Is it the hireling's greed of grain Urges them o'er the seething main ? Is it to glean with wrecker's glee The doleful harvest of the sea ? Is it to grasp with iron grip The riddled flag of the foeman's ship— To haul to port the hard-won prize Before a navy's wondering eyes ? Nay'. 'Tis to rescue human life They battle with the waves' fierce strife; Bacti stalwart arm is strained to save A brother from a watery grave.

Bent on a high, heroic deed, They cleave the .deep with arrowy speed— A gallant, noble, fearless band, The pride and flower of Albion's Jand.

All honour to the seaman bold Who manned our ships in days of old; Through them old England loudly spoke In thunder from her native oak; They warded well the stormy sea, They kept our country great and free: Their glorious acts from age to age Shall live and glow on History's page.

Yet braver not the mighty dead Who for their country's freedom bled Amid the din and shock of war At Camperdown and Trafalgar, Than, those who, moved by pity's power, The Life-boat launch in danger's hour, And hasten o'er the billows dark To save the crew of the sinking bark.

K. A.

HISTORY OF THE LIFE-BOAT, AND ITS WORK.

By RICHARD LEWIS, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, "With Illustrations and Wreck Chart. Cr. 8vo., cloth extra, price 5s. Just published by Mae- raiJlan and Co., and, to be had bj? order, of all booksellers. JTOTICI!.—The next number of the " Life-boat Journal" roll be published m the 1st of February, 1875..