AT the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the London Tavern on Tuesday, the 14th day of March, 1871, His Grace the DUKE of NORTHUMBERLAND, P.O., D.C.L., President of the Institution, in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee was read by the Secretary:— ANNUAL REPORT.

ON this the forty-seventh anniversary of ;he establishment of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, its Committee of Management place before its supporters and the British Public their Annual Report.

In doing so they beg to return their warm thanks to all those who, by their donations and annual subscriptions, have enabled them successfully to prosecute the important national duty which they have undertaken, and they desire to express their gratitude for the Divine blessing which has rested on their labours.

It is true that, in reference to the funds, a considerable diminution has occurred in the contributions of the year. The Committee, however, feel sure that this fact need not be attributed to any falling off in the sympathy and interest of the public in the work of saving lives from shipwreck; it is rather to be accounted for by the urgent demand for aid to the numberless victims of the fearful struggle which, during the latter months of the year, was raging between two neighbouring nations on the continent of Europe.

The transactions of the Institution during the year may be thus summarized: Life-boats.—Since the last Report four- teen new life-boats have been placed on the coast, and stationed at the following places:— ENGLAND.

DURHAM Seaham.

LINCOLNSHIRE. . . . Chapel.

NORFOLK Palling.

SUFFOLK ..... Gorleston.

Pakefield.

Kessingland.

Thorpeness.

Aldborough.

KENT Kingsdowne.

DEVONSHIRE .... Morte Bay.

. SCOTLAND.

BANFFSHIKE .... Buckie.

Banff.

FORFAR Buddenness.

IRELAND.

Co. LONDONDERRY . . Greencastle.

New transporting-carriages and boat- houses have likewise been provided for several of the above boats.

The Institution has now two hundred and twenty-eight life-boats on the coasts of the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands. During the past year these boats have rescued five hundred and thirteen persons from a watery grave, nearly all of whom have been saved under circumstances which would have precluded their rescue by any ordinary description of boat.

The Committee are thankful to say that although many of those services were of a most difficult and dangerous character, yet that they were performed without serious accident to any of the life-boats, and with- out the loss of a single man amongst those by whom the boats were worked.

Shipwrecks.—Although the shipwrecks during the past year were, on the whole, neither so numerous nor so distressing as usual,' yet the fearful catastrophe of the foundering of H.M.S. Captain, with 500 persons on board, in the Bay of Biscay, during a gale of wind, sent a thrill of agony throughout the land, paralleled only by the wreck of the Royal George, which occurred nearly a century ago.

The loss of the Captain, and the great war, which has caused such terrible devastation on the continent, will long connect painful memories with the past and present years.

The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has meanwhile continued unceasingly an- other war, that with the elements—the war between the life-boat and the storm; and it may not be amiss to give here a brief account of one of its most recent victories, as illustrative of the able and determined courage displayed by the warriors in the life-boat cause:— "In the early part of the year a strong gale from the S.E., with a tremendous sea, was every- where raging on the shore at Montrose, on the east coast of Scotland, when a partially dismasted schooner, which turned out to be the Dania, of Aeroeskiobing, in Denmark, was observed to be at anchor in Bervie Bay, about twelve miles north of Montrose, in a very dangerous position. The rocket apparatus from the nearest coastguard station was soon on the spot, but the vessel being too far from the shore to be reached by it, a telegram was at once sent to Montrose for the life- boat and a steam-tug to come to the aid of the schooner and crew. As soon as practicable, the life-boat Mincing Lane was launched, manned by the well-known and skilful Ferryden fishermen, and was towed to the harbour's mouth, when it was found that the sea on the bar was too heavy to admit of the steamer being taken through it.

After some consultation and an only natural slight hesitation, the coxswain and crew of the life-boat determined at all risks to cross the bar, if possible, and perform the service without other aid than their own strong arms and wills; and off they went, followed by the anxious gaze and hopes of the spectators on shore. The seas on the bar are said to have been terrific, yet as each wave broke heavily over the boat, one throwing her up almost perpendicularly, she nevertheless steadily surmounted them; and when over the heavy lines of surf on the bar, her oars 'were taken in and sails were set, and in an hour more she had reached the distressed ship. Owing to the heavy sea, it was still a work of no slight difficulty to get her crew on board, who, standing on the stern, had to avail themselves of the brief moments when the boat was raised high on the summit of a wave, and thus one by one they jumped into her, and all got safely on board. It had been thought that the life-boat would then have had to run to Stone- haven, ten miles farther north, with the rescued men, but fortunately the wind had veered more to the east, and she was enabled to return with them to Montrose; to the no slight joy and relief of those who, with anxious and wistful eyes, had been watching for her return. The life-boat's crew were loud in their praises of the behaviour of their boat both under oars and sails; yet what would be the value of even such boats without the daring courage and the skilful management of such men ? When the character of this service is considered, viz., the specially dangerous seas which, during shoreward blowing gales of wind, break wildly on the bars of all rivers on so ex- posed a coast, and the long distance of twelve miles on a lee-shore which had to be traversed, it will be readily conceived that it would be difficult to speak in too high terms of the noble courage and hardihood of the brave fellows by whom it was performed." On the other hand, the number of lives lost by shipwrecks on our coasts during the year 1870, is stated by the returns made to the Board of Trade to be 791; and in spite of the best regulations and the most vigilant instruments of safety, the elements will frequently baffle all human skill and precaution. Thus a win- ter can hardly be expected to pass without the loss of many valuable lives on and around our shores, when we remember the circumstances under which many ships are lost, often during the dark hours of the night; such as by collision with each other, by being overwhelmed in mid-ocean, by being driven ashore amidst unapproach- able rocks, or by striking on outlying banks on parts of the coast far distant from any Life-boat or Rocket Apparatus Station.

There can, however, be no doubt, as the Committee have had to state on previous occasions, that a large, if not an alarming, number of the lives lost on our coast must be put down to the incapacity of masters and the unseaworthiness of the ships themselves; were these two great causes of mischief removed, it cannot be doubted that a large diminution of the lives on an average lost would take place.

In addition to contributing to the rescue of 784 lives during the past year, as is shown in the accompanying list,* the Institution has assisted in saving property of the value of many thousand pounds.

No less than twenty-one ships have been saved from destruction by the Life-boats, and in other cases the boats have been signalled off to vessels in distress, and have sometimes remained for hours together by them, thereby encouraging their crews to renewed efforts and skill to contend successfully with the tempest.

Thus, then, hundreds of persons have been saved last year from the perils of Shipwreck by the Life-boats of the Institution, and thousands have lined our cliffs and shores to watch them on their errands of mercy, many of whom have doubtlessly lifted up their hearts to " Him whom the winds and seas obey," with thankfulness that He had put into the thoughts of men to provide for the rescue of their fellow-creatures in their hour of greatest danger.

These Life-boat Services have, of course varied much in their peculiarities; but the should it be forgotten that a very large same fixed and determined gallantry has proportion of those saved have been British characterised them all—a noble contention Seamen who, in pursuit of their perilous with the elements for the succour of ship- calling, contribute so largely to our na- wrecked crews. tional greatness and prosperity.

The Committee would wish again to call attention to the continued efforts of the Board of Trade in maintaining and extending the Rocket Apparatus on the Coasts of the United Kingdom, which con- tributes every year, under the zealous management of the officers and men of the Coastguard service, to the rescue of hundreds of persons from Shipwreck at places where, for the most part, Life-boats cannot be made available.

The number of lives saved during the forty-seven years from the establishment receive the careful consideration of the of the Institution in 1824, to the end of i Committee. They are each most minutely Rewards.—In the Appendix a summary is given of the cases in which honorary and other rewards have been voted. During the past year 11 Silver Medals, 14 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum, and 2,394?.

have been granted for saving the lives of 784 persons by Life-boats, shore and fishing-boats, and other means, on the coasts and outlying banks of the United Kingdom.

These cases of Rewards continue to the year 1870, either by its Life-boats or by special exertions for which it has granted rewards, is as follows:— No. of Lives Saved.

209 470 230 773 678 355 406 473 374 427 499 455 424 574 714 698 714 921 1,086 862 1,231 784 In the Year 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 186S 1867 1868 1869 1870 Total .

In the Year 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 19,864 No. of Lives Saved.

124 218 175 163 301 463 372 287 310 449 214 364 225 272 45S 279 353 128 276 236 193 235 134 157 123 This large number, close upon twenty thousand persons, represents the prevention of an incalculable amount of suffering, not only to the persons immediately concerned, but to their families and friends. Neither inquired into beforehand, 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 they are thoroughly sifted" and considered by the preparatory Committee, previous to their being sanctioned fey the General Committee at their monthly meeting.

The Committee have received the prompt and cordial co-operation of the Lords Com- missioners of the Admiralty, of Captain G. 0. WILLBS, E.N., C.B., and of the Officers j and men of the Coastguard Service, to I whom the best thanks of the Institution are thus again cordially rendered.

Since the formation of the Society, it has expended on Life-boat establishments, and other means for saving life from Ship- wreck, 269,0001., and voted 90 Gold and 822 Silver Medals for saving life, and pecuniary rewards to the amount of 35,389?.

Local Committees.—The Committee desire once more to tender their best thanks for the valuable co-operation afforded them by the Local Branch Committees, which constitute so important a portion of the machinery of the Institution for the super- vision of its several Life-boat establishments, and they acknowledge also the valuable and gratuitous services of the zealous Honorary Secretaries of those Committees.

Finances,—The total amount of receipts during the year 1870 has been 25,711?.

16s. 4d; and of this sum 4280?. 4s. 3d.

were special gifts to defray the cost of the following ten Life-boats:—• £. s. d.

Aldborough—Mrs. Hounsfield . . 700 0 0 Chapel—Lady Bourchier .... 500 0 0 Kessingland •— t( Bolton " Life-boat Fund 500 0 0 Montrose, No. 2. — " The Roman Governor of Caer Hun" . . . 400 0 0 Morte Bay—Some Bristol Shipmasters in the African Trade. (On Account) 120 0 0 Palling—" British Workman " Life- boat Fund 620 0 0 Salcombe — Richard Durant, Esq.

(Additional) 160 0 0 Seaham—The Misses Carter . . . 420 0 0 St. David's—The Earl of Dartmouth and his Tenantry. (Additional) . 360 4 3 Troon—Mrs. Sinclair 500 0 0 The Committee acknowledge the re- ceipt, since the last Report, of the follow- ing special contributions:—• Alnwick, Duke of Northumberland's £. s. d.

School, Proceeds of Concert, per Mr. Thomas Collinson .... 770 Ancient Order of Foresters, Annual Subscription for the maintenance of their two Life-boats, per Mr.

Samuel Shawcross 100 0 0 Bristol Histrionic Club, Annual Sub- scription in aid of the support of their Life-boat at Lossiemouth, per Messrs. J. W. Thome and E. Austin 40 0 0 Chippendale, the late Dr. Walter, per "William Chippendale, Esq. ... 50 0 0 Crocodile, H.M.S., Collected on board after an Amateur Dramatic Enter- tainment, per Alfred Postance, Esq., R.N 120 Durant, Richard, Esq., further in aid of the Salcombe Life-boat Station (making a total of 8001.). . . . 160 0 0 E. P. S. (Doner of Barmouth Life- boat), in addition to Annual Sub- scription of 101 500 0 0 Greenstead, Colchester, Amount of Collections after Sermons by Rev.

Dr. Seaman 2 17 3 Htimboldt and Pascal, Steamers, Col- lected on board by Captain J. A. Perry (including his own Annual Subscription of U. 1».) .... 24 2 0 .Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Manchester Unity) Annual Sub- scription for the support of their Life-boat at Cleethorpes, per Mr.

Henry Ratcliffe 50 0 0 Ipswich, St. Peter's Church, one-half £. s. d. of Collection, per Rev. A. H. Synge 6 10 0 Kingston and Surbiton, Inhabitants of, per J. A. Dow, Esq 130 0 0 Matchless, Barque of Guernsey, Col- lected by Captain N. Marquand, on a Voyage to the West Indies, ad- ditional 250 3fay Queen, Ship, of Alloa, Officers and Crew, per Mr. J. Ross ... 256 Merchant Taylors, Worshipful Com- pany of, per Thomas Baring, Esq., Chairman of the Institution . . 2100 N. R., Further on account of his Life-boat Fund 50 0 0 Oxford and Cambridge Boat-race— one moiety of the surplus arising from the sale of Tickets of Admis- sion to the Press Steamer on this occasion, per R. B. Wormald, Esq., of Bell's Life Office 12 9 3 Sailors' Home, Well Street, Contents of Contribution-box, per Captain W. H. Webb, R.N 20 0 0 Sandwich, Proceeds of Entertainment at, per G. Coleman, Esq. ... 440 T. H. N., " Thanksgiving for a safe Voyage" 10 0 0 Thorngate, the late William, Esq., Trustees of, per H. Compigne, Esq. 80 0 0 Vivian, Lady, Collected by, in aid of the cost of a Life-boat .... 145 0 0 LIFE-BOAT GIFTS IN 1871.

The Misses Hallom and Mrs. Margaret Birt, for Selsey Life-boat, Four Sisters 500 0 0 Covent Garden Life-boat Fund for the St. Ives station (making, with previous gifts, 403/.) 90 0 0 A Friend, per Miss Baker and Thos.

Chapman, Esq., F.R.S., V.P., Deputy Chairman of the Institution, for the Clara Baker Life-boat for Flamborough Head 680 0 0 Legacies have been bequeathed to the Institution, during the past twelve months, by £. s. a.

Matthew Bell, Esq., Glasgow . . 200 0 0 Mrs. Mary Greaves, New Brighton 19 19 0 John Roberts, Esq., Mornington-rd. 200 0 0 Samuel Veal, Esq., Bloomfleld-st.

(reversionary) 200 0 0 Miss Sarah Dorset, Reading . . 100 0 0 Mrs. Harriet Rolleston, Swindon . 500 0 0 Mrs. Anne Wells, Plymouth . . 10 0 0 John Abbott, Esq., Halifax . . . 2,000 0 0 Mrs. Whittingham, Manchester-st.

(for Life-boats for Brighton and Falmouth) 600 0 0 Charles Lloyd, Esq., Kennington . 500 0 0 Mrs. Amelia Caswell, Anlaby . . 20 0 0 

Mrs. Catherine Ann Jeremy, Ax- £. s. d. minster (reversionary) ... 1,000 0 0[ Samuel Stafford Allen, Esq., Alex- j andria 50 0 0 Robert Jones Garden, Esq., South- Kensington 2.000 0 0 I Richard Webster, Esq., Blackburn | (reversionary) 1,200 0 0 Mrs. Anstice, lynemouth ... 700 0 0 Alfred Smith Evans, Esq., Edgbaston 500 0 0 Charles Stuart, Esq., Norfolk-street 200 0 0 John Greene, Esq., Gateshead . . 200 0 0 Hugh Jones, Esq., Beaumar . . 25 0 0 George Douglas, Esq., The Lizard, Possible Share of Eesidue Miss Louisa Elizabeth Meynell Ingram, Hoar Cross .... 300 0 0 Charles Robert Telfair, Esq., Leck- hampton Hill, Possible Share of Residue Miss Ann Buckle, Tork .... 19 0 0 Mrs. Baillie, Edinburgh. . . , 50 0 0 Daniel Holy, Esq., Newbold, Pos- sible Share of Residue . . .

John Simson Billiard, Esq., Strood, near Rochester 25 0 0 During the past year 10,0761. 10s. Wd.

were expended on additional Life-boats, transporting-carriages, boat-houses, and necessary gear; 8,440Z. 6s. Id. on the ex- penses of repairs, painting, refitting, &c.; and 6,904:1.14s. 2d. in rewards for services to shipwrecked crews, coxswains' salaries, and quarterly practice of the Life-boats' crews; making altogether, including lia- bilities amounting to 9181. 18s. 3d. on Life-boat Stations now in course of forma- tion, and other expenses, a total of 28,7471.

10s. 4rf.

The items of receipt and expenditure are detailed in the financial statement annexed to this Report, audited by Mr. LOVELOCK, public accountant.

The Committee are of opinion that the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, by its noble deeds—the saving of human life when helplessly unable to do anything for itself—speaks to every heart. It knows no politics, and has no sectarian creed. This was strikingly manifested a few weeks since when the people of Ireland united to give it magnificent support at a Bazaar held at the Exhibition Building, Dublin, when 1,782Z. was realised for its funds.

The Institution succours the shipwrecked sailor in time of peace or war, without reference to his nationality, and brings him safely to England's hospitable shores. In these warlike times, no society adds a brighter page to the philanthropy of the age in which we live than the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, which appeals to all for sympathy and support.