WEST HARTLEPOOL.—On the 2nd April, 1881,at about 11 A.M.,on observing the bri- gantine Danube, of Guernsey, which was about to enter the Hartlepool East Harbour, hoist a flag of distress, the West Hartle- pool No. 1 Life-boat Rochdale proceeded to her assistance. On reaching her it was found that she had taken the ground and was striking heavily. The Life-boat re- mained by her three hours, and the crew were on the point of leaving, having al- ready put their clothes on board the boat, when three steam-tugs arrived, and, after considerable difficulty, they succeeded in getting the vessel afloat, and towed her safely into harbour.

PORTHCAWL, SOUTH WALES.—On the morning of the 12th April, about low water, the barque Marmora, of Copen- hagen, bound from Rochfort to Porthcawl, drifted on the Skerweather Sands. The Ohafyn Grove Life-boat was immediately launched and rescued the crew of eight men from the vessel, over which a heavy ground sea was dashing; she had been dismasted, and eventually became a total wreck. All hands must have been lost in the absence of the Life- boat.

RAMSGATE.—Signal guns from the Gull and Goodwin Lightships were heard at 10.30 A.M. on the 3rd May, and a schooner was seen to run ashore on the North Sand Head. The wind at the time was blowing from the N. The Life-boat Bradford and harbour steam-tug Aid were immediately manned and proceeded to the vessel; but, before getting to her, both her masts were seen to fall over the side.

On arriving to windward the Life-boat was slipped from the steamer and sailed to the vessel. Some of the Life-boatmen went on board, and at once set to work to extricate her from her perilous position.

She was thumping heavily and was full of water, but her cargo of deals prevented her from sinking. The starboard anchor was let go, to prevent her from driving farther on the sands; and the steamer was signalled to and backed in under her stern. The tug's large towing hawser was then hauled on board and made fast, and she towed in a N.E. direction for about an hour. The schooner continued to strike heavily on the sand, but she ultimately floated, and was towed into Ramsgate Harbour in a waterlogged con- dition. She was the Aldebaran, of Laur- vig, 111 tons, bound from Porsgrund to Abbeville. She had a crew of five men.

RAMSGATE AND NORTH DEAL.—At 4.20 A.M., on the 18th May, during a strong breeze from the W.S.W., a screw-steamer was seen ashore on the North Sand Head, with signals of distress flying; and about the same time signal guns were fired from the Gull Lightship. The Ramsgate Life- boat Bradford and harbour steam-tug Vulcan at once proceeded to her assist- . ance, and the North Deal Life-boat Mary Somerville was also despatched to the spot.

It being necessary to lighten the vessel, both Life-boats' crews commenced to throw overboard the cargo, consisting of boxes of oranges. This was continued for three hours, when the sand alongside dried, and the kedge anchor and hawser were then taken from her port bow and run out on the sand a distance of eighty fathoms, and the bower anchor and cable were run out for about sixty fathoms. Directly these operations were accomplished all hands went to work again, and threw overboard more boxes of oranges for about two hours, until she was nearly afloat, when sail was set to endeavour to force her over the sand, and at the same time the chain and hawser were hove taut. Eventually she floated, and was proceeding round the South Sand Head when her engines stopped, owing to a rope having fouled the propeller. She was then taken in tow by the steam-tug, steering towards the North Foreland. In about half an hour the propeller was cleared, and she was then able to proceed under her own steam to Margate Roads. She was the ss. Qer- vase, of London, 417 tons, bound from Valencia to the Thames with oranges and dried fruit.

CADGWITH AND LIZARD, CORNWALL.— Early on the morning of the 24th May the Cadgwith Life-boat Joseph Armstrong and the Lizard Life-boat Anna Maria were launched and proceeded, under sail and oars, to the assistance of the schooner Ellen Vair, which had been damaged by collision and deserted. On getting near her, a Brixham trawler was found to be close by, having put two men on board.

Four of the Cadgwith Life-boatmen were also put on board, who, with the trawler's men, navigated her to Penzance.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—On the 5th June at 4 A.M. the barque Alecto, of Malta, bound from Cyprus to Aberdeen with locust beans, stranded on the Cross Sand during a fresh wind from 8.W. A yawl immediately proceeded to her, and re- mained alongside until the ebb Mde, when the sea became very heavy, and as the yawl shipped a great deal of water she was forced to leave. A steam-tug was then sent to Caister for the surf Life-boat, the Godsend, which was launched, sailed to the barque, followed by a large yawl, and remained by her until she came off the sand and was towed into Yarmouth roads.

On the morning of the 25th August, during a S.S.W. gale and heavy sea, the barque Strathden, of Dundee, was seen to go ashore on the north-west end of the Middle Cross Sand. A yawl immediately proceeded to her assistance, and the master engaged the service of her crew to try to save the vessel. They laid out an anchor and warp, and were returning to the barque, when a heavy sea broke on board the yawl, filling her above the ballast. Signals were then made for the Life-boat, in response to which the Covent Garden Life-boat proceeded to the barque and remained by her. In the meantime two steam-tugs had been engaged, and towed during the flood tide, but they were unable to move the vessel. The men on board, assisted by the crew, threw overboard some of the carg of coal, but the wiad and sea increasing, the vessel fell over to windward at about an hour and a half before low water. The Life- boat then, with considerable difficulty and risk, took the men off her, the boat striking heavily on the ground all the time, and shipping a great quantity of water. The barque was bound from Leith to Buenos Ayres, and carried a crew of twelve men.

SEAHAM, DURHAM.—-The ss. Norman, of London, bound from Dantzie to Stockton with grain, went ashore about a mile and a half N. of Seaham Harbour shortly before 1 A.M. on the 10th June, during a N. wind and high sea. The Life-boat Sisters Carter of Barrogate proceeded to her assistance, and brought safely ashore nine of the crew, the master's wife, and a lady passenger.

STAITHES, YORKSHIRE.—The Hannah Somerset Life-boat was launched on the llth June, and rendered great assistance to some fishing cobles which were in danger in a very heavy sea.

HOWTH, Co. DUBLIN.—At 1.45 P.M. on the 24th July, during a strong W. gale and heavy sea, a pleasure boat with four men in her was observed to be drifting seaward. The Life-boat Clara Baker pro- ceeded to the boat, and brought her safely ashore, she having been partly disabled, and the men in her being entirely exhausted.

RHYL.—The schooner William of Liver- pool, bound from Liverpool to Foryd, arrived in the estuary on the evening of the 12th August, but, being unable to get into the Foryd during that tide, grounded on the east bank. At low water five men went on board to assist to get the vessel up the river with the following tide, but, owing to the gale and the heavy sea, she was compelled to ride at anchor. By about one hour's ebb, having dragged her anchor, she was in a dangerous position, tossing and rolling fearfully.

At about 2 P.M. on the 13th the Khyl No. 2 Life-boat Jane Dalton proceeded to her assistance, and brought ashore the five men and one of the crew. The master and mate remained on board the vessel, which afterwards grounded.

PAKEFIELD, SUFFOLK.—The brigantine Bertha, of Eye, stranded in Pakefield Gat, during a S.W. wind and heavy sea, on the 26th August. In reply to her signal of distress, the Life-boat Two Sisters Mary and Hannah was launched and proceeded to her, in tow of the Lowestoft steam-tug.

On arriving alongside it was found that the vessel was full of water, and her crew, consisting of six men, were thereupon taken into the Life-boat and brought safely ashore.

EYE, SUSSEX.—On the 25th August the brigantine Lina, of Aland, Eussia, was driven ashore about half a mile east of the Life-boat House at Eye, during a very strong S.W. gale, accompanied by a high sea and heavy rain. The Life-boat Arthur Frederick was launched, proceeded to the vessel, and brought safely ashore the crew, consisting of eight men.

FRASERBURGH, N.B. — On the 25th August one of the most severe storms ever experienced at this season of the year prevailed here. A report had been circulated among the fishermen on the previous day that a storm was at hand, and on that day only about one-fourth of the fishing-boats proceeded to sea. On the 25th, the weather having been fine in the forenoon and afternoon, the whole fleet, numbering eight hundred and sixty boats, went out. Towards night rain began to fall, and by 9 o'clock there was every appearance of a gale. All through the night the boats were returning to the harbour, and by daylight between four hundred and five hundred of the boats had arrived. The wind having veered round from S.E. to N.E., and the violence of the gale increasing, the work of reach- ing the harbour was rendered exceedingly difficult. To meet any emergency which might occur, the Life-boat Cosmo and Charles was launched at 7 o'clock on the following morning and acted as a guide to the boats which were running for the harbour. From early morning until late at night the piers were crowded, and the excitement was most intense. One boat was wrecked on th'e rocks to the south of Fraserburgh, but her crew were saved.

Many of the boats which reached the harbour lost the whole of their nets, valued for each boat at from 1001. to 150Z.

Some idea of the strength of the gale may be gathered from the fact that the waves dashing over Balaclava Pier were so heavy as to carry away the travelling crane belonging to the Harbour Com- missioners, which, with its engine and ballast, weighed about fifty tons.

CRUDEN, ABERDEENSHIRE.—At about 9 o'clock on the morning of the 26th August, during a strong E. gale and heavy sea, a fishing-boat came into the bay, but, being unable to make the har- bour, the Life-boat Peep o' Day went to her assistance, and towed her safely in, the crew being quite exhausted. During the day seven other boats were in like manner taken into the harbour.

LOOE, CORNWALL.—On the 29th August the Life-boat Oxfordshire was launched, and rescued one of the crew of the ketch Lion, of Exeter, which had sprung a leak and had capsized about five miles S.E. of Looe, during a strong S.S.W. wind. The other man of the crew was saved by a Looe coastguard boat, which also put off to the vessel.

RUNSWICK, YORKSHIRE.—At about 4 A.M.

on the 30th August, while the wind was blowing strongly from the N.E., accom- panied by a heavy sea, the schooner Zippordh, of Scarborough, which had been on the beach on the previous day delivering coal, and had anchored in the bay, com- menced to drag her anchors, and hoisted a signal of distress. The Life-boat Margaret and Edward thereupon proceeded to her, took off her crew of two men, and brought them safely to land. The vessel shortly afterwards drove on shore and became a total wreck. Before proceeding ashore with the two men, the Life-boat proceeded to a fishing coble which was dragging her anchor, and towed her into a safe position.

PENZANCE.—Soon after daylight on the 5th September it was reported that a vessel was at anchor in the bay with a signal of distress flying. A strong gale was blowing from S.E. to S.S.E. The Life-boat Eichard Lewis proceeded to her assistance, and on reaching her found her to be the barquentine Neilly, of Bridg- water, bound from Lydney with 333 tons of coal for Porthleven, and having a crew of six men on board. She was riding very heavily with both anchors down and chains veered out to their full extent, and it was feared that she would part her chains and drive ashore, being quite to Jeeward. The Life-boatmen's services were at once engaged to get her into harbour ; while making the necessary preparations one chain cable parted and sail was then at once got on the vessel, the second anchor and chain were slipped, and she was taken safely in, arriving off the pier at about 10 30 A.M.

HARTLEPOOL.—Shortly before 4 o'clock on the morning of the 23rd September, while a gale from the S.S.E. was blowing, accompanied by a very heavy sea, the brigantine John, Wesley, of Seaham, bound from Seaham to London with a cargo of coal, struck the ground on the Beacon Rocks and carried her sternpost away.

She then drifted on to Middleton Beach, and burned flare-up lights. The Hartle- pool No. 3 Life-boat John Clay Barlow at once proceeded to her and took off all the crew, five in number. The vessel was full of water, and had sunk by the time the Life-boat reached her. The master of the vessel had previously lowered his jolly- boat, but it was immediately swamped.

TYRELLA, Co. DOWN.—At 2 A.M. on the 30th September signals of distress were observed in Dnndrum Bay, about a mile S.S.W. of the Craigalea Bocks. The wind was blowing from the S., the weather was thick and hazy, and there was a heavy ground swell. The Memorial Life-boat proceeded to the vessel, which proved to be the barque Gertrude, of Liverpool, bound from Quebec to Belfast with timber, and brought ashore thirteen of the crew.

HASBOROUGH, NORFOLK.—On Sunday, the 2nd October, shortly before 5 o'clock in the morning, the screw collier Ludworth, of London, bound from Hartlepool to London, having sprung a leak, ran aground on Hasborough beach during a fresh gale from the E. by S. and a heavy sea. After an ineffectual attempt to reach the vessel by means of the Rocket Appa- ratus, the Life-boat Huddersfield, stationed at Hasborough, put off and succeeded in safely landing eight of the crew. The remainder of the crew effected their escape in the ship's starboard Life-boat.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—At 11 o'clock on the morning of the 5th October the fisb.in.g- srr.ack Triton, of Yarmouth, stranded on the Barber Sand. The weather at the time was squally, and there was a heavy sea on the beach and sands. The -vessel was seen to lower a boat, which was knocked to pieces as soon as it was in the water, whereupon the Caister No. 2 Life-boat Godsend proceeded to the vessel, and having got hold of her trawl warp took it to a steam-tug, the sea breaking over the boat all the time. When the flood-tide made, the steamer towed the smack off, and took her and her crew of six men safely into Yarmouth Harbour.

APPLEDORE.—A little before midnight on the 7th October signals were observed and a steam-whistle was heard in the bay, but for some time the signals ceased.

About 2 o'clock on the following morning they were resumed, and the gun at Braunton Lighthouse was repeatedly fired.

The wind was blowing fresh from the NJS.'W., the weather was hazy, and there was a heavy ground sea. In reply to the signals the Appledore No. 1 Life-boat Hope was launched, proceeded in search of the vessel, and found her ashore on Saunton Sands. She proved to be the ss. Ranee, of Bristol, bound from Torquay to Newport, in ballast. The Life-boat took off the engineer, his wife, two chil- dren, and a Newport pilot, and landed them at Appledore. The master and eleven men refused to leave the vessel.

PENARTH, GLAMORGANSHIRE.—At 1 P.M.

on the 14th October the barque Febo, of Genoa, exhibited signals of distress, hav- ing lost her fore and mainmasts, and having parted from three chain cables.

A steam-tug took the vessel in tow, and part of the Life-boat crew went on board the barque and helped to rig a jury mast on which sail might be set to ease the tow-rope. The Life-boatmen also assisted to cut away the wreckage alongside, and the vessel was taken into dock. She carried a crew of fourteen men.

NEWBIGGIN.—At about 5 P.M. on, the 14th October the ss. Northumberland, of Newcastle, ran into the bay for shelter during a very severe storm and very high sea. In reply to signals of distress shown by her the Life-boat William Hop- Teinson of Brighouse put off, placed two men on board, and brought her to an anchorage. As her anchor was not likely to hold, a kedge was run out, and the crew of four men were taken ashore for safety. The vessel fortunately rode out the storm, and her crew took her to the Tyne on the following morning, the weather having moderated. She was bound from Leith to Middlesbrough with iron railway plates.

BURNHAM.—On the 14th October the coxswain of the Life-boat saw the smack Neath Trader, of Newport, Mon., ashore off Burnham during a heavy gale from the W.N.W. at about 10 o'clock A.M. The vessel was fall of water, and there were three men on the rigging signalling for assistance. The Life-boat Cheltenham, was manned and put off to the vessel, took the men from the rigging and brought them safely ashore. One of the rescued men was in a very exhausted condition, and two of the Life-boatmen had to go up the rigging to assist him to the Boat.

The smack was bound from Newport to Highbridge with a cargo of coal.

PORTHDOTLLAEN.—During a very heavy gale from the W.N.W., at about midday on the 14th October, a signal of distress was shown by the screw flat Tal y fan, of Liverpool, anchored in the bay. The Life-boat George Moore went off to her and succeeded in taking off the crew, consisting of four men.

DEAL AND RAMSGATE.—On the 14th October, at about 5 P.M., during a very heavy gale of wind, the Gull Lightship fired signals of distress, in response to which the Deal Life-boat Mary Somerville proceeded to the Goodwin Sands. The Ramsgate Life-boat Bradford, in tow of the harbour steam-tug Vulcan, also put off in reply to the signals. On arriving at the sands the ship Ganges, of London, was found ashore there, the sea breaking over her. The Life-boats remained near the vessel for some time, and eventually, as there was a probability that she would break up, the master and crew decided to abandon her. Fifteen men were therefore taken into the Ramsgate Life-boat, the remaining seventeen men were taken into the Deal Life-boat, and all were brought safely to land, arriving soon after 3 o'clock on the following morning.

MOELFRE, ANGLESEY.—At 11 A.M. on the 14th October a messenger arrived on horseback at Moelfre from Eed Wharf, a distance of about four miles, stating that a fishing-boat, with three men on board, was caught in a violent storm, and that the men were in the utmost peril of ; losing their lives. The Moelfre Life- ! boat Lady Vivian was instantly launched, and reached the vessel just in time to save the men from a watery grave.

PADSTOW.—The Albert Edward Life- boat put off during a strong gale from the N.W., arid a very heavy sea, and with 1 great difficulty rescued the crew, consist ing of four men, from the schooner : Favorite, of Quimper, which had lost her [ sails and had stranded on the middle of the Doom bar. The weather afterwards I moderated, and on the next tide the vessel i beat over the sand.

A ketch was seen in the offing during a strong gale from the S.E., at about 11 A.M. on the 19th October, trying to make the harbour. She had lost her sails and was otherwise disabled. She let go her anchors about a mile below Stepper Point, in a perilous position. At about 7 P.M. it was considered advisable that the Life-boat should proceed to her; the Albert Edward was accordingly launched, and after an hour and a half's pull succeeded in reaching her, and brought her crew of three men safely ashore. She proved to be the ketch Two Brothers, of Bridgwater, from Newport to Boscastle, with coal.

SOUTHEND (ESSEX).—During a heavy gale from the S.W. and a rough sea, on the 14th October, the Boys of England Life-boat rescued the crews, consisting of four men in all, from the distressed barges Butcher and Maria, of Eochester.

The barges were bound from Leigh to London with straw. The Life-boat after- wards rendered some assistance in towing the barge Violet, which had been aground on the Maplin Sands, and had been aban- doned by her crew.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN.—About noon on the 14th October the schooner Eulala, of Dumfries, was seen to exhibit signals of distress while riding heavily in the bay. She had parted one anchor, and was drifting rapidly towards the rocks.

The Life-boat was immediately launched and proceeded to her. With considerable difficulty, and after sustaining serious damage, she succeeded in rescuing the vessel's crew of four men, but in conse- quence of her damaged condition she had to be beached some miles from her Station.

The gale was blowing with terrific force, and there was a tremendous sea running.

The Life-boatmen state that they never were out in worse weather.

KESSINGLAND.—At 1 P.M. on the 14th October the brig Maria, of and from Hartlepool, bound to London with coal, having struck on Covehitheness Point, and being in a sinking condition, made signals of distress, and ran on shore on the beach, four hundred yards south of Kessingland, where she became a total wreck. Her crew, consisting of six men, left in their own boat, and were drifting on the Newcome Sand, when they were rescued by the Kessingland No. 1 Life- boat, the Solion.

BEMBRIDGE, I.W.—At about 7 P.M. on the 14th October the City of Worcester Life-boat put off to the assistance of the Norwegian brigantine Skjold, which had lost her masts and was drifting during a W. gale. A steam-tug had arrived at the vessel about half an hour before the Life- boat, and was taking her in tow for Cowes; the Life-boat therefore assisted in that work.

HOLYHEAD.—During a heavy gale from the W., at 9 A.M. on the 14th October, signals of distress were reported to have been shown by two or three vessels anchored in dangerous positions in the bay. The Life-boat Thomas Fielden was launched, but the wind was so strong that she had to anchor and wait until a tug came to her. The tug tried for about an hour to put the boat alongside a schooner, but could not succeed, and eventually she had to drop down to the vessel under oars, and rescued the crew, consisting of four men. The vessel was the schooner Golden Island, from Belfast to Newport.

TORQUAY.—At 11 A.M. on the 14th October it was reported that the fishing smack Black Cat, of Paignton, was hang- ing on to her nets, in great danger,' off that place, having been in that position ' since the commencement of the gale, which was then raging from the N. to N.W., and | which was still increasing. The crew of the Torquay Life-boat, Mary Brwndret, assembled, and the Life-boat proceeded to the smack, which she reached about 11.30, and found that her crew, consisting of two men, had been seventeen hours in their perilous position. Having cut adrift the nets and gear, the smack was towed into Brixham Harbour, and the men landed.

In returning from Brixham, the fury of the gale appeared to be at its height, and the Lifeboat was caught by a heavy ', squall when in the middle of the bay, and capsized; she immediately righted her- self, and all the men were fortunately able to get on board, and returned to the Station in safety.

GROOMSPORT, Co. DOWN.—The barque Margaret, of Belfast, was endeavouring to enter that port during a very strong gale from the N.N.W. and a very heavy sea at , about 12.30P.M. on the 14th October. She was taken in tow by a steam-tug, but the hawser broke, and the vessel was run into I Bangor Bay, where she struck on the sand. The Florence Life-boat, stationed •', at Groomsport, was taken by land to ; Bangor, where she was launched, and pro- ceeded to the vessel and succeeded in bringing safely ashore the crew of fifteen men. The barque was bound from Quebec to Belfast with a cargo of timber.

PORTMADOC.—At 3 P.M. on the 14th October, during stormy weather, the schooner Breton, of Fowey, was observed to be showing a signal of distress. The Life-boat John Ashbury was immediately manned, and by the time she was afloat the vessel had been beached at Criccieth.

The Life-boat went alongside, and brought her crew of five men ashore. The schooner had parted from her cable in St. Tud- wall's Roads, and had lost her bowsprit and jibboom.

WINTERTON, NORFOLK.—Signals of dis- tress were seen flying from a ketch three miles N.E. of Winterton, during a severe storm and a very heavy sea, at about 2.30 P.M. on the 14th October. The Winterton No. 2 Life-boat, the Husband, proceeded to the vessel, and found her to be the Time, of Goole, bound from

CLACTON-ON-SEA.—The Albert Edward Life-boat put off at about 7.30 P.M. on the ! 14th October, in reply to signals of distress, | during a very strong N.W. wind and very ; rough sea. After cruising about for some BALLYWALTER, Co. DOWN. — On' the | time the schooner Ocean, of Goole, was 14th October, at about 10 A.M., the wind i sighted ashore on the Maplin Sands; her suddenly became squally from the W. j sails were all adrift; she had lost two The Coastguard officer gave information | anchors and chains, and had five feet that a fishing-boat was in danger outside of water in her hold. Some of the Life- of Long Rack, and as the wind had in- j boat men boarded her, pumped the water creased to a perfect hurricane, and ; out, and with the aid of a steam-tug she had veered round to the N.W. and i North, the Life-boat Admiral Henry Meynell proceeded to her assistance, [ and brought her crew of two men ashore. Great difficulty was experienced in rendering this service; for a long time the Life-boatmen were unable to contend London to Newcastle with wheat. The Life-boat took off the crew of four men, and brought them safely ashore. The vessel, which was leaking, and had lost her anchor, ultimately foundered.

SKERRIES, Co. DUBLIN.—On the 14th October the schooner William, of Dublin, bound from Swansea to Ardrossan with a cargo of coal, and having a crew of five men, sought shelter in Skerries Bay from stress of weather, the wind at the time blowing a whole gale from the N.W. The weather having moderated, three of the crew came ashore; but the wind after- wards increased, and the vessel then made for the harbour, but was blown beyond the point of shelter and stranded. The sea was washing over her, and the two men on board her feeling in great peril a rocket was fired over her, and the line placed on board; but the men were unacquainted with its use, and the Laura, Platt Life-boat, stationed at Skerries, therefore proceeded to the schooner, and brought the two men safely ashore.

Mr. THOMAS ELMORE, Chief Officer ,of H.M. Coastguard, went out in the Life- boat on this occasion.

•with the wind, and the Boat had to lie at anchor. Such a hurricane had not been known on this shore for many years.

The Rev. J. O'REILLY BLACKWOOD, Hon.

Secretary of the Branch, went out in the Life-boat on this occasion.

PEMBREY,CARMARTHENSHIRE.—At about 12.30 A.M. on the 14th October signals of distress were shown by the ss. Laura Fell, of London. The wind was blowing a whole gale from the S.W.. with thick rain and a very heavy sea. The signals were answered by the Coastguard, and the Life-boat Stanton Meyrick of Pimlico, stationed at Pembrey, put off to the vessel, which was found to have stranded on the Middle Spit, and brought safely ashore her crew of seven men. At 5 o'clock the Life-boat again went out with a steam- tug, and, after much risk and hard work, brought the vessel, which was leaking very badly, into Llanelly.

ALDBOROUQH, SUFFOLK.—The schooner Equity, of Boston, bound from Newcastle to London, with firebricks and soda, sig- nalled for assistance at 1 P.M. on the 14th October, during a heavy gale and rough sea, and a beach yawl thereupon went to her aid. At 4 o'clock another signal was made, and the Life-boat George Hounsfield proceeded to her, and re-mained Toy her during the night. At I daylight on the following morning the I Life-boat accompanied the schooner to Harwich. The vessel had a crew of seven men.

was brought to London, arriving at about 7 o'clock on the following morning, the Life-boat accompanying her.

At half-past four on the morning of Sunday, the 23rd October, a coast- guardman, on the look-out near the quiet little seaside town of Clacton, saw a signal rocket fired from, the Gkinfleet Floating Lightship, which told of a wreck on the G-unfleet Sand and asked for a Life- boat's aid. The man ran for the Free- masons' Life-boat Albert Edward, which was stationed here about three years ago by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and the crew were got together, and the boat was run down to the beach. The wind and tide were both dead against the boat, which had only oars and sail to propel it, .but a steamer was sighted, which proved to be the Consett of Sunderland, whose captain kindly towed them as close to the Sands as he could with safety to his own ship, when he let them go, and they took to their oars. When within about twenty yards of the wreck, on the •weather side, they dropped anchor; but a huge roller coming, lifted the wreck and carried it further on to the sand. They were obliged, therefore, to pay out more cable, and were just successful in making connection by a line with the wreck when another roller lifted it and carried it quite out of reach. They had paid out all their cable, and it was therefore a question whether they should abandon the wreck or voluntarily encounter one of the greatest dangers to which a Life-boat is liable— viz. that of destruction by boarding on the windward side, and the crew unani- mously, and with a ready courage which is beyond all praise, determined to risk this, in order to attempt the rescue of the foreigners. They therefore let go the cable, and the next roller cast their boat right on to the deck of the vessel, which proved to be the Madeleine, of Boulogne, a new steam fishing vessel, with a crew of sixteen hands. After some buffeting, breaking their rudder and an oar, and otherwise damaging their tackle, they were enabled to make fast to the side of the wreck, and the Frenchmen one by one jumped, fell, or were pulled into the boat.

One poor boy, starved with the cold wind and drenching spray, fell into the sea, but was rescued with a boat-hook; and one of the men, falling into the sea, just managed to seize the fortunately long beard of one of the crew, and was actually sustained and partly pulled into the boat by this means. The result was that the whole of the sixteen were safely brought to land.

KINGSDOWNE.—On the morning of the 15th October, at 8 o'clock, signals of distress were shown from the Norwegian brigantine Julische, which had stranded on the Goodwin Sands and become water- logged. About twenty minutes before the Life-boat arrived at the wreck, a vessel was seen to lower her boats and take the crew off. The Life-boat remained by the wreck, and, with the assistance of a lugger and a steam-tug, took her into Dover Harbour.

BUCKIE, N.B.—On the morning of the 15th October, while the wind was blowing very hard from the N.N.E., a telegram was received from the chief officer of Coast- guard at Port Gordon, about two miles to the westward of this place, stating that a vessel, flying signals of distress, was drift- ing ashore there. The Buckie Life-boat James Sturm was at once despatched to the spot by land, and on arriving there was successfully launched through a heavy surf and head wind, and was instrumental in saving the crew of four men from the vessel, which proved to be the schooner Equestrian, of Banff, bound from Dingwall to Leven. She had shipped a sea off Lossiemouth, her ballast had shifted, her sails had been blown away, and she was on her beam ends.

PALLING, NORFOLK.—During a strong E. wind, with a heavy sea, on the 21st October, a vessel was seen to drive on the beach at Eccles. The Life-boat Parsee was promptly taken to the scene of the wreck, and succeeded in rescuing the master, the crew having been previously landed by the rocket apparatus. The vessel proved to be the Swedish barquentine Maria, of Gothenburg, from Hernosand to Trouville, with a cargo of deals.

At 7 A.M. on the 30th October,-during a strong wind from the N.E. with a heavy sea, signals of distress were shown by the schooner Ewart, of Aland, Finland. The Parses Life-boat was at once launched, proceeded to the vessel, and found that she had been ashore on the Hasborough Sands, and had drifted off with loss of rudder and chain, and was full of water. The Life-boat remained by her some time, and eventually a steam-tug arrived, and the vessel was taken into Yarmouth.

TYNEMOuTH.—On the 20th October the barque Iron Crown, of Liverpool, while entering Tynemouth about midnight, in a tremendous gale from E.S.E. to E. and a very high sea, became unmanageable near the pier ends, and, after narrowly escaping collision with the advanced staging of the south pier, she was driven over to the north and struck the ground outside Tynemouth Haven. Her anchor had been let go before striking. Rockets were fired from the pier, by which four of the crew were with much difficulty landed.

In the meantime the Charles Dibdin Life- boat was launched, and although she was driven back three times by the seas, she at length reached the vessel and brought ashore seventeen persons, including the captain's wife. It was afterwards dis- covered that one of the crew had been left on board, and the Life-boat therefore went off again to the vessel, and brought him ashore.

BALLYCOTTON, IRELAND. — At about 5 P.M. on the 21st October, the barque Gustavo,, of Laurvig, Norway, bound from Cardiff to the Baltic via Cork, with coal, was seen standing in for Ballycotton Sound. A pilot went off to her in a whale- boat, guided her through the Sound, and brought her to an anchor. The master and crew remained on board, but the wind and sea increasing, they showed signals of distress, in reply to which the Oliver Goldsmith Life-boat put off to her and brought her crew of eleven men ashore.

NEWCASTLE, Co. DOWN.—The schooner Florence, of Belfast, bound to that port from Cardiff with coal, was seen tip be running for Dundrum Bay, apparently in distress, during a strong E.S.E. gale and a heavy sea at about 7.30 A.M. on the 22nd October. The Farnley Life-boat pro- ceeded to her assistance, and rescued the crew consisting of five men. The vessel had been entirely disabled through loss of sails.

SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.—On the 23rd October a flash light was observed from a vessel ashore on the Knock Sands. The Her- bert Ingram Life-boat was launched as soon as possible, the wind blowing a heavy gale from the S.SE. at the time, accompanied by a very heavy sea. The Life-boat filled three times, two of her oars were broken, and she was driven ashore about two miles south of her station. She was again got on her carriage and was taken by land abreast of the vessel and again launched, three extra men being sent in her to double-man the oars, and succeeded in bringing safely ashore the shipwrecked crew, consisting of ten men. The vessel proved to be the barque Lorn, of Hudik- sval, Sweden, bound thence to Bilbao, with deals and boards.

BRANCASTER, NORFOLK.—On the 23rd October, at about 9 A.M., the barque Lydia, of Grrimstad, bound from Arendal to Cardiff with pit props, stranded on Burnham Plats. The Lily Bird Life-boat proceeded to her, and found that she had 8 feet of water in her hold, had lost her main topmast, and was in a very dan- gerous position, her rudder also had been much damaged. The Life-boat remained by her some time, and ultimately, as the water was increasing, took off the crew of fourteen men.

ST. ANDREW'S, N.B.—On the 24th Octo- ber, during a N.E. gale and a heavy sea, the schooner Louise, of Frederickstadt, bound thence to Newcastle with barrel staves, drovd ashore on the West Sands and became a total wreck. The Ladies' Own Life-boat put off to her and rescued the crew, consisting of five men.

DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN.—During a severe gale on the 20th October the barque Lebw, of Liverpool, at anchor about five miles from Douglas Head, hoisted signals of distress, in response to which the Douglas No. 2 Life-boat, the John Turner Turner, was at once launched.

After some time she was approaching the vessel, when the signal was lowered, and the Boat returned to the harbour, where she grounded. Soon afterwards the dis- tress signal was again hoisted, and the No. 1 Life-boat, the Manchester and Salford Sunday Schools, was thereupon launched.

After remaining some time by the barque, those on board, numbering fourteen men and two women, were taken into the Boat, which then proceeded towards the harbour.

As she did not make much progress under oars, the men being hampered by the numbers in her, she was put under her foresail, which was double-reefed, and the drogue was used; but thinking that it kept the Boat back too much, it was taken in, and the Life-boat was allowed to run before the sea. They were within a mile of Douglas when a very heavy sea overtook them, raised the stern of the Boat, and buried her port bow, causing her to broach to and capsize, when all on board were thrown into the water. She speedily righted, and nine of her crew, seven sailors, and the two women, regained her; but before the oars could be got out she drifted some distance in the darkness, and could not be pulled to windward to the assistance of the others, who were unfortunately drowned, viz., four Life-boatmen, the master, and six of the crew of the barque.

The Institution voted the sum of 400?. in aid of the local subscription for the relief of the widows and families of the drowned Life-boatmen, in addition to an extra reward to the crew of the Boat.

It will thus be seen that the real cause of this unfortunate accident arose from the Life-boat being struck by a heavy broken sea on her starboard quarter when running before the wind and sea, which forced her lee bow under water, the Boat being heavily laden at the time, on a dark night, when the approach of the waves could not be seen until almost the moment of impact, a combination of causes amply sufficient to account for the disaster. Unfortunately this Life-boat is much the smaller of the two stationed at Douglas, and, undoubtedly, if the master of the Lebu had not hauled down his signal of distress, on seeing the first and larger Life-boat on her way in reply to the same, he and his crew would have been safely landed in her before night set in.