On the morning of the 27th September, a very gallant service was performed by the Institution's tubular Life-boat Willie and Arthur, stationed at New Brighton.

During the previous night a storm of unusual violence had raged over the greater part of these islands, and heavy damage both by sea, and land followed.

The gale, which had commenced at W.S.W., veered round to the N.W. towards day- light, and a sea, which is described as terrific, was breaking over the banks and shoals at the mouth of the Mersey.

At daybreak, a signal indicating that a distressed vessel required Life-boat aid was exhibited from the Rock Lighthouse.

The New Brighton Life-boat was at once launched, and proceeded, in tow of the steamer Spindrift, in the direction of the wreck—the ship Ellen Southard, of Rich- mond, Maine, U.S.—-which lay in the midst of the breakers on Taylor's Bank, at the entrance of the Mersey. On the way out, the New Brighton boat was passed by the Liverpool Harbour Board tubular Life- boat, which being provided with a faster steam-tug—the Rattler—attained a suffi- ciently weatherly position first. That Life- boat in due time cast off from her steam- tug, and, dashing into the broken water under oars, gained the side of the wreck.

The Ellen Southard was a timber ship, and had been, beating on the bank the greater part of the night; her bottom was fairly driven in; her masts had been cut away or fallen, and the crew with difficulty maintained themselves on the top of the deck-load of timber, over which the water repeatedly swept. The captain's wife made a brave spring from the wreck to the Liver- pool Life-boat, as it rose on the top of the wave; others were hauled through the sea to the Life-boat by ropes; and finally, all on board being removed, the Life-boat shoved off, and threading her way through the mass of floating wreck and timber amidst great peril, drew near to the edge of the breakers, and to deeper and safer water.

The coxswain, Mr. JAMES MARTIN, now ordered the foresail to be set to steady the boat in. running to leeward, and no doubt all on board considered that the worst of the peril was past; the captain's wife had just exclaimed, " Let us thank God we are saved!" when a huge wave was seen careering down on them: it .has been- described as appearing " like a high wall." The foresail was partly set, and the boat's quarter was towards the advancing wave; the coxswain shouted out to " hold on !" fearing that some might be washed out; but the "high wall " lifted the boat up like a plaything on its front as it marched on, and in another instant rolled it clean over. Thirty-two persons were now struggling in the midst of the broken water, striving, as they rose to the surface from under the boat, to save themselves by clinging to her as she tossed about bottom up. Three were drowned. The master of the wreck, Captain D. H. WOODWORTH, was seen to rise to the sur- face near the boat, and look round; his wife rose immediately afterwards close to him ; she threw her arms round his neck, and they went down together. Others, after keeping themselves on the bottom of the Life-boat for a short time, became exhausted, were washed off, and perished.

Two men, one a sailor and the other a Life-boatman, were seen on a spar toge- ther, but the mast of the Life-boat, which had washed out of her, lay across the throat of the latter, and he was drowned, notwithstanding his life-belt, and the sailor beside him was saved.

The steam-tug Rattler, beholding this terrible catastrophe, but from the shallow- ness of the water unable to render assist- ance, promptly signalled to the New Brighton Life-boat, then a considerable distance to leeward, making the best of her way to shore, after having observed that the Liverpool boat had got the wrecked crew safely on board. The New Brighton crew fortunately observed the signal, put about, and, with desperate energy, impelled their boat once more against the storm, in among the breakers, and to the side of the overturned boat.

It is said that the feat was accomplished in little over ten minutes, but the master of the wreck, his wife, the pilot, 2 of the mates, and 4 of the seamen, to- gether with 3 of the crew of the cap- sized Life-boat, had already perished.

The New Brighton Life-boat saved the remainder, consisting of 8 seamen of the wreck, and 11 Life-boatmen.

It is characteristic of the men who are willing to undergo such risks for hu- manity's sake, that when those on. the.