FERRYSIDE, CAEMAHTHEN BAY.—The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has recently provided a new Life-boat for this station—the boat, like its predecessor, being named the City of Manchester. It is 32 feet long, 7£ feet wide, and rows 10 oars double banked, and is furnished with a new transporting-carriage. The boat has since been tried by its crew in a rough sea; after thoroughly testing its qualities in every way, they spoke in the highest terms of its behaviour, and stated that they were pleased and prowl to possess such a boat. On the way to its station the Life-boat was taken to Manchester, and publicly exhibited there on the 15th July. There is a handsome and com- modious house at the Ferryside which has recently been thoroughly renovated for the reception of the Life-boat, S. L. HELM, Esq., of Manchester, having, through the Manchester Branch, presented to the Institution some time since the cost of the boat-nonse in memory of his late wife. The Manchester Branch, of which ROBEET WHITWOBTH, Esq., and A. H. HEYWOOD, Esq., are Treasurers, and the Rev. E. HEWLETT, of St. Paul's, is Hon, Secretary, has been instrumental in providing 16 of the 269 Life-boats of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, the Branch boats being stationed at the fol- lowing places.—The City of Manchester, Carmarthen Bay; the John Stuart, Cardigan ; the Albert Victor, Berwick-on- Tweed; the Robert Whitworth, Whitby; the Henry Nixson No. 1, Maryport; the Alfred and Ernest, Courtown; the William Woodcock, Lyme Regis; the John Gray Sell, Llanddwyn; the John Ashbury, Port- madoc; the Salford, Blyth; the Henry Nixson No. 2, Abergele; the Manchester and Salford Sunday School, Douglas; the Two Sisters, "Ramsey; the Mabel Louisa, Abersoch; the Job Hindley, Seaton Carew; 1 and the Mary Brundret, Torquay. Not a j winter passes without some of these boats rendering important service in saving life from shipwreck.

SOITTHEND, ESSEX.—On the application of the local residents, the Institution has formed a Life-boat establishment at South- end, on the Coast of Essex. In consequence of the extreme flatness of the shore, and the inequality of the ground between high and low water marks, it would be impracticable to launch a Life-boat from the beach at low water without great delay. The Pier Company therefore afforded the Institution every possible facility to enable it to place the Boat at the end of the Pier, which,, as is generally known, is more than a mile and j a quarter in length. A suitable Life-boat has accordingly been provided, which is suspended from davits, and can be launched into a sufficient depth of water at the lowest spring tides. The Life-boat is intended to assist the crews of vessels which may go ashore on the Nore and Leigh Middle Sands, and other outlying banks at the entrance of the Thames. It is 25 feet long, 7J feet wide, rows 8 oars double banked, and is supplied with the usual equipment of the Boats of the Institution. The cost of the boat has been defrayed from the Life-boat Fund collected by Mr. EDWIN J. BKETT, through the medium of his Magazine, the 'Boys of England.' The public inauguration of the new Life-boat Station took place on the 13th November, in the presence of a large number of persons, amid considerable enthusiasm, everything passing off in the most satisfactory manner. The preliminary arrangements being complete, the Rev. F. THACKEEAT, Chairman of the Local Board and of the Local Committee, in a few words introduced Mr. BRETT, who said that it gave him much pleasure to be present on that occasion. Should the new Life-boat be but the means of res- cuing one life from a watery grave, he would feel amply repaid for the efforts he had made in the collection of the Life-boat Fund. Capt. the Hon. H. W. CHETWYND, E.N., the London District Inspector of Life-boats to the Institution, then said:— " As the representative here to-day of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, I have great pleasure in receiving from you this very handsome gift of a Life-boat to it and the town of Southend, and I beg to offer you the sincere thanks of the Institution for it. The formation of a new Branch of the Institution, and the consequent placing of another boat must always be a gratifying incident in its history, showing as it does that the Institution continues to enjoy the well-earned confidence of the Public, and enabling it to enrol under its banner as fellow-workers in the great and noble cause it has in hand the members of such a community as that of Southend.

"This Station forms the 269th established by the Institution on our coasts—the whole of which have been gifts to it from various sources; indeed the list of donors includes names from all classes of Society. Some of the Life-boats have been given by individuals in memory of departed friends, others commemorate memorable or auspicious events, as those given by the Freemasons of England to commemorate the safe return of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales from India, while some of our numerous others, including the one we are met here to inaugurate to-day, were from various branches of the Press; some from inland towns and districts, which form striking examples of the universal interest in and sympathy for our Seamen that exists all through the country in the difficulties and dangers they have to contend with.

Nor is this feeling confined to the old country, for more than one boat has come either from individuals or communities of Englishmen residing in foreign countries. Some of the benevolent societies, including the Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Foresters, and the Ancient Shepherds, enjoy with many others a place on the list. Nor can I omit a boat contributed by Penny Readings, one presented by the " Covent Garden " Life-boat Fund, Life-boats given by the Sunday Schools of two of our large cities, and two boats by the working- people of Edinburgh and Glasgow. But in all this long list of munificent donations, I think the most striking and heart-stirring gift received by the Institution was the sum of 4?. in coppers given by the children of the Ragged Schools of London.

" These few facts will show you how confirmed and widespread is the sympathy with and confidence in the Institution felt by the Public of all classes, and which, we do not doubt, this day's proceedings will increase and strengthen in this town and neighbourhood.

" In addition to maintaining these Stations in a thoroughly efficient state, and paying the crews of the Life-boats the moderate allowances agreed upon for going out to exercise once a quarter, and for going to the rescue of seamen in distress, the Institution spends yearly considerable sums in rewards to other boats and their crews for saving life from shipwreck.

" Since its first establishment in 1824 the Institution has contributed directly, either through its own Life-boats or by rewards to others unconnected with it, to the saving of upwards of 26,000 lives from shipwreck. During the year 1878 the number was 616, of which 471 were saved by the Boats of the Institution.

"Notwithstanding that the affairs of the Institution are managed with a remarkable combination of economy and judicious liberality, of course a very large sum is required annually for its maintenance ; this sum amounts in round numbers to nearly 40,000?., and for it the Institution has to look entirely to the Public, for those grand words, so characteristic of charitable institutions in this country, " Supported by Voluntary Contributions," are in its case literally and strictly applicable, not one penny of aid being received from any other source.

" I am afraid I am detaining you too long, but there is one other branch of the subject I must allude to. All these magnificent Life-boats, with their complete and costly equipment, the combined result of actual experience and scientific knowledge, would be utterly useless without the aid of the noble-hearted and gallant men who form their crews. The most cold-blooded, unimpassioned stoic existing could not, I believe, read without emotion the records of the noble deeds done and devotion to self-imposed duty displayed by these men. I have no hesitation in saying the crews of the Life-boats have over and over again displayed, and are constantly displaying, as true courage and heroism as was ever shown on the field of battle.

Indeed, it cannot but be most gratifying to anyone with British blood in his veins, to see these indisputable proofs that the good old British spirit that has so long carried our beloved flag triumphantly through the battle and the breeze, is as strong as ever it was; nor is this spirit confined to the men, for events have occurred within the last few months which show that the race of Grace Darlings still exists, the Institution having recently performed the graceful and pleasing duty of decorating with its medal five young ladies for fearlessly dashing out into a rough sea in their light pleasure-boat, and by the exertion of consummate presence of mind, and thoroughly good management of their boat, succeeding in snatching from certain and inevitable death an unfortunate man whose boat had capsized.

" I again thank you, Mr. BRETT, for this hand- some gift, feeling confident the untarnished name of the noble cause to which it is devoted will be gallantly upheld by our friends and now fellow- workers, the boatmen of Southend, and that the remainder of the community, to whom it is equally presented, will do its part by contributing liberally towards the necessary expenses of its maintenance in a state of efficiency." The Rev. F. THACKBBAT having thanked the donor of the Institution in the name of the town, Mrs. E. J. BRETT stepped forward and named the boat, in the usual manner, the Boys of England and Edwin J. Brett. The Life-boat was then lowered into the water, and tried under sails and oars, when it gave every satisfaction to the crew.