AT the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at Willis's Booms, King Street, St. James's Square, on Tuesday, the 16th day of March 1880, His Grace THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, Lord Privy Seal, President of the Institution, in following Report of the Committee was read by the the Chair, the Secretary:— ANNUAL REPORT.

THE Committee of Management of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have much satisfaction in being able to report its continued prosperity, and to record the successful prosecution, during the past twelve months, of the important and onerous National duty, the direction of which has been entrusted to them.

That such should have been the case during a period of almost unprecedented pecuniary reverses and consequent great depression, is, they trust, an indication both of the general confidence -which has been reposed in them, and of the firm root which the Society has taken amongst the permanent institutions of our land.

As has been hitherto their wont, they desire to express their gratitude to the Divine Disposer of Events for the blessing which has attended their labours in carry- ing out the sacred objects of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

Their best acknowledgments are also due to all those who have given them their co-operation or pecuniary aid, and they now confidently appeal for a continuance of that support, which they feel sure will never be withdrawn, so long as the work of the Institution is conscientiously and successfully performed.

The Committee have the satisfaction to state that Rear-Admiral H.R.H. The DUKE OF EDINBURGH, KG., has kindly consented, at their request, to become, in his official ca- pacity as Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves, a Member of the Committee of Management, in succession to his prede- cessors holding the same appointment.

The transactions of the year may be summarised under the usual heads, as follows:— Life-boats.—Since the last Annual Report twelve new Life-boats have been placed on the coast, one of them to a new Station and eleven to replace other boats.

The following are the Stations to which they have been sent:— ENGLAND AND WALES.

NORTHUMBERLAND YORKSHIRE Birth.

Runswick.

Upgang.

Whitby.

ESSEX ....

SUSSEX ....

ISLE OF WIGHT DORSETSHIRE . .

CARMARTHENSHIRE ANGLESEY .

LANCASHIRE Southend.

Eastbourne.

Brighstone Grange.

Poole.

Ferryside.

Pentnon.

Fleetwood.

IRELAND.

LOUTH Drogheda.

Nine of the above Life-boats have been supplied with transporting-carriages, and for two of them new boat-houses have been built.

The coasts of the United Kingdom, which extend over several thousand miles, being now nearly provided with Life-boats wherever their services would be useful and it would be practicable to work them, the Committee are able to turn their atten- tion to the gradual replacement of old and inferior boats by those of the latest construction.

During the year 1879 the Life-boats of the Institution rescued 637 persons from wrecked or endangered vessels, nearly the whole of them under perilous circum- stances, when ordinary boats could not with safety have been employed.

The Committee are thankfully able to record that those invaluable services were performed without loss of life to any of the brave men who formed the Life-boats' crews during the year 1879 or in the pre- ceding year, notwithstanding the fact that during the two years the boats were manned on all occasions of service and quarterly exercise by about twenty-five thousand men.

Unhappily, however, as if to remind them of the honourably perilous nature of the work in which they are engaged, two fatal accidents have happened since the commencement of the present year.

On the 20th of January last the Life-boat at Bacton, in Norfolk, was upset by an overwhelming hollow sea breaking on her broadside when boarding a wrecked vessel.

On that occasion two of her crew un- happily perished, and of the remainder, 11 in number, 4 went round in the boat, which quickly self righted, 4 were again taken into her, and the remaining 3 were carried safely to the shore supported by their life-belts, although they wore heavy sea-boots and none of them could swim.

Again, on the 1st March the Ardrossan Life-boat, when returning to the harbour in tow of a steamer, with the crew of a wrecked ship on board, was struck by a series of heavy seas, one of which upset her.

There were 25 persons on board her at the time, viz., 13 forming her own crew and 12 rescued men, of which number 2 of the former and 2 of the latter were unfortunately drowned.

Feeling satisfied that the permanent efficiency of a large proportion of the Life- boat Establishments must greatly depend on their frequent inspection by qualified and experienced Officers, and looking to the increased magnitude of the Society's operations, the Committee have, on the recommendation of a Special Committee, increased their staff of inspectors. They have divided the coasts of the United King- dom into five districts, have appointed one to each, and decided that instead of, as hitherto, living in London, they should each reside in their own districts, with the exception of the Inspector of the Home District, who together with the Chief In- spector will have duties to perform in London as well as on the Coast.

By this arrangement every Life-boat Station will be more frequently inspected.

It will necessarily occasion an increased expenditure, but if the result should pro- mote corresponding increased efficiency— which the Committee have reason to be- lieve it has already done—they feel sure that the same will meet with the ap- proval of their supporters throughout the kingdom.

Shipwrecks.—Taking into account the violence of the storms which periodically visit the coasts of the United Kingdom, and the enormous shipping interests of the country, the number of shipwrecks every year on our coasts and in our narrow seas must inevitably be very large.

Accordingly, from the last official returns the number of shipwrecks in one year on our shores amounted to four thousand four hundred and thirty-six, accompanied by the loss of eight hundred and ninety- two lives.

The services of the Life-boats of the Institution during each month of the risks, and exposure bring constantly the year were as follows :- riches of the world to our shores. Number Year Saved. in me J o. of laves Year Saved. 1879 of Life- Vessels .Lives 1824 124 1853 678 boat Saved.

Launches. Saved- 1825 218 1854 355 182K ITS 1855 406 January 44 4 170 1827 163 1856 473 21 3 81 1828 301 1857 374 March 21 3 78 i 1829 463 1858 427 12 — 46 ! 1830 372 1859 499 ' May, June, and July . 22 1 35 : 1831 287 1860 455 August 14 — 47 1832 310 1861 424 September .... 16 1 10 2 60 6 1833 449 1862 574 November .... 27 6 58 1834 214 1863 714 December .... 19 1 56 1835 364 1864 698 1836 225 1865 714 Total .... 206 21 637 1837 272 1866 921 1838 456 1867 1,086 1839 279 1868 862 In addition to these Life-boat services, 1 1840 353 1869 1,231 218 lives were saved from shipwreck by , 18« "8 1870 784 1871 882 shore-boats and other means, making a ig43 236 1872 739 total of 855 lives preserved in 1879, for 1844 193 1873 668 which honorary or pecuniary rewards were | JgJ! 1874 713 1875 921 made by the Institution. i 1847 157 1876 GOO The Committee would venture, to d 1848 123 QraW i 1849 209 1877 1,048 1878 616 special attention to the number of lives j • 1850 470 1879 855 thus saved and reported at each successive 1831 ZdU 1852 773 Total 26,906 Annual Meeting — proving the absolute necessity in a great Maritime Country Rewards. — A summary is given in the like ours of a National Institution for the Appendix of the cases where honorary Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. and other rewards have been voted last It is also gratifying to mention that year. In that period 12 Silver Medals, hundreds of lives are saved every year by 13 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum, means of the Rocket Apparatus belong- and 2,250Z. were granted for saving the ing to the BOARD OF TRADE, and worked lives of 855 persons by Life-boats, shore so efficiently by the Coastguard and the and fishing boats, and by other means, on Rocket Volunteer Brigades. the coasts and outlying sandbanks of the The number of lives saved during j United Kingdom. the fifty-six years from the establish- The Committee continue to devotement of the Institution, to the end of the much time and consideration to the in- year 1879, either by its Life-boats or by vestigation and granting of these rewards ; special exertions for which it has granted and as a rule their decisions give general rewards, is 26,906, as shown in the satisfaction, and encourage our coast following Table. population to put forth their utmost It is hardly necessary to dwell on the exertions to save the lives of others — amount of happiness which the saving of often at the peril of their own. nearly twenty-seven thousand lives must Since the establishment of the Insti- have conferred on the Shipwrecked per- tution, it has expended on Life-boat Sta- sons themselves and their families; but tions, and other means for saving life the community at large has also benefited from shipwreck, on the coasts of the by the services of the Life-boat Insti- United Kingdom, upwards of 508,000?., tntion in contributing to preserve the and has voted 93 Gold Medals, 902 Silver lives of so many of that deserving class Medals, and 60.200Z. in pecuniary rewards of men — our sailors, — whose ceaseless toil, for saving life from shipwreck.

Local Committees. — The Committee again tender their best acknowledgments for the valuable and earnest co-operation afforded them by the Local Branch Com- mittees and their Honorary Secretaries, which constitute so important a part of the work and supervision of the In- stitution's numerous Life-boat Establish- ments, and the collection of funds for their support. The Book of Instructions, which the Institution has recently issued, on the Management of a Life-boat Station, cannot fail to prompt afresh the assiduity and co-operation of the Local Committees and the Life-boat Crews.

finances.—The donations, subscriptions, | and dividends during the year 1879 have been 30,125?. 7s. 5d., of which sum 5.081Z. 15s. 7d. were special gifts to defray the cost of the following eleven Life- boats :— £. s. d.

Ardmore—Miss A. M. Hooper , . 500 0 0 Ballycotton — " Oliver Goldsmith " Life-boat Fund 321 12 3 Brighstone Grange—Worcester Cadet Life-boat Fund (in addition to 4857. 17s. 3d. in 1876-8) .... 88 3 4 Buddon Ness—"D" 850 0 0 Fowey—"Arthur Hill" Testimonial Fund 472 0 0 Giles' Quay and Greencastle—The Misses Brooke, per John Richard- son, Esq., Q.C 300 0 C Kingstown—Mrs. Goffi .... 400 0 0 Runswick—Mrs. Fuller .... 750 0 C Southend—" Boys of England " Life- boat Fund........ 300 0 0 .

Miss Maria Onslow ... 600 0 0 .

The late Crosby Leonard, Esq. 500 0 C; The Committee take this opportunity j to express again their best thanks to [ CHRISTOPHER BROWN, Esq., of Settle, York- j shire, for his most valuable and assiduous co-operation since 1862, in contributing .

and collecting from his friends and others no less than 3.600Z.—for the establishment '.

of two Life-boats and their endowment, and in aid of the general objects of the , Institution. | Also to CHARLES DIBDIN, Esq., F.K.G.S., in acknowledgment of his ceaseless exer- tions in collecting, in conjunction with the Committee of the " Civil Service Life-boat" Fund, from 3,842 gentlemen in the various Government Departments 1,1507., being 1,0007. for the permanent endowment of the " Civil Service No. 1" Life-boat, and 150Z. for the general support of their three Life-boats.

The Committee have likewise the gratifi- cation to acknowledge the receipt, since the last Report, of the following other special contributions:— £. s. d.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN (annual subscription) 50 0 0 Allen, Capt. Thomas Acland, the late, of the barque Star of Devon, per G. C. Allen, Esq 500 Christ's Hospital, Boys of, per Rev.

Richard Lee, M.A., additional . . 440 Demerara, collected in annual sub- scriptions, per A. Reid, Esq. . . 11 11 . 6 Ely, the Marquis of, annual sub- scription 20 0 0 Foresters, Ancient Order of, annual subscription in aid of the support of their two Life-boats, the Forester, at Tynemouth, and the Foresters'' Pride, at West Hartlepool . . . 100 6 @ Harvey, Mrs.A., of Bridlington Quay, Rev. G. M. Gorhain and Rev. J.

Holmes, Executors of the late . . 20 0 0 Licensed Victuallers' School, Miss English and Officers and Children, in aid of support of the .Licensed Victualler Life-boat, additional . 440 "M. L. C., of South Australia, in grateful remembrance of merciful preservation from imminent peril at sea in 1862," additional ... 20 0 0 Odd Fellows, Independent Order of (Manchester Unity), in aid of the support of their Life-boat at Clee- thorpes, annual subscription . 50 0 0 Readers of The Christian, per Messrs.

Morgan and Scott, additional . - 13 0 0 St. Paul's, Clerkenwell, collected after the children's flower sermon on Whit Sunday afternoon, per Rev.

A. S. Herring ........ 1 1 6 Underwriters of the cargo by the Austrian barque Andrina V. . . 26 5 0 Victoria steamer, owners of the, per Henry Page, Esq., Dulwich . 550 Welsh National Eisteddfod, Birkeh- head, per Mr. E. Jones .... 50 0 0 LEGACIES IN 1879-80.

£. s. d.

Adolphe, Mrs. Margaret, Dublin . . 42 14 2 Allan, Robert, Esq., Glenhouse, N.B. 500 0 0 Bagley, William, Esq.., Leicester. . 200 0 0 Beckett, James, Esq., Dublin ... 1000 Bolt, Robt., Esq., Poulton, Gloucester 100 0 0 MAY 1,1880.] ANNUAL BEPOBT.

£. s. d.

Bond, Charles, Esq., Potton, Bedford 19 19 0 Bradberry,Thos., Esq., Finsbury Park 500 0 0 Broaamirst, Hon. Mrs., Richmond . 300 0 0 Brookes, J. 51., Esq., M.D., Marl- borough Road, St. John's Wood . 100 0 0 Cathre, Mrs. A. M., Maida Hill . . 200 0 0 Crosse, Robert, Esq., Southsea . . 10' 10 0 Edmunds, Admiral Charles, Worthing 1919 0 Evans, Mrs. Loaisa, Chesham Street 19 19 0 Firbank, Mrs. Anne, Charlton (Stock) 943 12 10 Fletcher, George Hamilton, Esq., Carshalton 500 0 0 Foley, Miss Mary, Bramley Road, Netting Hill 233 1 6 Gooch, James, Esq., Ipswich ... 100 0 0 Graham, James, Esq., Cornwall Ter- race, Regent's Park 500 0 0 Harcourt, Mrs. Danby Ternoa, S win- ton, Yorkshire 500 0 0 Holme Sumner, Mrs. H.K., Swaffham 100 0 0 Hope, Mrs. Ellen, Upper Seymour Street, W. 300 0 0 Hunt, Mrs. Maria, Hornsey ... 500 0 0 Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Harriet, Sutton . 100 0 0 Landseer, Charles, Esq., B.A., St.

John's Wood 500 0 0 Peck, Mrs. A. E, Plymouth. ... 250 0 0 Price, Dr. Allin Ford, Deptford . . 100 0 0 Pycock, Miss Jane, Howden, York . 50 0 0 Somerville, Miss M. C., Florence. . 2500 0 0 Travis, Miss Anne, Moston, Lan- caster 10 0 0 Vandeleur, Richard, Esq., Baden- Baden 500 0 0 Webb, Miss Ann, Prestonville, Brighton 50 0 0 White, Mrs. Ann, Brockley ... 90 5 0 Woodward, Miss Sarah, Oldham Place, Farrragdon Road . . . 2000 0 0 There were expended during the past year 9,3882. 2s. lie!, on additional Life- boats, Transporting-carriages, Boat-houses, and necessary gear; 14,1562. 9s. 8d. in repairs, painting, refitting, and sundry charges on Life-boat Establishments, and on the Store-yard at Poplar; and 7,8561. Ts. 6d. m Te atds fcrc services to shipwrecked crews, coxswains' salaries, and quarterly practice of the Life-boats' crews; making altogether—including liabilities on Life-boat Houses now in course of construction, and other expenses—a total of 36,54:62.3s. Qd. against receipts amount- ing to 30,1252. 7s. 5d.

The items of receipt and expenditure are fully detailed in the financial state- ment, which has been audited as usual by Mr. LOVELOCK, public accountant.

For more than thirty years the Com- mittee have had the satisfaction, year after year, to report that the sphere of opera- tions of the Institution was extending, and that, in proportion to that extension, the support of the Public had liberally cor- responded.

They are fortunately in the position to renew that statement this year; and while the Committee and their Officers feel it to be a privilege to be associated with an Institution, whose beneficent labours are so generously recognised and appreciated, not only in the United Kingdom but all over the world, they appeal with renewed assurance and confidence to their fellow- countrymen at large to help them, Dot only to maintain the great Life-saving Fleet which the toil and anxiety of many years have produced, but also to assist them to perpetuate the great work, and to extend it as opportunities are presented.