XVI.—BROADSTAIRS.

The Samuel Morrison. Collins, 36 feet long, 9 feet 2 inches beam, 12 oars.

THE Broadstairs Life-boat of the Institution is one of the largest class, and well adapted for ser- vice as a sailing Life-boat. i Her work is principally in connection with the I east end of the Goodwin Sands; and with those wrecks she is generally able to deal (stretching off | under sail) without the assistance of a steamer, and running the Ramsgate Life-boat and steamer very close on many an occasion of wreck.

She is kept on a slip in the open air, with her masts up, and sails constantly ready for hoisting, and the slip having a considerable incline, and being carried out to low-water mark, the crew have simply to jump in and man the halliards; then the stern shackle is let go, and the boat shoots down the ways into the sea, the sails being hoisted as the boat's bows touch the water. No time there- fore is lost by the Broadstairs men, if the direction of the wind gives a fair chance of getting off shore.

It is not so easy to land again at Broadstairs in a gale, and the Life-boat has commonly to run for other shelter after her work is done.

A. station was first formed here by the Institution in 1868, the boat being the gift of "A Lady," through Admiral FISHBOURNE, C.B. Since then this boat has saved 49 lives, and has, besides, launched on a large number of occasions for the purpose of rendering assistance to distressed vessels.

Much of the most important work done by this Life-boat has been of the nature of " standing by " vessels which were in a distressed condition; and , therefore the number of " lives saved " does not j figure so largely, in proportion to the actual peril encountered, as it does at some other stations, where, from the nature of the coast, a vessel once ashore is certain to be lost, and the only expectation at any time is to save life.

The moral effect of the arrival of a Life-boat on the crew of a stranded or disabled vessel, at a j time when all hands are hesitating as to whether it is their duty to " stick to the ship," and make new efforts to save her, or to take to their own boats and save themselves while they can, is very great; and frequently the opportune appearance of the Samuel Morrison Collins, with the promise on the part of the coxswain to remain by her to the very last, and thus assure a means of escape when the last chance of saving the ship might be passed, has been the means of saving both vessel and cargo. Indeed here and elsewhere, many times in every year, the news that a Life- boat is coming, sends back fainting or despairing crews to pumps or hawser with a renewed heart and vigour, which finds effect in the one supreme effort that saves the ship and all on board.

Yet, inasmuch as the lives are not actually saved by rescuing the men from a sinking ship, they cannot be called lives saved.

Again, it frequently happens that the timely arrival of a Life-boat able to put 7 or 8 fresh and good beachmen on board, well acquainted with the local dangers and tides, saves the ship, which otherwise would inevitably be lost.

An important service of this kind was rendered by the Broadstairs Life-boat, on the 12th March of this year, as described on page 589. of this Journal.

Mr. JAMES BEAKMAN, late of H.M.'s Coast- guard, is the Honorary Secretary of this Branch.

ORKNEY ISLANDS.

XVII. STROMNESS. — The Saltaire, 33 feet long, 8 feet beam, 10 oars.

XVIII. LONGHOPE.— The Dickinson Edlestm, 37 feet long, 9 feet beam, 12 oars.

STROMNESS is the principal seaport on what is known as the " Mainland " (the island of Pomona), the largest of the Orkney Islands; it is a picturesque little town, built of grey stone, on the side of a hill overlooking a secure and landlocked harbour, and commanding a magnificent panoramic view of some of the interior sounds and islands of the archipelago. It is the port of call of steamers bound to the Scotch coast and the south, and opens out into the Atlantic towards the west.

Hence, in past times, it was esteemed by ships bound to the Arctic regions as a convenient and secure point of departure and return. Steam has altered the conditions considerably; and the har- bour which, sixty years ago, was thronged with whaling, exploring, and seal-hunting ships, privateers and ships of war, outward or homeward bound, has to be content with the moderate amount of shipping engaged in the ordinary commerce of the Islands. Here rendezvoused the great Arctic explorers Franklin and Parry, and from here sailed the great circumnavigator and explorer Captain Cook, bound on his attempt at the Northern mystery.

On the other side of the same island stands the capital Kirkwall, containing the cathedral, built a thousand years ago by the first Christian Scandinavians, who from the beginning of their southern exodus held the Orkneys as their most important base of operation, and there assembled the fleets which for centuries desolated, and in the end reinvigorated the sea coasts of the known world; and to the sure refuge of its commodious sounds and sheltered harbours retreated the rovers when suffering from the effects of storm and battle. ; In the waters of Scalpa Flow, which wash the j southern coast of Pomona Island, Kollo, son of the j then Earl of Orkney, and grandfather of our " William the Conqueror," assembled his fleet, and for six months recruited his forces, preparatory to his descent on Normandy; and the bulk of the men who formed that successful invading army were "Orkney bred or born." Indeed, nearly every headland and acre of the island is associated with some well-known event of that most important era of history.

The Life-boat Saltaire has to contend with strong tides, a rocky coast, and deep water. She is intended to be useful mainly in removing the crews of ships which, drifted down on that rocky coast, are unable to reach port, but which, perhaps, can be reached before they come into actual collision with the gigantic cliffs which everywhere look out towards the Atlantic; or, again, to rescue the crews of vessels which have brought up to their anchors in perilous positions, well knowing that unless aid arrives in time cables will part, and ship and crew instantly be dashed to pieces. She is kept on the point to the south of the town, within a few feet of the water, and is manned by a crew of Stromness fishermen.

Mr. JAMES R. GARRIOOK is the Honorary Secre- tary of this Branch.

To the south of Pomona, and separated from it by a sound named Scalpa Flow, is the island of Hoy, remarkable for its gigantic cliff coast-line; and at the eastern extremity of the island is the landlocked bay called Longhope. The Dickinson Edlestm, a large Life-boat of the first class, and intended for standing out across the Straits under sail, is stationed at this point. She can be launched, to the south-east or west of a spit of sand on which the boat-house is built, without the aid of a carriage, a permanent anchor and haul-off warp being laid out to assist in the process. Vessels dismasted, or with signals of distress flying, have been seen from time to time drifting help- lessly through the firth, which 'is about the stormiest and most dangerous in the world, and no ordinary boat could face the sea, although the Orkney boatmen may be reckoned among the " bravest of the brave;" and it is hoped that aid in a critical moment may be given by means of this Life-boat.

Longhope, like the rest of the Orkneys, has also its historical associations. Among others, Haco, the Norwegian king, chose it as his point of rendezvous for the great armament with which he sailed to do battle with the Scotch king for the Hebrides and the West: and to the same refuge he retreated, broken-hearted and dying, with the remnant of his fleet, when the fight at Largs and the tempest combined had finally checked and rolled back the tide of Scandinavian invasion, never again to be renewed in a tangible shape under the leadership of the Norwegian crown.

Haco died at Kirkwall, and was buried in the first instance in the cathedral, where also was laid to rest the body of Eleanor, the " Flower of Nor- way," the intended bride of the first Scottish James.

From their living so much on the. water the Orkney men are nearly all good seamen, and were celebrated privateersmen, and have in re- cent times contributed the bulk of the fighting men for the navies of certain states aspiring to independence. The Longhope Life-boat is manned by a good selection from this hardy population, and is under the care of Captain EDWARD CORBIGALL, the Honorary Secretary, who is well sup- ported by the Chairman of the Committee, 3. G.

HOODIE HEDDI/B, Esq., who is the owner of the island.

XIX.—BALLYWALTER.

The Admiral Henry Meynell, 32 feet long, 7J feet wide, 10 oars.

BALLYWALTER is a small fishing port on the east coast of Ireland, in county Down. A Life-boat Station was first formed here by the Institution in 1866, as a midway point between Dundrum Bay and the coast about Belfast.

There is here a breakwater, which affords shelter to fishing craft; and though Bally waiter has little pretension as a trading port, it is important as a Life-boat Station, because, from the trend of the coast, and the general depth of water close in shore, an immense number of vessels daily pass to and fro within a short distance of the shore, engaged in the commerce of Donaghadee, Belfast, Derry, and other northern ports.

Within a short distance of the town are numerous isolated and dangerous rocks, which, when j the bulk of the trade was carried on by small coasters, and the lights were not so efficient as now, were a fruitful source of disaster. At the distance of one mile from the shore is a dangerous patch of rock of some extent, covered at half-tide, known as the great Skull Martin, and it was in i consequence of wrecks on this reef that it was ' originally proposed to make a Life-boat Station at Ballywalter. Lighthouses and steam, however, have greatly decreased the perils from this source, and the Life-boat is now not often called out.

The present Life-boat, the Admiral Henry I Meynell, was presented to the Institution by the Misses MEYNELL ISGRAM, in memory of their uncle, in the year 1866.

The boat-house is built in a very convenient position, inside the breakwater, and the boat being : kept on a carriage, can be launched at any time of ; tide under shelter.

i The station is well superintended by the Rev. H. WILSON, who is the Honorary Secretary for this Branch, and the fishing population furnish a hardy and efficient crew.