HARTLEPOOL.—On the 4th January, at about 6 A.M., the s.s. Balmoral, of London, ran ashore on the North Sands, off Hartle- pool, at half-ebb tide. At low water she was high and dry; but when the tide rose the wind and sea began to make. At about 11 A.M. fire steam-tugs arrived, and they remained by the vessel until about 4 P.M., but all their united efforts to get her off the sand failed. At about noon the Hartlepool No. 3 Life-boat was launched, and was towed by a steam-tug to the vessel, arriving about 1.30. The boat- remained by her for about half-an- hour, when 9 of the steamer's Crew deter- mined to leave, and were brought ashore by the boat. The No. 1 Life-boat also proceeded to the steamer, and after re- maining by her for some time, 8 more of those on board decided to leave her, as the fires had been put out, and the sea was washing right over her decks. The captain and mate declined to leave their vessel, as they thought she would stand until the next tide. The Life-boat, there- fore, proceeded ashore with the 8 men, leaving the master and mate on board.

However, at about 5 P.M., a light was shown from the steamer, and the No. 3 Life-boat thereupon again went off to her in tow of a steam-tug, and took off the master and mate, and the Life-boat being towed back to her station, landed them at , about 6.15 P.M.

WHITBY.—On the 5th January, the Life-boat Robert Whitworth was launched at 10.40 P.M., and rescued the crew, con- sisting of 22 persons, from the s.s. Oscar, of Leith, which vessel had struck off the Whitby Rocks during thick weather and in a heavy sea, and had sunk. On the fol- lowing morning the boat again went off to the steamer, taking the captain, who brought ashore various articles, the vessel being on the point of becoming a total wreck. She was on a voyage from Shields to Cadiz, with a cargo of coal, fire-clay, and bricks.

KINGSTOWN.—On the 25th January, at 9.30 A.M., a vessel was observed on the outside of the Kish Bank, about two miles distant from the Kish Lightship. The coxswain of the Kingstown Life-boat Princess Royal at once called for volunteers to man the boat; whereupon a number of fishermen offered their services, and at 10 o'clock the boat was launched, and proceeded to the vessel, which proved to be the Austrian brig Olinka. Her hull was under water with the exception of the starboard quarter, where her crew, con- sisting of 10 men and 2 boys, were con- gregated. With some difficulty these persons were taken on board the Life-boat, which then proceeded back to the shore.

A strong wind was blowing, accompanied by a heavy sea and thick snow showers, during the performance of this service.

The cold at times was most intense.

H.R.H. THE CROWN PRINCE OF AUSTRIA, who was in Dublin at the time the service was rendered, presented 301. to the crew of the Life-boat, in recognition of their services in rescuing the Austrian crew.

An extra reward was also granted to them by the Institution.

GORLESTON, SUFFOLK.—On the 25th January, the Life-boat Leicester went off to the barque William Naizby, of London, which vessel had parted both her chains in a heavy squall, and had afterwards come into collision with the steamer Romeo, of Goole, in Yarmouth Roads.

The tide being flood,and the wind northerly and very strong, it was deemed impossible to get the barque into Yarmouth Harbour, and she was, therefore, taken by two steam-tugs to Harwich, which port was safely reached in the evening—the Life- boat accompanying them in case of acci- dent. The vessel had lost her bowsprit, and part of her fore-foot, having touched the Scroby Sand, and her crew had left her.

PENNON.—On the 25th January, during a strong gale from the N., while the disabled steamer Pioneer, of Dublin, was being towed into the Menai Straits, the hawsers of the tugs broke, and the vessel drove on Puffin Island. The Penmon Life-boat Christopher Brown was towed out through a heavy sea, by the steam-tug Royal Saxon, but could not get alongside the vessel on account of the heavy surf.

She was, therefore, towed round to the lee-side of the island, and, on arriving there, it was found that 10 of the vessel's crew had been landed by some Penmon pilots, 3 others having been unfortunately drowned. These 10 men were taken into the Life-boat, put on board the steam-tug, and safely landed at Beaumaris.

The thanks of the Institution, inscribed on vellum, were voted to Mr. W. M.

PRESTON, the Honorary Secretary of the Penmon Branch, in acknowledgment of his services on this occasion. He ran a distance of four miles to the station to get the Life-boat ready, and afterwards went oat in the boat, acting as coxswain.

RAMSGATE.—On the 26th January, at 7.45 A.M., during a moderate wind from the N., a barque was observed ashore on the North Sand Head, Goodwin Sands.

The harbour steam-tug Vulcan and Life- boat Bradford were immediately manned, and left the harbour at 8 A.M. On reach- ing the sands a London steam-tug was seen riding near, and she was joined by another. On the tide flowing, these two tugs endeavoured to tow the vessel off; but their efforts to do so proved unsuc- cessful, and as the tide was driving the barque against the higher part of the sand, the master requested the Ramsgate men, who had remained by the vessel in case farther help should be required, to take a letter ashore to the Italian Consul.

The tug and Life-boat went ashore with this letter, and were requested by the Consul to return to the barque and assist to get her afloat. They there upon again proceeded to the vessel, and by means of laying out an anchor and towing, in con- junction with the other tugs, the barque was eventually got off the sand, and taken by the London tugs to Gravesend, three of the Ramsgate Life-boatmen remaining on board the vessel to assist. The Ramsgate steamer and Life-boat arrived back at their station at 8.30 A.M. on the 27th inst.

The barque was the Prospero, belonging to Genoa, bound from Newcastle to Con- stantinopta; with a cargo of coal.

RAMSGATE AND BROADSTAIRS.—'On the 23rd March, a vessel was seen ashore on the Goodwin Sands. The Vulcan steam- tug and the Life-boat immediately pro- ceeded out, and steered direct for the spot. On arriving near the sand, the Life-boat was slipped, and made sail for the vessel, the anchor was let go, and the boat veered alongside. The Broadstairs Life-boat had arrived a few minutes pre- viously. The vessel was found to be the brigantine, Florida, of Christiania, bound from Frederickstadt to Granville, with a cargo of deals, and the master at once engaged the services of the Life-boats and steamer to endeavour to save her. The sails were then furled, an anchor laid out, and as the tide rose, the tug backed in, and, having attached her large towing hawser on board the vessel, commenced towing. After towing for about an hour, the brigantine striking heavily on the ground the whole of the time and un- shipping her rudder, she was got afloat, and taken to Ramsgate Harbour. The two Life-boats were taken astern, where they assisted to steer the disabled vessel.

EASTSGATE.—On the 29th March, during a strong gale from the E.N.E., accompa- nied by a heavy sea, the barge Star of Peace, of London, was observed in a dangerous position riding at anchor in Pegwell Bay, all her sails having been blown away. The steam-tug Vulcan and the Ramsgate Life-boat proceeded to her assistance. After the Life-boat bad made two unsuccessful attempts to succour the distressed sailors, she sailed close along- side the barge, let go her anchor to wind- ward, and rescued the crew of 3 men.

The vessel was nearly full of water, and was striking heavily on the ground. The Life-boat then sailed towards the tug, and was towed back to her station.

WINCHELSEA.—On the 28th January, at about 12.45 P.M., signals of distress were observed to be shown from a vessel oppo- site No. 31 Tower. The wind was blow- ing from the S.S.W., accompanied by thick rain, and a heavy sea was breaking at the time. The Winchelsea Life-boat Storm Sprite put off, and succeeded in saving the crew, consisting of 6 men, from the vessel, which proved to be the schooner Fearless, of Guernsey, bound thence to London with a cargo of stone. All her sails had been blown away, and she had stranded, and was likely to become a wreck.

RHOSNEIGIR, ANGLESEY.—On the 1st March, at about 3 A.M., a light was seen for a short time, apparently from a vessel off Rhosneigir. The crew of the Life-boat Thomas Lingham assembled, and the boat was got out, but the light disappeared, and it was thought that the vessel had proceeded seaward again. In about three quarters of an hour the light was again observed, and the Life-boat then proceeded out in the direction in which it had been seen; but, unfortunately, before she had reached the vessel, the latter had been totally wrecked, and, owing to the dark- ness of the night and the heavy sea, only 1 of the crew was saved. He was found upon a small piece of rock, in a helpless condition. After having taken him on board, the boat remained out until day- light, in hopes of being able to find some of the other men. It was afterwards stated by the rescued sailor that the cause of the light being missed was that the lamp was washed off by the sea, and it was some time before another could be obtained. The vessel was the Dutch brigantine Elizabeth Kloosttrboer, on a voyage from Falmouth to Liverpool, with a cargo of horse beans.

GREENCASTLE.—On the 19th February, at 5 P.M., a schooner was observed at anchor, in a very dangerous position, off Ennishowen Head. The wind was blowing strongly from the S.S.W., and the sea was very heavy. The Greencastle Life-boat went off to her assistance, and brought the crew, consisting of 5 men, ashore.

The vessel proved to be the schooner Mary Elizabeth, of Beaumaris, bound from Workington to Londonderry, with a cargo of bar iron; she had two anchors out, but was labouring very badly, and had lost her fore-topmast and head gear. When the boat reached the spot she had much difficulty in going alongside, as the main boom of the vessel was flying about in all directions, her crew being quite unable to haul it amidships and secure it.

CRUDEN.—On the 27th February, the Life-boat Peep o' Day was launched at about 3.30 A.M., and rescued the crew, consisting of 3 men, from the schooner Blossom, of Aberdeen. This vessel had missed stays in the bay, and bad gone ashore on Cruden Sands. It was extremely dark at the time, and there was a surf on the sands. The Life-boat crew are re- ported to have mustered promptly and performed this service in the most satis- factory manner.

SELSEY.—On the 27th February, at 7.30 P.M., flare-up lights were seen to the westward of Selsey Bill. The wind at the time was blowing a strong gale from the S.W. The Selsey Life-boat Four Sisters was launched, and proceeded to the vessel, which was found to be the barque Sueine Meinde, of Pillau, North Germany, bound from that port to Falmouth, with a cargo of wheat. She had stranded on the " Streets," had lost her rudder, and was half full of water. The Life-boat remained alongside for some hours, but as there was no chance of the vessel being got off, the crew of 10 men were taken on board the Life-boat, and brought safely ashore.

THURSO, N.B.—On the evening of the 7th March, the wind blew a heavy gale here from the N.N.W. to N.W., and the harbour master and Custom House officer at Scrabster were apprehensive that if the sea got heavier as the night advanced, the crews of some of the vessels which were lying too far out in the bay might be endangered. The Life-boat Charley Lloyd, stationed at Scrabster, therefore, proceeded out, took off the crews, numbering 13 men in all, from the schooners, Phoenix, of London, Mary, of Inverness, and Admiral of Thurso, and landed them at Scrabster Quay. She then went out again, and asked all the crews of the other vessels in the bay whether they wished to be taken ashore. The crews, consisting of 7 men, of the schooner James, of Thurso, and smack Mary Anne, of St. Andrew's, ac- cepted the offer of the Life-boat, and were also safely landed. Fortunately, the whole of the vessels rode out the gale in safety.

SKEGNESS.—On the 8th March, during a strong N.W. gale and heavy sea, the schooner Henry, of Whitby, appeared to be in distress. The Skegness Life-boat Herbert Ingram at once went off to her, and placed 2 men on board, who assisted to get the vessel safely to Boston. But for this help, the schooner would probably have been lost on the Inner Knock Sand, as no ordinary boat could have gone out to her in the heavy sea running at the time.

APPLEDORE, DEVON. — On the 24th March, at about 1.15 P.M., a schooner was observed running for Bideford Harbour.

The wind was then blowing a gale from the N., with heavy snow squalls. When between the Fairway and Bar buoys the vessel was caught in a violent and dense snow squall, completely enveloping her for a time, and on its clearing away she was discovered to be on the South Tail Bank, surrounded by broken water. The Appledore No. 1 Life-boat was immediately launched, and succeeded in rescuing the crew, consisting of 3 men, and in landing them safely at 3.30 P.M. The vessel was the schooner Heroine, of Dartmouth, bound from Lydney to Fremington, with a cargo of coal—she became a total wreck. Had there been no Life-boat on this station the shipwrecked crew would doubtless have perished from cold in the rigging, so severe was the wind, hail, snow, and frost.

It was on this same Sunday afternoon that the terrible catastrophe happened to H.M.S. Eurydice off the Isle of Wight.

HOLY ISLAND.—On the 21st March, at about 11 P.M., signals of distress were seen just beyond the bar. There was a heavy rolling sea, and the night was very dark. The Life-boat Grace Darling was launched, and went out to the vessel, but great caution was necessary in approaching her, as she was rolling very heavily, and every roll of the sea swept her decks.

The crew of three men were holding on to the bulwarks, and they were most thankful to see the Life-boat approach, as they were in great danger of being washed away. They were eventually taken onboard the Life-boat, and brought safely ashore, the vessel being left at anchor.

On the following morning the Life-boat again went off, with the view of saving her, but on account of the heavy sea, she was obliged to return to the shore. A second attempt was afterwards made, when the boat succeeded in boarding her, and ! having received some aid from a passing tug, she was brought safely into port, j She was the schooner Dispatch, of Sunder- j land, bound from that port to Kirkcaldy.

HAYLE. — On the 24th March, the B.s. Eagle, of Neath, bound from that port to Hayle, with a cargo of coal, in making for the latter harbour, grounded on the bar, at about 9.30 A.M. ; she struck heavily, knocked away her rudder, and became unmanageable. The wind was blowing strong from the N.E., and the sea on the bar was so heavy that it was impossible for any boat but a Life-boat to render any assistance in case of need.

The Life-boat Isis therefore went off to her aid, and remained by her until the tide fell, and all danger appeared to be over.

PORTHDINLLAEN.—On the 24th March, during a heavy gale from the N., accom- panied by snow showers, the schooner Velocity, of Nefyn, bound from Silloth to Nefyn, with coal, /while at anchor in Porthdinllaen Bay, was observed to show a signal of distress. The crew of the Life-boat George Moore were imme- diately assembled, and the boat was launched; she then succeeded in bringing the vessel's crew of 3 men safely to land.

The Life-boat crew afterwards remained up all the night on the look-out, in case their services might again be needed, as it was blowing a very heavy gale.

On the 29th March, at about 3 P.M., during a heavy gale from the N.E., the schooner Margaret Ann, of Carnarvon, was seen to be riding heavily at her anchors, and at low water she struck the ground severely and unshipped her rudder. The George Moore was again launched through a heavy sea, and, her assistance having been offered and accepted, 3 of the Life- boatmen went on board the vessel and assisted at the pumps, the boat remaining by her until high water. The vessel carried a crew of 4 men.

CAISTER.—On the 28th March, a vessel was seen by her lights to be approaching the Barber Sand, and to lay fast on it about 7.45 P.M., when flares were burned immediately on board her. The Caister No. 1 Life-boat was forthwith launched, and on arriving at the sand it was found that it was the barque Theresa, of North Shields, which had gone ashore there.

Her crew, consisting of 8 men, together with 3 of the master's children, were in their boat on the inside of the sand, holding the boat end on with her bow to the sea. The Life-boat proceeded to the weather side of the boat to protect her from the breakers, and was thus enabled to rescue the 11 persons—the vessel became a total wreck. While this service was being performed, flares were seen in the direction of the North Scroby Sand.

The Life-boat,therefore, proceeded towards the beach, and by means of signals and shouting called off the No. 2 Life-boat, when the rescued crew were transferred to that boat and taken ashore. The No. 1 boat then proceeded in the direction in which the other signals had been seen, and found the brig Wladiener, of Libau, riding at anchor just off the Scroby Sand, having previously stranded on it, and driven off full of water. With difficulty the Life- boat succeeded in boarding the vessel, which was then lying over on her star- board broadside, and rescued her crew, consisting of 8 men. The boat remained by her for about twenty minutes, when the vessel sunk at her anchors.

ST. IVES, CORNWALL. — On the 29th March, during a storm and tremendous sea, accompanied by blinding showers of hail and snow, the ketch Greyhound, of Porthcawl, was observed running for the harbour. The. Life-boat Covent Garden was launched and proceeded towards the vessel, and after most strenuous efforts on the part of the Life-boatmen they suc- ceeded in getting alongside her. They then ran warps from the pier to the ketch, and were thus enabled, after great exertions, to assist in getting her into a place of safety. She had a crew of 3 men.

SIDMOUTH AND EXMOUTH. — On the 29th March, the smack Lady of the Lake, of Portsmouth, was seen to show signals of distress off High Peak. A strong E. to E.N.E. gale was blowing at the time, accompanied by snow. The Lifeboat Bimington, stationed at Sidmouth, put off to her aid, and found that 3 of her crew had taken to their small boat, and were drifting on the lee shore into the heavy breakers. The Life-boat took these men from the boat, which was shortly after- wards upset in the surf. The master having remained on board the vessel, the lifeboat went to his aid, but he still refused to leave; and after remaining for some time the boat proceeded ashore and landed the 3 men at Exmouth, it being impossible for her to reach her own station in the teeth of the gale.

On the evening of the same day, a signal of distress was shown from the smack, when the Exmouth Life-boat Victoria was taken by land to Budleigh Salterton and launched. She proceeded to the vessel, and found that the master, who had previously refused to come ashore, now wished to leave the vessel.

He was therefore taken into the Life-boat, and brought safely ashore.

WATCHET.—On the 29th March, the sloop Olive Branch, of Cardiff, exhibited a signal of distress. The Life-boat Joseph Somes immediately proceeded to her assist- ance, and by skilful management she succeeded in getting alongside to leeward of the vessel, when the crew, consisting of 3 men, jumped into the boat, and were brought safely ashore. The severity of the gale had caused the vessel to drag her anchors, and she had stranded at Warren Shore, about one mile from Watchet, but was subsequently got off.

She was bound from Shirehampton to Newport, in ballast. The Life-boat had previously been out to the stranded trow .Base, of Gloucester, but that crew was saved by the coastguard and fishermen by means of life-lines, &c., the water being too shallow for the Life-boat to approach the wreck.

NEW ROMNEY.—On the 30th March, during a N. wind, and a heavy ground sea, rockets were fired from a vessel close to the beach, near the Life-boat station.

The Dr. Hatton Life-boat was launched, and boarded the vessel, which proved to be the barque Elizabeth and Catherine, of Sunderland, bound thence to Alexandria, with a cargo of coal. She was leaking and was close to the shore, but in no immediate danger of breaking up, as the tide would eventually leave her. At the master's request the Life-boat remained by her for nearly three hours, and then returned ashore, the vessel being upright and in no danger of capsizing. The barque was subsequently, after several attempts, towed off by three steam-tugs.