IT has been our custom from time to time to record the noble deeds of our Life- boat crews, who, acting on the promptings of an innate heroism, have, during winter storms, performed deeds of such desperate courage and patient endurance as to excite general admiration.

It is thus that the skill and daring of the British Life-boat men have become renowned and conspicuous, resulting in the saving of a large number of persons from shipwreck who would otherwise inevitably perish on our shores.

It would be wrong, however, to sup- pose that such deeds of gallantry in saving persons from drowning are limited exclusively to Life-boat men, for acts of bravery and skill are often performed on the high seas and in inland waters, which undoubtedly entitle the brave men who perform them to the greatest honour, credit, and esteem.

Very striking cases of this latter class are sometimes brought under public notice by the ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY, from whose recent records we select the following cases illustrative of our re- marks:— Not long ago two white men, Charles Gumbs and Adolphus Franklin, being at San Fernando Wharf, in the Gulf of Paria, a place infested by sharks, leapt into the water to save the life of Samuel Goldson, a negro.

It is, however, somewhat curious that only a short time previously a black man had performed a like feat, under precisely similar circumstances, in rescuing some white persons from drowning.

Again, William Morton Jones, a cripple, happened to be upon a wall which over- looks the Menai Straits at Carnarvon, when a namesake of his, a boy, standing near him, accidentally fell off the wall into the water, and was in danger of perishing. Thereupon Jones, being, in spite of his wooden leg, a man quick of perception and ready at action, cast away his crutches and jumped down twelve feet into the water. He soon managed to lay hold of the youngster, and paddled with him to the sheer side of the neighbouring quay, where he succeeded in supporting his burden for the space of a quarter of an hour, until a boat could be brought round to pick them both up.

Another case is that of Thomas Lewis, who is fifteen years of age, and is a mid- shipman in the Merchant Service. He, together with his sister, six young cousins, and a nurse, was capsized out of a small boat in deep water off Hythe, Kent. The youth was the only one of the party who could swim. ' He first of all rescued the younger children, with the exception of a little boy, whose peril was not so im- minent, as he was clinging to the upturned bottom of the boat. Lewis then pro- ceeded to save his sister and the nurse, who were by that time in an unconscious state. Afterwards he swam towards the boat, which was drifting outwards with the tide, and brought the plucky little fellow upon it safe to land.

Having cited the above cases as illus- trative of the rewards often granted by the ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY, we feel con- strained to make one or two remarks con- cerning its operations. From its last Annual Report, we observe with regret that its receipts arising from annual subscriptions and donations for the year 1879 were actually only 223Z., exclusive of the interest on its funded capital.

It is thus clear that this valuable society must be very much restricted in its work, particularly within the Metropolitan district, where it is most essential and useful.

Founded more than a hundred years ago by Dr. Hawes, whose descendants still take an active part in its management, and, surrounded as it is by a population of close upon four millions, one would imagine that its claims would be acknowledged and liberally responded to, and we trust to be able, at no distant period, to report that such is actually the case.