At the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at Willis's Rooms, King Street, St. James's, on Saturday, 15th day of March, 1884, His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, KG., in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee was read by the Secretary:— ANNUAL REPORT.

1884.

Tim Committee of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, in submitting their Sixtieth Annual Report to their supporters and sympathisers, thankfully acknowledge the very valuable and im- portant monetary assistance which they have received during the past year, with- out which it would have been impossible to carry on and sustain the great work which has been entrusted to them.

In no previous year, perhaps,.has the necessity for the existence of such a Society been more plainly demonstrated than in that lately completed. The re- volving seasons have brought with them to our rock-bottmd shores the same dan- gerous winds and terrible gales as hereto- fore, imperilling the safety of thousands of vessels and their living freights. It is therefore a matter for deep gratitude to Almighty God that the strenuous efforts made by the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have been instrumental in mitigating to a very considerable extent the dire evils entailed by the terrible disasters at sea which have been so frequently brought under our notice in the public press.

Since the issue of the last Report, H.E.H. the PRINCESS OF WALES, ever ready to co-operate in any good work for the benefit of her fellow creatures, has honoured the Institution by becoming associated with it as Thee-patroness, there- by strengthening the hands of the Com- mittee in their arduous undertaking.

The, Committee have to record, with a deep sense of their grave importance, the following changes which have taken place in its administrative staff during the year 1883. About the time of the last Annual Meeting they were deprived of the in- valuable services of the late Chairman, Mr. THOMAS CHAPMAN, by that gentle- man's resignation of his high office, in which he has been succeeded by the present Chairman, Mr. EDWARD BIRKBECK, M.P., in whose place Colonel FitzRoy CLAYTON was elected Deputy-Chairman of the Committee. Shortly afterwards Sir EDWARD PERROTT, Bart, Chairman of the Preparatory Committees, resigning that office after a continuous service of 250 ANNUAL REPORT. - above thirty years, was succeeded therein by the present Chairman, Mr. L. T. CAVE.

The Committee have also to deplore the loss of their late Secretary, Mr. RICHARD LEWIS, whose death was notified in the last Annual Report, and the resignation of the late Chief Inspector of Life-boats, Vice-Admiral WARD, the benefit of whose services will long be felt; and the Com- mittee are assured that the mark which they have left on the Institution and its work will never be effaced.

The operations of the Institution dur- ing the past year will be found classified as usual.

The high appreciation shown by the masters and owners of fishing vessels of the benefit first afforded them by the Committee in 1882, in furnishing them, on application, with reliable Ane- roid Barometers at one-third the retail price, has induced the Committee to ex- tend the boon to needy masters and owners of coasters under 100 tons burden, no less than ninety-one of whom have, in the course of a few months, availed them- selves of the opportunity thus afforded them. The total number of these valuable instruments supplied to both the classes mentioned, has been 1,567, and there is every reason to believe that by this means many wrecks have been averted, and the loss of life which annually takes place on our coasts among the crews of small vessels, lessened.

Life-t oats.—During 1883 four new Life- boat stations were established at the following places, and were provided with Life-boats:— ENGLAND AND WALES.

Llanaelhaiarn, . . Carnarvonshire.

Mablethorpe, . . Lincolnshire.

Port Erin, . . . Isle of Man.

IRELAND.

Aranmore Island, . Co. Donegal.

Seven new Life-boats were also de patched to the English coast to replace Did ones, as follows:— Caister.

Cardigan.

Margate.

Padstow.

Swansea.

Winchelsea.

Withernsea.

In addition to this, twelve new stations are in the course of formation, and nine new boats will shortly be provided for places in need of them.

A suitable boat-house has been erected in each case where a new station has been established, and transporting-carriages have been furnished for several boats.

The number of Life-boats under the management of the Institution last year was 274, which were the means of saving, between the 1st of January and the 31st of December, no less than 725 lives and 30 vessels. Besides this, 230 lives were saved from shipwreck by shore boats and other means, all of which services were rewarded by the Institution, making up a grand total of 955 lives rescued during the year.

It is with the deepest regret that the Committee have to record the sad loss, while on service, of two of their gallant Life-boatmen since the publication of the last Report. The particulars of the disaster are as follows:—During the terrible gale which swept over our shores during the night of the 23rd January last, and the four following days, the Clacton-on- Sea Life boat Albert Edward was proceeding to the assistance of the crew of a vessel in distress when she was struck by three very heavy seas and capsized, and although the Boat righted speedily it was found that two of the crew had been swept away in the darkness of the night. One of them, JAMES CROSS, the 2nd Coxswain, had been out in the Life- boat 33 times, and had assisted in saving 116 lives, and the other, THOMAS CATTER- MOLE, 33 lives.

The Committee at once contributed 450?. towards the fund raised in the locality for the widows and nine young children of the deceased.

ANNUAL REPORT, 251 Shipwrecks, — According to the most re- its instrumentality, as shown in the sub- cent published statistics, shipwrecks have joined table : — of late considerably increased in num- ber around the British coast, necessarily In the No. of Lives Year Saved In the No. of Lives Year Saved, resulting in a corresponding increase in the 1824 124 1855 408 number of lives lost It must be appa- 1825 218 18S8 473 1828 175 1 857 $74 rent to all, therefore, that it is more than 1827 163 1858 427 ever incumbent on the public to do all 1828 3»I 1859 499 that can be done to multiply and sustain J829 «3 1830 372 1860 455 1881 424 the means, which science has placed at 1831 287 1862 574 its disposal, to vessei i the evils which it «32 310 1883 714 would seem cannot be averted, and it is 1833 449 1834 214 ! 18S4 698 1 1865 714 most gratifying to find that in the past 1835 364 1866 921 year so much has bean done in this 1838 225 1867 1,086 1837 272 1868 862 direction by the brave and intrepid crews 1838 456 1869 1 ,231 of the Life-boats of the ROYAL NATIONAL, 1839 279 1870 784 LOTS-BOAT INSTITUTION. 1840 353 1841 128 1871 882 1872 739 In 1883 the Life-boats were launched 1842 276 1873 068 283 times, frequently, of course, without 1843 236 1844 " 193 1874 713 1875 921 any result as regards the saving of life, 1845 235 1878 600 but still, whenever a signal of distress is 1846 134 1877 1,048 shown, immediate and prompt action 1847 157 1848 123 1878 616 1879 855 must be taken. The services of the 1849 209 1880 697 Life-boats during each month of the year 1850 470 1881 1,121 1851 230 1882 884 were as follows : — 1852 773 1883 955 1853 678 1854 355 Total 30,563 Number of Life- Vessels Lives 1883, boat Saved. Saved. Launches, This splendid list of services is the January 33 3 70 best and strongest argument which can 39 41 5 1 53 105 be adduced in support of the maintenance 9 1 28 and extension of the operations of the May 7 8 1 1 13 34 ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, July .... . f . ' •••«••» It- 61 4 23 127 Rewards— In 1883, 14 Silver Medals September .... 22 22 4 S. 106 41 and Clasps, 25 Votes of Thanks on vellum, November . « . December ...» 40 5 125 and 5,3971., were granted by the Com- Total . . . . 283 80 725 mittee, including grants to widows and orphans of Life-boatmen killed on duty, for the saving of 955 lives on the shores The best thanks of the Committee are of Great Britain and Ireland by means of due to the officers and men of the Coast- Life-boats and shore-boats. . Every one of guard for the important services they these eases has been most carefully con- continue to render in their exertions to sidered by the Committee, who have been save life, and for the valuable co-operation received from them and the Volunteer ably assisted in their inquiries by the Honorary Secretaries of the various Socket Brigades. Branches, by Officers of the Coastguard and Customs, and by others in a position Since the establishment of the Institu- to help. tion in 1824, sixty years ago, no less Altogether from its foundation the In- than 30,563 lives have been saved through stitution has voted 9? Gold Medals, 964 Q 2' 252 ANNUAL REPORT.

Silver Medals, and 77,9 84Z. in cash for saving life from shipwrecks on our coasts.

Local Committees.—The Committee have to tender their warm thanks to the Com- mittees of the Local Branches, and more particularly to the Honorary Secretaries of those Branches, for the hearty and valuable co-operation which they have continued to give; and it is needless to say, that without such indispensable aid it would be impossible to carry on the work of the Institution.

The Committee take this opportunity of acknowledging the invaluable help they have again received during the past year from the Public Press, and from the Publishers of the principal Magazines, who have lost no opportunity to make known the work carried on by the Insti- tution, either by giving publicity to the services of the Life-boats, or by inserting appeals free of charge.

The Committee have at the same time to thank the Religious Tract Society for having, in December last, distributed illuminated Christmas Cards among all the Life-boatmen in the United Kingdom.

Finances.—It will be observed that the appended financial statement, which has been audited and signed by Mr. LOVE- LOCK, Chartered Accountant, furnishes more details than usual of the items of receipt and expenditure. This has been done in order that the Subscribers and Donors may more fully understand the manner in which the money, entrusted by them to the Committee, has been ex- pended.

The subscriptions, donations, dividends, &c., amounted during the past year to 40,2502. 16s., which sum included 3,7672.

17s. Id. in special gifts for expenses con- nected with the following seven Life- boats :— Cardigan—Mrs. Leigh Clare, per £. s. d.

Manchester Branch .... 650 - - Littlehampton — Mrs. Thornton West 400 - - Penzance—Henry M. Harvey, Esq. 1,000 - - St. David's—J. A. Metcalfe, Esq. 700 - - Swansea—Collected in Wolver- £. «. d.

hampton 306 10 - Walmer—Civil Service Life-boat Fund 480 - - Watchet—"Union Jack" Life- boat Fund 231 7 7 And 2,0002. for the endowment of the two Life-boats likewise named below:— £. s. d.

Port Isaac—Mrs. Thornton West. 1,000 - - Port Patrick—Civil Service Life- boat Fund 1,000 - - The Committee have also had the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of the undermentioned special contributions:— HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN (annual £. «. d.

subscription) 50 - - Her Royal Highness the PKINCESS OF WALES 25 - - A Lady, per G. Robinson, Esq., Skipton, further on account of the maintenance of the Whit- burn Life-boat 100 - - Blaekheath, Two Friends at . . 200 - - Browne, Buckston G., Esq., Pres- ton (additional) 200 - - Buffaloes, Royal Antediluvian Order of, special Life-boat Fund . 40 10 - Christ's Hospital, Hertford, Col- lected from the boys and girls of, per the Rev. J. T. Bell (additional) 368 Eclipse, the Ship's Company of H.M.S., per Mr. W. L. Martin, Captain of the maintop ... 19 10 - Foresters, Ancient Order of, annual subscription in aid of the sup- port of their two Life-boats. . 100 - - Freemasons, Felix Lodge, Aden, Arabia, under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, per D. Murray Lyon, Esq., Graad Secretary . 10 - - Griffith, Hugh Davies, Esq., of Caerhun, the late, trustees of . 1,000 - - Guerrier, W. J., Esq., Putney. . 100 - - Hadnall Church, near Shrews- bury, Offertory and afternoon Collection on Sunday, 4th Nov., per the Rev. Brooke C.Mortimer 21 17 4 Hull Marine Exhibition, half of nett proceeds, per Hull Branch 95 2 2 Langworthy, Mrs., Manchester (additional) 1,000 - - Northfield Hall, Highgate, Pro- ceeds of Concert on the 5th April, per G. Duckworth Atkin, Esq 31 7*10 ANNUAL REPORT.

253 £. «. d.

50 - - Odd Fellows, Independent Order of (Manchester Unity), annual subscription in aid of their Life- boat at Grimsby Republic, Collected on board the White Star steamer, on voyage from Liverpool to New York . 7 10 6 Roberts, Joseph, Esq., Mina Road, S.E 100 - - 35 12 8 Texas, United States of America, one hundred and seventy-three Englishmen, Scotchmen, Welsh- men, and Canadians, resident in, per Robert Amos, Esq., and E. W. Palfrey, Esq., Dallas, Texas($173) 3 - - West London District Schools, Ashford (Staines), Offertory at Harvest Festival on Sunday, 30th Sept., per the Eev. Dr.

Flynn White, Miss, and E. F. White, Esq., Blackheath (annual sub- scription) 75 - - In 1883, the following legacies were paid over to the Institution; the most important and gratifying being the sum of 5,6572. Is. 8d. bequeathed by the late Mr. J. N. PATEKSON, of Edinburgh, to be applied to the formation of a fund for relieving the widows and children of men who may lose their lives in the service, and a further sum of 9002. for the general purposes of the Institution. The others were:— £. s. d.

900 - - Bewick, Miss Isabella, Gateshead 631 19 90 - 100 - •22 Blaydes, Miss Elizabeth, Teign- niouth Bonner, Randall, Esq., New Cross Brown, Henry, Esq., Plymouth .

1 4 Cobb, Mrs. M. A., Jersey .

100 - - Churchill, Miss Elizabeth Re- becca, Exeter 10 - - Domett, Captain John, Camber- well 50 - - 34 11 3 200 - - 90 - - 90 - - 899 10 11 500 - - 100 - - 50 - - 10 - - 100 - - Duke, Miss Hannah, Hornsea-in- Holderness Dean, W. H., Esq., Stratford . .

Eyre, G. J., Esq., Hove Farmer, John, Esq., Darlington .

Hatton, Mrs. Jane, Leamington .

Hay, David, Esq., Edinburgh.

Hewitt, Thomas, Esq., Meole Brace, Shropshire ....

Larwill, Miss F. R., Lee .

Lorimer, Mrs. Janet, Huddersfield Marr, Miss Mary, Tufnell Park .

Martin, Horace, Esq., Battle .

£. s. d.

Mayott, W. F., Esq., Camberwell 100 - - Nicol, Samuel, Esq., Greenock . 50 - - Ormston, Robert, Esq., Newcastle- on-Tyne 1,000 - - Osborne, Rev. Philip, Leamington 1,000 - - Outlaw, Miss E. H., Weymouth . 100 - - Paterson, Miss Catherine, Edin- burgh 900 - - Peat, Wm., Esq., Derby ... 100 - - Pooley, George, Esq., Hadley . 600 - - Powell, G. E. J., Esq., Cardigan . 50 - - Price, Mrs. A. T., Peckham . . 1,000 - - Rhodes, W. B., Esq., Hounslow . 1,447 13 - St. Paul, Miss Anne, Fairlight, Sussex 100 - - Saxby, Mrs. C. G., Wilmslow. . 329 13 10 Shortridge, Miss Mary, Cleadon, Durham 50 - - Slocombe, Wm., Esq., Upper Hol- loway 916 4 11 Smith, Mrs. Francis Sophia, Lisheen, Cork 870 13 6 Soare, W. H., Esq., Chelsea . . 452 2 10 Stephens, Mrs. Caroline, Tre- wornarn, Cornwall .... 200 - - Suter, Henry, Esq., Douglas . . 20 - - Thomas, Mrs. S. E., Nunney, Somerset 14 8 1 Thurman, James, Esq., Notting- ham 17 19 2 Toller, Miss Anne, Saxmundham 19 19 - Wilson, Colonel J. D., Cheltenham 970 5 7 During the past year the total expendi- ture was 45,817Z. Is. 4 Z.; but of this no less than 8,200?. represented abnormal charges altogether special to this par- ticular year, viz., 3,900?. granted to the Widow and Orphans of the late Secretary, 3,8002. granted to ADMIRAL WARD on his retirement from the post of Chief In- spector of Life-boats, and 500Z. granted to the International Fisheries Exhibition for life-saving apparatus.

Mr. LEWIS'S services to the Institution during a period of thirty-three years are too well known to the Public to need further comment.

ADMIRAL WARD, whose inventions, im- provements, and indefatigable services to the Life-boat cause have been instrumental in saving thousands of lives, had been for thirty-one and a half years the highly esteemed and invaluable Inspector of the Institution.

254 ANNUAL REPORT.

The other items of expenditure com- prised 7,7531. 19s. lid. laid oat on building, altering and repairing Life-boats, Life-boat Houses, Slipways and Trans- porting-carriages; 13,997/. Is. Id. on Life- boat stores, Life-belts, subsidies to poor and outlying stations, Aneroids for fisher- men and coasters, the Store-yard at Poplar and the Inspector's Department, the im- portance of which branch of the work cannot be overrated; 10,816Z. 13s. Id.

was also paid to coxswains and Life-boat crews for exercising the Life-boats, for special rewards for services, for medals and vellums, and for the widows and orphans of Life-boatmen killed on duty.

The balance of expenditure has been laid out in the publication of the Life-boat Journal and Report, architect's charges, rent of offices, repairs, housekeeper, stationery, postage, &c., and secretarial and clerical salaries, which last item, owing to changes which hare lately been made, is con- siderably lower than it has been for many years.

In conclusion, the Committee, in view of the splendid services which have been rendered by the Life-boats, and the effi- ciency which has been maintained in the service, strongly appeal once more to the public for help and sustained support, and they are confident that such an appeal, made in the interests of humanity, will not pass unheeded, but will meet with a prompt and ready response.