GREAT YARMOUTH. — The small surf Life-boat on this station, the Duff, went off on the 16th January, 1871, to the brig Flora, of Poole, which had parted her anchors and gone on the beach during a strong gale from the South. Proceeding through a heavy surf to the vessel, the Life-boat was fortunately enabled to rescue the crew of 6 men, all of whom were safely landed.

The Yarmouth large Life-boat Mark Lane was taken afloat on the 8th March, as the fishing-lugger Echo, of Lowestoft, was seen to be in great danger, she having become unmanageable during a heavy gale from S.W. by S. Driving down Yarmouth roads, she had come into collision with a laden schooner, and it was thought she was in a sinking state. When the Life-boat reached her she was found to be abandoned, and an endeavour was made to bring her to an anchor; this was ultimately successful, and the next morning she was brought into harbour.

On the morning of the 16th March the same large Life-boat went off, in reply to signals of distress shown by the ketch Equestrian, of Port Gordon, and found that she had five feet of water in her. It was blowing heavily at the time from the S.

With the aid of the Life-boat men the water was fortunately got under, and after employing a steam-tug, the vessel was brought into harbour the same afternoon.

WINCHELSEA, SUSSEX.—The brig Elizabeth and Cicely, of Guernsey, ran ashore off this place about one o'clock on the morn- ing of the 16th Jan., and soon began to break up, the crew of 8 men being forced to take refuge in the rigging. When the perilous position of the poor fellows was seen, the rocket life-saving apparatus was got out, and a line fired on board ; but the shipwrecked men were too exhausted to use it. The Solicitors' and Proctors' Life- boat, Storm Sprite, was then taken along the shore to windward, launched, and suc cessfully pulled off to the wreck, when the 8 men were saved, and brought ashore in a very exhausted state, they having, unfortu- nately, been exposed to the inclemency of the weather some time before their danger was known.

BACTON, NORFOLK.—The ship Maria, of Dunedin, came ashore here during a fresh wind from the 8.E., on the 22nd Jan. An effort was made by the crew to get her off; but a gale springing up from the E., ac- companied by a heavy sea, placed their lives in great jeopardy, for the vessel, which drew 19 feet of water, had grounded on the outer sandbank, where the sea was breaking over her. The Life-boat Recompense was quickly got out, and was instrumental in saving the crew of 18 men, and the master's wife, from the stranded ship,

HORNSEA, YORKSHIRE.—The Life-boat B. Wood, stationed at this place, went out on the 6th Feb., to rescue the crew and some fishermen who were on board the Norwegian ship Martha, which had stranded three days previously off Hornsea. The men were engaged removing tackling and other valuable articles from the vessel by means of a coble. While they were thus occupied, a strong wind from the north-east sprang up, with a heavy surf, rendering the return of the coble impossible. As the tide was rising, and would make a clean sweep over the ship at high water, the men signalled for the Life-boat, which promptly proceeded out to their aid. Great difficulty was experienced in getting near the ship, owing to the strong sea running at the time. This, however, was at length accomplished, and the crew and fishermen, 13 in all, being taken on board the Life- boat, were brought safely to land.

HOLYHEAD.—Early on the morning of the 9th February, a rocket was seen from | the end of the Breakwater, thrown in an easterly direction, denoting a vessel re- quiring assistance. As the weather was comparatively fine at the time the pilots' and harbour boats were ordered out; but soon afterwards a light was seen in the broken water, and thereupon the Life- boat Princess of Wales went off, and was met by the pilots returning, who reported that the screw-steamer Alexandra, of Lon- don, had gone on the Clipera Rocks, and that they could not approach her on ac- count of the heavy seas breaking there.

The Life-boat quickly proceeded to the spot, and succeeded, with some difficulty, in rescuing the shipwrecked men, 23 in number.

On the 7th March the same boat went off, during a heavy gale from S.S.W., in reply to rocket signals, and found the schooner Eliza, of Pwllheli, in a very dangerous position at the end of the breakwater. A steamer had followed the Life-boat out on the weather moderating somewhat, and, with her assistance, the vessel and her crew of 5 men were taken to a place of safety.

TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.—A very- sudden and severe storm was experienced here on the 10th February, when no less than six vessels were wrecked at the mouth of the Tyno within a short distance of each other, besides others that received considerable damage in making for the harbour. It had happened that on the previous day the weather had been unusually fine, and, taking advantage of that circumstance, a large fleet of wind- bound vessels had sailed from the Tyne for the South. A few hours afterwards it fell a dead calm, succeeded by stiff breezes, which ultimately increased to a terrific south-easterly gale. On the wind in- creasing a large number of the vessels made for the shelter of Shields Harbour, and many of them were successful in reaching it. It was fortunate that such was the case, for by noon, from the North to the South Pier there was one mass of broken water, with huge seas running in every direction, clashing with one another, raising large masses of spray, and rolling up the river with great swiftness and against the rocks and piers with terrible violence. At last, after some vessels had struck on the Sands, but had succeeded in getting off without much injury, no less' than four went ashore about the same time. The Shields and Tynemouth Life-boats had been got in readiness, and they at once proceeded out to the wrecks through the tremendous seas. The crews were taken off two of the vessels by the Shields Life-boats; and the Tynemouth Life-boat Constance also succeeded in saving the crew of 7 men from another of the vessels—the brig British Queen, of London; but although the boats made several gallant and determined attempts to reach the fourth wreck, their efforts were unsuccessful; the ill-fated crew seemed quite unable also to make use of the rocket- line which was fired over their vessel; and while one of the Life-boats was making another effort to save them, the brig began to break up, and only 2 out of the 6 men on board were saved. Later on, another vessel—the brig Valiant, of Jersey—was driven against the staging at the outer end of the North Pier, and then took the ground to the east of the Spanish Battery. Again was the Life-boat Constance taken out; and, encouraged by the cheers of the numerous spectators, the Life-boat men were happily the means of saying the crew of 7 men from that vessel, which soon afterwards became a total wreck. In another case later in the day, the crew of a wrecked schooner were saved by the rocket apparatus, zealously and cleverly worked by the Tynemouth Volunteer Coast Brigade. The next day not a vestige of any of these six wrecked vessels was to be seen above water.

HASBOROUGH, NORFOLK.—During very severe weather on the llth February the Life-boat Huddersfield went off, in reply to signals from the Hasborough light- ship, and brought ashore 15 men who had formed part of the crews of the barques Launceston, of Shields, and Arctic Hero, of Goole, both of which vessels had sunk, after being in collision with each other on the south end of the Hasborough Sands. Unfortunately 11 others on board the vessels lost their lives in the collision.

The severity of the weather was such that everything in the Life-boat was frozen, and the crew suffered much in their arduous and trying expedition.

TRAMORE, Co. WATERFORD. — On the | night of the same day the schooner i Stranger, of Newfoundland, was driven ,' ashore on Tramore Sands during a fresh gale from the S.S.E. As soon as she was seen information was sent to the coxswain of the Cambridge University Boat Club Life-boat Tom Eyan, when the boat was launched at midnight, and was fortunately successful in saving the vessel's crew, numbering 3 men. She sustained some damage in the performance of the service, having struck either a sunken rock or a piece of wreck.

ST. IVES, CORNWALL.— On the 10th February the brigantine Queen, of Youghal, was endeavouring to enter this harbour during a very heavy gale from the N-W, On rounding the pJer-iaad she Jet go an anchor, but the cable parted, and she drifted about a mile to leeward, when she was brought up by the second anchor.

On seeing the danger in which she was placed, the Covent Garden Life-boat had, with some difficulty, proceeded out, and boarding the vessel, some of the Life-boat men assisted to let go another anchor.

The ship, however, still drifted, and ulti- mately went on Carrack Gladden Beach.

The crew of 6 men were, however, saved by the Life-boat.

FILEY, YORKSHIRE.—On the same day a very severe gale was experienced here, accompanied by a tremendous sea. About noon a vessel, which proved to be the schooner Mary, of North Shields, was seen inside the buoy off the Filey Brigg. She was dismasted and altogether in a disabled state, having been overtaken by the storm when off Flamborough Head. It was thought she must go down immediately, with all hands, as no Life-boat, it was considered, could get to her. Nevertheless it was at once resolved to make a strenuous effort to prevent such a sacrifice of human life.

Accordingly, without loss of time, the Life-boat, which was all ready mounted on her carriage, was quickly drawn by six horses to the northward about half a mile, and was then launched. There was no difficulty in getting a crew from amongst the fishermen, for the brave fellows almost fought in their anxiety to get the life-belts and take part in the work of saving life.

Meantime the vessel was drifting on through a frightful sea; the Life-boat followed, and after a very severe pull gained her, just as she was going ashore, took off the master and crew of 3 men, and safely landed them amidst the cheers of hundreds of spectators. The poor men had given up all hope of saving their lives, although, to use the mate's words, " he knew there was a gallant Life-boat and crew at Filey." Their vessel sank soon after they had been saved by the Life-boat.

PORTHDINLLAEN, NORTH WALES. The Life-boat Cotton Sheppard, stationed here, was also launched the same day to the aid of the schooner St. Fergus, of Aberystwith, which had shown signals of distress on account of her being in very shallow water and in danger of striking the ground.

The master requested that the Life-boat would remain by the vessel until the tide began to flow, and she did so. Fortu- nately as the flood tide made, the gale suddenly- moderated, and the schooner rode it out in safety.

BRIDLINGTON, YORKSHIRE.—The most distressing calamities in connection with this disastrous storm of the 10th. February happened at this place. It was a storm which raged on some portions of the east coast with a severity unequalled within the memory of living man, and was felt here with the greatest violence.

Fortunately the Institution's Life-boat on this station, which had never previously had an opportunity of rendering active service, was enabled to do noble work, as the following account will show. It appears the wind began to blow fresh about two A.M., and increased till, at day- break, it was a perfect gale, from E.S.E., with snow and sleet. Vessels rapidly I came in sight; and in a very short | time the sad spectacle was presented j of seventeen ships all ashore at the same ! time, and one after another rapidly break- j ing up. The Society's Life-boat was at once got out, and also a small Life-boat called the Harbinger, presented by Count GUSTAVE BATTHYANY to the boatmen of • Bridlington Quay. It should be noted that ; this boat was not built by the Institution, ! but by a builder in the town, and that • she was considered by the most competent 1 judges to be too small for work in a very ; heavy sea. In the early part of the day there I seems to have been an honourable rivalry , between the two boats as to which should do the best service. At half-past eight j A.M. the Harbinger went off to the assistance of a vessel called the Friends' Increase, j but was unable to reach her. The Institution's Life-boat, however, succeeded in getting alongside, took off the crew of ' 4 men, and brought them safely to shore. ' She then went out again, and made her j way to the most distant of the distressed ! ships, intending to relieve those nearer the shore as she returned. The smaller Life-boat, however, followed in her wake, and did the work of rescue astern of the larger one. The Harbinger thus rescued three crews and the other Life-boat three, ' the latter boat this time saving the crews j of the brigantine JEcho (6 men) and of the j brig Windsor (6 men). The small Life- , boat then proceeded to two other vessels, I and saved their crews. Meanwhile the j other Life-boat put forth to the aid of a : large vessel, which had gone ashore in a situation most difficult to reach. For two hours the Life-boat crew gallantly fought against winds and waves in the endeavour ; to reach her,but this it was found impossible for human strength to accomplish, and at length the vessel turned completely over, and went down with all hands on board.

Some of the crew of the Life-boat were so exhausted with their continued exertions that they had to be carried up from the boat. After this the small Life-boat, with a crew consisting mainly of volunteers, amongst whom was the builder of the boat, went to the help of two other vessels, but on getting alongside one of them she was capsized, and 6 out of her crew of 9 were drowned. The unfortunate builder, who had unbounded confidence in his boat, was amongst the sufferers. One of the survivors describes the calamity in these words:—" The boat was hanging a little astern of the vessel, and on hauling her nearer to take off the only hand left, an awful sea struck the vessel, and ran up her side, going right over and striking the after part of the small Life-boat, putting her stern low in the water. Another fear- ful sea struck the boat, and turned her right over, lifting her high in the air, one man being under her, till she righted by being struck by another sea, and two men regained her in some way, I don't know how." The boat was carried ashore by heavy seas, without any effort on the part of the three survivors, the oars being all broken or lost. Deeply as all friends of humanity must regret such a melancholy occurrence, it must be remembered that this boat had been pronounced by compe- tent judges too small for service in such extreme weather, that she was deficient in the self-righting property possessed by the boats of the NATIONAL INSTITUTION'S build, and that the poor fellows who manned her were not provided with the cork jackets invariably worn by the crews of the Institution's boats. In all the long record of gallant deeds of saving life done by the Life-boats of the Institution, very few cases are found in which any member of the Life-boat crews has been sacrificed.

The boatmen of Bridlington had always shown a preference for the small Life- boat to 'which this calamity occurred, as she was much lighter in the water, and required much less labour to work. The event has proved that in her case those ! qualities were not consistent with her ; safety. Rewards were at once granted by the Institution to the crews of both Life-boats, and a liberal grant in aid of ; the fund for the widows and orphans of those who unhappily lost their lives in this service, the Institution's contribution for these purposes amounting altogether ; to 149?., in addition to the large local subscription specially raised to meet the requirements of the case.

PAKEFIELD, SUFFOLK.—At daylight, on ( the 6th February, after it had been blowing a fresh gale all night, a schooner was j observed, about six miles from this place, with a flag of distress in the rigging. The Life-boat Sisters promptly went to her aid, and found she was a very old vessel, the Frances, of Cardigan, and that her sails were split; besides which, she was in a leaky condition, and her crew in a most ex- hausted state. Some of the Life-boat men then went on board, and worked hard at the pumps; and ultimately the schooner, in tow of the Life-boat, was got safely into Lowestoft Harbour.

CULLERCOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND.—On the 6th February, two fishing-cobles, which had put to sea from this place to pursue their ordinary avocations, were overtaken by a heavy gale, and ran back to the Haven, but were unable to enter, on ac- count of the heavy seas which were running on the bar. At the request of the ! inhabitants, the Life-boat Palmerston was •.

launched, and proceeded to the point of ! danger. Even then the risk of taking the bar in safety was so great that the ; crews of the boats were warned by signals i not to attempt it, but to go to the south- ward. They then proceeded towards Shields, and after lying off there a considerable time, they were fortunately towed into that harbour by a steam-tug, ' in safety.

FISHGUARD, SOUTH WALES.—During a strong gale from the N.N.E., and in a heavy sea, on the 21st February, two i vessels were at anchor in this roadstead.

One of them was labouring very heavily; ' and at last she exhibited a signal of dis- tress, which being observed from the shore, ; the Life-boat Sir Edward Perrott was at once taken off to her aid, and the splendid way in which the boat got through the broken sea was much admired by all.

When she got alongside the vessel, she proved to be the schooner Halswell, of Bridgwater, and the master wished for assistance to get her into harbour; but this not being practicable, there not being then sufficient depth of water, he refused any other aid. The boat then went to the other vessel, the schooner J. W. A., of Newquay, but her services were also declined by that crew: whereupon the Life- boat returned to the shore, and was placed in her house. The crew were about to disperse when the signal of distress was once more hoisted. Without any hesitation, the boat was again got into the water, and after some little difficulty in getting her off the beach, they proceeded to the two vessels, and found the crews then wished to be taken ashore, as the sea had become heavier. Accordingly the men, 10 in number, were taken into the Life- boat and safely landed.

On the 16th March it was blowing a whole gale from the N.N.E., accompanied by a terrific sea, when the Schooner Ann Mitchell, of Newquay, came into the bay in a distressed state, and after a narrow es- cape of being blown on the rocks, where all hands would inevitably have perished, the crew succeeded in running her on the Goodwick Sands. The Life-boat quickly went to the assistance of the crew of 5 men, who were found to be quite exhausted and helpless. With some difficulty they were saved by the Life-boat. The boat had not been long ashore before the schooner Oarnsew, of Hayle, which was at anchor in the bay, parted both chains, and also went on to the Goodwick Sands. The Life-boat was again launched, and fortunately succeeded in saving the lives of this vessel's crew of 4 men. In both these services the Life-boat and crew behaved admirably, it being stated, indeed, that the behaviour of the boat " could not be better." Again, on the 12th July, two lads, in a small sailing-boat, were driven out to sea during a strong wind from the S.S.W., and being unable to return, they dropped anchor, and tied a cravat on an oar, as a signal to those, on shore, which being ob- served, their brothers and some sailors put off to their assistance. The coxswain of the Life-boat also deemed it prudent to take out the boat to their aid; and on reaching them,-the two boats were taken in tow by the Life-boat, and soon brought to land.

BULL BAY, ANGLESEY.—The schooner Albion, of Bcaumaris, while at anchor about a mile and a half from the Life-boat station, on the 12th February, during a strong S.S.W. wind, hoisted a signal of distiress. The Life-boat Eleanor proceeded to her, and, at the request of the master, some of her crew were put on board, and were successful in bringing the vessel and crew safely into Amlwch Harbour.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—The barque Jane Kilgour, of London, went on the Cross Sands, off this coast, on the 22nd Feb- ruary, and the Caister beachmen proceeded to her in one of their yawls, and endeavoured, by cutting away the masts, to get her off the sands. Their efforts, however, proved unsuccessful, and, as the night was coming on, and they feared there would be no means of saving the vessel's crew, on the flood-tide making, a message was despatched to the shore, by another yawl which had come out, for the large Life-boat, which arrived at the Sands about five o'clock in the evening, and remained by the barque for about three hours, when, as there was about fourteen feet of water in her, the crew of 13 men had to abandon her. Accordingly they were taken into the Life-boat, which proceeded with them towards Yarmouth, into which harbour the boat was towed by a steam-tug. The vessel afterwards became a total wreck. She was on a voyage to Demerara, with a cargo of coals.

PORTMADOC, NORTH WALES.—The Life- boat John Ashbury, on this station went off, during a strong wind, before daybreak on the 20th February, in response to signals of distress shown by the ship River Nith, of Liverpool, which was bound to that port from Calcutta with a valuable cargo, and which had stranded near the Castle Rock, off Criccieth. Some of the crew boarded the vessel, gave the master every information as to his whereabouts, and assisted in working the sails, &c., so that the ship, which was hard aground • fore and aft, might be got off. The Life-boat then returned to shore with a message for a steam-tug, and two steamers arriving, the vessel was ultimately got afloat and safely towed to St. Indwell's Roads.

NEWCASTLE, DUNDRUM BAY.—On the 1st March the brigantine William, of Londonderry, was seen driving into Dun- drum Bay, during a strong S.S.E. wind.

She had her foremast carried away by the deck, and was waterlogged. The Life-boat Reigate was launched, and suc- ceeded in saving the whole of the vessel's crew, 5 in number, about an hour before the vessel went down. JAMES HILL, the coxswain of the Life-boat, was thrown out of the boat when nearing the wreck; but being supported by his life-belt, he was picked up again in about ten minutes, without having sustained any serious injury.

ALDBOBOUGH, SUFFOLK. — During a strong gale from the S.S.E., and in a very heavy sea, on the morning of the 16th March, the George Houn&field Life-boat put off and succeeded in taking into Harwich harbour the distressed brigantine Isabella Heron, of Blyth, and her crew of 6 men.

The vessel, which was in a leaky state, was bound to Boulogne with a cargo of coals.

The Life-boat men were much pleased with ' their boat, and with the way in which she ! took them off the land under canvas, the wind being dead on shore at the time.

HOWTH, DUBLIN BAY.—A dredging- barge was in imminent danger of going down near the east end of this harbour during a whole gale of wind on the 9th March, her anchor having dragged and the sea breaking over her. The only hope for her crew of 4 men was the Life-boat, as their own small boat was sunk by the heavy seas. Promptly, therefore, was the Life-boat taken to the spot, and fortunately she was instrumental in saving the 4 men.

NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.—During a strong gale on the 10th March the : Newbiggin Life-boat, William Hopkinson of : Brigliouse, was launched to the assistance i of seven fishing cobles, which had been overtaken by the storm which had suddenly sprung up, and were in much peril, ; the sea being very high. Fortunately, ! with the aid of the Life-boat, the boats I and their crews were all got safely ashore.

FLEETWOOD, LANCASHIRE.—On the evening of the 1st April, two soldiers were observed to be surrounded by the tide, on the North Warp Bank, about three miles from Fleetwood. The Coastguard imme- diately launched their boat and went to the rescue ; they reached the men with much difficulty, against the heavy sea and strong wind blowing on shore, and found one had taken refuge on the beacon, but that the other, in attempting to attain a similar position, had been washed from it and had perished in the surf. Finding it impossible to succour the man on the beacon, they made the best of their way to the shore and assisted in launching and manning the Life-boat Edward Wasey.

After an arduous pull for three miles against wind and tide, the Life-boat suc- ceeded in taking the man from the beacon and brought him safely into Fleetwood harbour about 10 o'clock that night.

Five Fleetwood pilots had also put off in a boat to the assistance of the endangered man, but they could not reach him on account of the heavy sea, their boat being nearly swamped in the attempt, and after staying by him some time, they returned when they saw the Life-boat approaching.