One of the most gal- lant Life-boat services ever rendered on the Scotch coast was performed by the Montrose Life-boats on the 21st Decem- ber, it being attended with the greatest risk to some of the brave Life-boat men.

It appears that at daybreak the brig Henrietta, of Memel, was seen in distress off the Sandy Ness, Montrose, while the wind was blowing strongly from the S.E.

and a very heavy sea running. The crew of the two Life-boats and the Life Bri- gade Volunteers turned out with all speed, and the larger boat, the Mincing Lane, was rowed down the river to the mouth of the harbour, by which time the vessel had driven on the Sands about 200 yards north of the Forfar and Kin- cardine Battery, and three-quarters of a mile away from the harbour. In that position the Mincing Lane Life-boat could only get to the wreck by crossing the Annat Sand Bank, on which a terrific sea was running; and, as it was not consi- dered possible for her to do that, the smaller Life-boat, the Roman Governor of Caer Hun, was taken on its carriage along the beach, with the view of launch- ing abreast of the stranded ship. The gallant crew of the other boat would not, however, wait for her to be launched, but at onee dashed on to and across the Sands, where a tremendous sea had to be en- countered, and that, too, in the most dangerous manner, the boat having her broadside exposed to it the whole dis- tance. She had, however, nearly got suc- cessfully across, and was in shallower water, when a huge wave curled up and broke over her, completely engulfing her and lifting her into a perpendicular position, smashing several of the oais, and washing four of the crew overboard.

Knowing that, with their cork life-belts on, the four Life-boat men would float, the rest of the crew heroically determined to save the brig's crew, and then pick up their own men. Coming to leeward of the •wreck, they dropped alongside,, breaking two of their oars in so doing, and cried to the shipwrecked men to jump. This six of them, including the captain and mate, did; but the other three — one of them a little boy—held back, and, as some time had already elapsed since the men were washed out of the boat, they for the present abandoned the snip to save them, rightly deeming their own men were by that time in greater peril than those on board the brig. The men had floated round the weather side of the vessel, and ropes had been flung to them by those on board the brig, but had not been caught. In coming round tae stern of the ship, WM. MEAKKS, the coxswain, who was one of those in the water, was struck on the breast by her rudder, and ren- dered almost insensible. Before the six men were got on board the Life-boat the four Life-boat men had drifted about 200 yards north, and, as their comrades could only take one of them up at a time, a considerable time elapsed before they were all saved. The men were thoroughly exhausted and benumbed, for they had then been about twenty minutes in the -water; and, as they could do nothing to assist themselves, much difficulty was expe- rienced in getting them on board. By this time the Life-boat had drifted some dis- tance, and, as it was observed from the shore that all the shipwrecked men had not been taken off, the other Life-boat was, with difficulty, launched and pulled to the brig, when she saved the remaining 3 men. The Life-boats then quickly made for the shore, which was reached in safety, and the four exhausted Life- boat men were assisted a distance of a mile to the Life-boat house, in the room attached to which every preparation in the way-of hot water, blankets, &c., had been provided for their revival. They were carefully tended by a doctor ; but it was nearly an hour before they recovered, and it was thought that but for the faci- lities thus at hand two at least of the poor fellows would have succumbed to the cold and exposure. As it was, one of the brave fellows, ALEXANDER PATON, unfortunately perished a few days after- wards from the effects of the exposure.

The Institution expressed its deep sym- pathy with Ms widow, and voted 501. in aid of the local fund raised for her relief.

The Society also granted a silver medal to each of the two coxswains, WILLIAM MEAKNS and WILLIAM MEARNS, jun., in acknowledgment of their long and gallant services in the Life-boats. It was truly remarked that the Life-boat services rendered on tkis occasion were of the most daring and heroic character, and deserving of the highest praise.

The Mincing Lane had scarcely been housed when a schooner was observed standing right into the harbour; and, as she was in great danger of going ashore, the Life-boat crews were again called out, and, willing as ever, they at once re- sponded, and launched their boat. It fortunately happened, however, that the schooner belonged to Montrose, and the master was enabled to bring her safely into harbour without the Life-boat's assistance..