XXXVIII.—WALMER.

Centurion, 36 feet long, 9 feet 4 inches beam, 12 oars.

TOWARDS the end of the year 1856 a Life-boat was placed on this station by the Institution, in aid of which the Royal Thames Yacht Club con- tributed 16 M.

In the course of a few weeks she was instru- mental in saving 15 men, the crew of the barque Reliance, wrecked in a violent gale ; subsequently she saved 6 other lives, besides rendering valuable assistance to many vessels in distress.

In'1871 a new boat was launched, for the due establishment of which, including a new house, a friend of the Institution, through G. H. ASTON, Esq., of the Stock Exchange, contributed 1,6002.

The present Walmer Life-boat has saved 53 lives since she was placed on the station, her principal services being to ships wrecked on the Goodwin Sands.

The number of beachmen residing in the imme- diate vicinity always admits of an unusually fine body of men being at the disposal of the coxswain in bad weather.

The boat-house being built on the top of the steep beach of shingle, for which this part of the coast is remarkable, little time is ever lost in get- ting the boat fairly afloat, much of the service being performed under sail.

XXXIX.—NORTH DEAL.

The Van Kook, 40 feet long, 10 feet broad, 12 oars.

THE Van Kook, like several other Life-boats on the Sussex and Kent coasts, is built with a special view to work under sail. The prevailing gales generally set sufficiently along shore to allow a good sailing-boat from Deal to lay off to the Goodwin Sands, while the rapid tides and the distance would preclude the same voyage being successfully pro- secuted under oars.

The Van Kook, therefore, is always kept on the top of the beach, ready for launching at short notice; the sails being hoisted at the moment of touching the water.

E. W. COOKE, R.A., Esq., and his friends pre- sented 431/. to the Institution in 1863-4, to defray her cost. She has been the means of saving 103 lives from various w recks, besides which she has rendered assistance to many vessels which were ultimately got afloat and taken into port.

Captain W. M. SANCTUARY, R.N., is the principal Honorary Secretary for Deal, Walmer, and Kings- downe stations.

XL.—ALNMOUTH.

John Atkinson, 32 feet long, 7 feet 5 inches beam, 10 oars.

THE first Life-boat stationed at the mouth of the river Aln was presented to the Duchess of NORTH- UMBERLAND by the late Mr. James BKECHING, who obtained the Northumberland prize of 105?. in 1851 for a self-righting Life-boat.

In 1853 the late Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND transferred the boat to the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION.

This Life-boat was replaced in 1865 by the John Atkinson, Miss WARDELL, of Tunbridge Wells, having presented 3'20l. to the Institution to defray its cost.

The river is very narrow near the mouth, and the boat might be useful in assisting coasting vessels which fail to get over the bar in bad weather.

Twelve lives have been saved by the new Life- boat since the formation of the station.

The boat is kept on a carriage ready to transport along the sands to the lee of any wreck ashore out of the reach of the rocket apparatus.

Alnmouth is a small town on the north side of the stream, frequented by bathers from the vicinity in the summer.

The Honorary Secretary for the branch is H. SMITH, Esq.