all these poor foreigners would most probably have perished.

RYE, SUSSEX.—On the 7th April, 1869, the Arthur Frederick FitzRoy life-boat, on this station, went off to the barque Columbia, of Stavanger, which, during a high wind and dense fog, had run ashore opposite the life- boat house, soon after midnight. The vessel was got off, and, at the request of the master, the life-boat accompanied her to Dover Harbour, which was safely reached.

CEMLYN, ANGLESEY. — The schooner Sally Green, of Liverpool, stranded near this life-boat station during a fresh gale from E.S.E. on the 30th April. She would probably have previously sunk and become a total wreck, had not the Sophia life-boat gone off to her, and put some men on board, who worked at the pumps and kept her afloat until she could be beached in a safe position, which would not otherwise have been the case.

ANSTRUTHER, N.B.—On the 15th June, a messenger on horseback arrived at Anstruther from Fifeness, having been de- spatched for the life-boat by the coastguard there, in consequence of observing a brigantine with her foretopmast and topgallant- mast gone, and the ensign at the maintop- mast head Union down. The life-boat Admiral FitzRoy had been only newly painted, was not quite dry, and, with the exception of the air-boxes, everything was out of her. The gear was, however, all put on board, and the boat launched in ten minutes after the receipt of the message. The life-boat got alongside the vessel, which was the brigantine Isabella, of Aberdeen, but found her services were not, after all, required, the weather by that time having moderated. The captain, nevertheless, took one of the life-boat's crew as a pilot, and proceeded up the Firth. The alacrity with which the boat was manned and launched excited the admiration of every one, and was very gratifying.

NORTH BERWICK, N.B.—The life-boat at this place, named the Caroline, was off on the same day to the brig /. C. Howitz, of Rostock, which was overtaken by the gale and driven on the rocks about half a mile from the shore. There was a very heavy sea running at the time, but the life-boat soon rescued the vessel's crew of 8 men from their perilous position. The brave conduct of the life-boat men on this occasion was highly commended by the local residents.

On the 16th October, the schooner Astrea, of Konigsberg, Norway, was observed drift- ing towards the rocks near North Berwick, during a strong gale from the N.E. The life-boat went off and brought ashore the vessel's crew of 6 men.

RUNSWICK, YORKSHIRE. — The fishing- coble Mary, of Hartlepool, was seen in a helpless condition drifting on the Kettleness Reefs, in the south part of Runswick Bay, soon after daylight on the 16th June, while a heavy gale was blowing from the N.E.

and a high sea running. The life-boat Sheffield went out and rescued the crew of 3 men and a boy. After landing the coble's crew in safety, the life-boat again put off to the assistance of two other cobles—the Kingfisher and the William and Alice, both of Hartlepool. The life-boat assisted them clear of the reefs, but in taking the beach the King- fisher had her bottom completely smashed in. The 10 men in these two boats, how- ever, reached the shore in safety. All three boats had lost their nets and gear during the storm of the previous night.

SOUTHPORT, LANCASHIRE.—On the 8th August, the schooner William Wallace, of Dundalk, was observed at daylight to be stranded on James's Bank, during a strong wind from W.N.W. The life-boat Jessie Knowles put off and remained alongside until the tide rose, when the vessel floated and was taken into Lytham with the assistance of the life-boat's crew.

PADSTOW, CORNWALL.—Very early on the morning of the 12th September, a most furious gale suddenly sprang up on this coast. A few hours afterwards the wind had somewhat moderated, and the lugger Isabelle, of Dinan, France, attempted to enter Padstow Harbour, but, unfortunately, she ran on the Doom Bar Sand. The City of Bristol life-boat Albert Edward was promptly launched, proceeded off to the vessel, and saved the crew of 4 men. The lugger soon afterwards drifted over the bar, and sank in deep water.

WORTHING, SUSSEX.—While the wind was blowing hard from the S.W. and a heavy sea was running, a ship was re- ported to be in distress about five miles from this place, on the 19th September. The Jane life-boat was immediately launched and proceeded to the vessel, which proved to be the fishing smack Active, belonging to Selsey, without any person on board, she having evidently parted from her anchor during the night. Three of the crew of the life-boat then boarded her, and brought her safely to Worthing. The life-boat, on her return, also picked up a boat, keel uppermost, having marked on her stern, " Brave Chillon, Boulogne." Finding the owner of the smack was a poor man, and that he and his brother were members of the Selsey life-boat crew, the claim to salvage for saving the vessel was readily foregone by the crew of the Worthing life-boat, the Parent Institution granting them the usual day-service payment.

BURNHAM, SOMERSET. — The schooner Prudence, of Watchet, while attempting to make the port of Burnham too soon on the tide, during a strong wind from W.N.W., and in a heavy sea, on the 21st September, look the ground on the south side of the channel, then dragged over the sands for about three miles, and finally brought up at the back of Sturt Island. The life-boat Cheltenham went out, and on arriving along- side, found the sea was making a complete breach over the vessel, and that the crew of 3 men, who were in great peril, had taken refuge on the bowsprit. They were in a very benumbed and exhausted state when taken into the life-boat, the night being cold and the men very wet.

This life-boat was also taken out on the night of the 3rd October, a vessel having been reported to be stranded on the Gore Sands, on which, on account of recent gales, a considerable sea was running, preventing any ordinary boat from getting near the spot.

The vessel was found by the life-boat to be the Dutch schooner Talkenia Meiskeina, bound from Smyrna to Bridgewater. The boat got her oft' the bank by towing, &c., and her crew also set the sails, put a pilot on board, and otherwise assisted the vessel away from her dangerous position, and ultimately she was got into port in safety.

NEW BRIGHTON, NEAR LIVERPOOL.—On the 26th September, the barque Empress, of Prince Edward's Island, bound thence from Liverpool with a general cargo, struck on Taylor's Bank, in Liverpool Bay. There was a heavy N.W. wind blowing, and a strong tide running. The tubular life-boat Willie and Arthur put off' under canvas, in reply to the signals of distress from the ship, but, owing to the strength of the tide and wind, was unable at first to fetch the vessel. The steam-tug Hock, however, took the life-boat in tow, and she was soon alongside the wreck. The life-boat then took off 18 persons, consisting of the master, crew of 14 men, 2 passengers, and 1 " stowaway," who were all after- wards transferred to the steamer, and conveyed to Liverpool. The vessel subsequently became a total wreck.

The tubular life-boat was likewise the means of rendering good service to another shipwrecked crew on the 19th October.

During the previous night a very severe gale had swept over Liverpool and its neighbourhood, and although it abated, the next morning the sea continued very rough, dash- ing over some of the lowest piers at the en- trance to the port. About seven o'clock the schooner Elephant, of Ulverstone, struck on Taylor's Bank, and became a total wreck.

One of the life-boats belonging to the Liver- pool Dock Trustees had the first intimation of the wreck, and went down to the Sand Bank, the Willie and Arthur afterwards fol- lowing in tow of the steam-tug Resolute, and arriving at the spot nearly an hour after the Liverpool boat, which, however, had not been able to approach the wreck. The tubular life-boat, being taken to windward by the steamer, was slipped, and at once proceeded to the rescue of two men who were seen in the rigging. They saved one, and the coxswain of the life-boat was in the act'of ascending the rigging to save the other, who was the master, when the foremast, to which he was lashed, went overboard, and being held by the rigging, it could not float, and the poor fellow belonging to the schooner was unfortunately drowned. It was re- ported that great credit was due to the captain of the steamer for his skill in put- ting the tubular boat into position for get- ting alongside the wreck.

SALTBURN, YORKSHIRE.—On the 30th September, the schooner Bonnie Lass, of Wick, struck on the rocks off Saltburn, during foggy weather. The life-boat at the latter place went off through a heavy sea and brought ashore the mate of the vessel, with the view to his obtaining the assistance of a steam-tug to get the vessel off I 'again. The rest of the crew refused to leave, and remained on board until the tide had receded, when they landed without difficulty, the vessel being then left high and dry.

MOELFRE, ANGLESEY. — The schooner Gipsy King, of Glasgow, was totally wrecked during a heavy gale of wind on the Dulas Rocks, on the Anglesey coast, on the 17th October. At daybreak, during fearful weather, one of the crew was seen floating on a piece of timber close to the breakers, and within a few yards of the spot where the Royal Charter was wrecked in October, 1859. The Moelfre life-boat was quickly manned and launched, and arrived just in time to save the poor fellow from a watery grave. It was a race with Death, and the boat won. Had the boat been five minutes later, humanly speaking, the man would not have been saved. He was the only survivor of the vessel's crew of 10 men.

ARKLOW, IRELAND.—On the 15th September, the screw-steamer, Hettenis, of Dublin, bound from Naples and Lisbon to Dublin, with a general cargo, and having 26 bullocks on deck, grounded on Ark- low Bank, during a strong gale from W. to W.S.W. The Arklow life-boat was launched with all despatch, and proceeded to the stranded vessel through a very high sea and much broken water. The officers and crew of the wreck, 21 in number, were taken into the boat by means of a whip from the fore-yard-arm. The life- boat having dropped to leeward about two miles and a half, had a strong pull back to harbour against the heavy gale and tide, but she eventually landed in perfect safety all on board—36 men, including her own crew, and was reported to have.behaved very well. The steamer became a total wreck.

The master of the wrecked vessel spoke in the highest terms of the admirable manner in which the coxswain and crew managed the life-boat under the difficult circumstances they had to encounter. The Wicklow, Courtown, and Cahore life-boats, seeing the signals of distress, were also launched with the view of rendering assist- ance at this wreck; for, being a large steamer, it was feared there might be a larger number of passengers on board than the Arklow life-boat could carry at one trip.

DUNGARVAN, IRELAND. — The yacht Emetic, of Dunmore East, County Waterford, while on a cruise to Cork from that port, was compelled by stress of weather to put into Dungarvan on the 27th September.

On the following day it blew a strong gale from the S.W., and the yacht dragged her anchors and drifted towards the shore at Ballinacourty, when she hoisted a signal of distress. With much promptitude the life- boat Christopher Ludlow was launched, and 4 of her crew boarded the vessel, got sail on her, and, with some difficulty, brought her and the 3 persons on board safely to Dungarvan, the life-boat, with the remainder of her crew in her, following astern.

FRASERBURGH, N.B.—Early on the morning of the 1st October, during a strong wind from S.S.E., and ha very thick weather, signals of distress were observed off a dan- gerous part of the coast, about a mile and a half from this place, and near the village of Broadsea. The Havelock life-boat was there- upon promptly launched and proceeded to the spot, when it was found that the screw- steamer Viking, of Dundee, bound to that port from Archangel, with a cargo of flax, had got ashore amongst the rocks. Fortunately, the life-boat was the means of saving 7 of the wrecked crew, the remainder being rescued by means of another boat and the rocket apparatus.

The boat was also out doing good work on the 25th of the same month.

At midnight, lighted torches having been observed from some vessel in the bay during a fearful gale from N.N.W., with snow showers, the life-boat was immediately launched, and proceeded in the direction of the signals. After having pulled through a heavy surf for about half an hour, the life- boat reached the vessel, which was found to be the ketch Heckler, of Cullen, and rescued her crew of 2 men. Her sails had been blown to pieces, and shortly after the life-boat had left her she struck the sands, and almost immediately sank. The life-boat behaved exceedingly well in this service.

She was once completely filled by the heavy seas, but speedily emptied the water through the self-relieving valves.

The Fraserburgh life-boat was the first life-boat placed on the Scotch coast by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION ; it was the gift to the Society of WILLIAM McKER- RELL, Esq., of Hill House, Ayrshire, and at his request it was named the Havelock, after the late distinguished Indian general. Mr. McKERRELL also presented the Seaton Carew life-boat to the Institution.

CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN.—During a N.N.W. gale, on the 16th October, intelligence was received that the smack Amelia, of Castletown, was lying in a very dangerous position under Langness, her jib having been blown away as she was trying to make the harbour. If the gale continued, it was considered that at low water the vessel would strike on the rocks and go to pieces, and the Commercial Travellers life-boat therefore proceeded to the spot and took off the crew of 2 men. The gale afterwards moderating, however, and the wind shifting to the north, the smack was safely brought in on the fol- lowing day.

PORTHDINLLAEN, NORTH WALES. On the same day the brigantine Gleaner, of Carnarvon, went ashore on Henblas Beach, on this coast. The Cotton Sheppard life- boat went off, in reply to the signals of distress from the vessel, and rescued the crew of 3 men, who were landed in a very fatigued state. It was blowing a most terrific gale at the time, and was intensely cold.