MABLETHORPE. — The fishing-smack Primrose, of Grimsby, stranded on the Knoll off Mablethorpe, during a S.S.E. wind, at 2 A.M. on the 3rd of January, 1885. She made signals of distress, and the Life-boat Heywood put off to her assistance, and remained by her until she floated.

LYDD, DUNGENESS.—On the evening of the 10th of January, signals of distress were shown by a vessel anchored in the East Bay, Dungeness, during a moderate W.S.W. gale and a rough sea. The David Hulett Life-boat was launched at 6.30 P.M., and found that the schooner the 3rd of April, in response to which the David Hulett Life-boat went afloat at 10.30 P.M., and found the barque Queen Victoria, of Dublin, stranded on the Swallow Bank. At the master's request, the Life-boat remained by the vessel Margaret, of St. Ives, laden with nuts from Spain, had dragged her anchors, and had been in collision with a steamer.

The schooner's crew of three men were taken into the Life-boat and brought safely ashore.

Signals of distress were observed on until the tide ebbed, when the crew were able to walk ashore. The barque became a total wreck. She was bound from Savannah for Hamburg, with a cargo of resin, and had a crew of eleven men.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—At 1.40 A.M. on the 5th of January, flares were seen on the Barber Sand during a fresh breeze from S.S.W. and a moderate sea. A yawl having been promptly launched, and proceeded to the sand, found the dandy Tyro, of London, aground there.

About half-an-hour afterwards the yawl signalled for the Life-boat, whereupon the No. 2 Life-boat, the Godsend, went off and remained by the vessel until she floated.

On the 19th of January, at 9 A.M., the No. 2 Life-boat, the Godsend, was launched to the assistance of the brig Triton, of Svelvig—bound from Memel to France with oak boards—which was in a dan- gerous position near the Scroby Sands, during a N.E. wind and a heavy sea.

With the help of the Life-boat and a steam-tug, the vessel, which carried a crew of six men, was taken safely to Yarmouth Roads.

Large flares were seen in the direction of the Cross Sand at 9 P.M. on Sunday the 8th of March, and the Lightships fired guns and rockets. The No. 1 Life- boat, Covent Garden, went to the sand, and found the three-masted schooner, Akyab, of Genoa, bound from Cyprus for Hull, with locust-beans. With the aid of a steam-tug, a yawl, and the Life-boat, the vessel was got afloat, and made for Harwich, the Life-boat accompanying her.

On nearing the Shipwash Lightship, at about 7 o'clock the following morning, a steamer was seen on the sand, with a signal of distress flying. The Life-boat at once cast-off, set sail, and went to her assistance; she proved to be the Bedale, of Scarborough, bound from Hull for the south of France with coal-tar pitch. The master engaged the Life-boat men to try to get the steamer afloat, and to remain by him in case of bad weather.

A yawl having subsequently arrived, her crew were employed to heave the cargo overboard; but after working for some time, the weather became so bad that they were compelled to leave. The wind and sea continued to increase, and as the sea was breaking right over the vessel, her crew of nineteen men, a pilot, and a dog, were taken into the Life-boat, and landed at Harwich at about 5 P.M. While cross- ing the sand several very heavy seas were shipped. The Life-boat remained in the harbour during the night, and at about 7 o'clock on the following morning was towed out to the steamer, and found that she had made but little water. The crew of the yawl returned to the vessel, a tug bringing out the crew of the steamer, and with the efforts of all corubiued, the vessel was got afloat, and was towed into Harwich at 11 P.M. The Life-boat again stayed in the harbour all night, and started for her station at 6 o'clock the next morning, arriving at 1 P.M.

NEW BRIGHTON.—Rockets were ob- served from the Crosby Lightship, and from the Waterloo and New Brighton Coastguard Stations, on the night of the 12th of. January. The No. 1 Life-boat, Willie and Arthur, put off in tow of the steam-tug Constitution, and found the screw-steamer Venetian, of Liverpool, bound from Boston for Liverpool, with a general cargo and cattle, stranded near the bar. She had been obliged to port her helm so as to pass another steamer, and had been driven ashore on the Little Burbo sand during a fresh gale and a heavy sea. At the request of the master and pilot, the Life-boat remained by the steamer until the tide rose, when she floated with the help of a tug, and pro- ceeded to Liverpool. The Liverpool Life- boat belonging to the Dock Board also put off and remained by the vessel.

The following is a copy of a letter addressed to the Honorary Secretary of the Institution's branch at New Brighton, by the master of the Venetian:—- " BOOTLE, 16th January, 1885.

"DEAR SIR, " Myself, officers, pilot and crew of the s.s. Venetian beg you to tender our sincere thanks to the coxswain and boat's crew for their prompt response to our signals on being stranded on the Burbo bank at 10 P,M. on Sun- day, the 11th instant, and for their kind volun- tary behaviour in remaining by the ship all night. Enclosed please flnd cheque for 21.6s. Wd., being half the proceeds of a contribution, in- cluding my own, collected at the pay table for your Life-boat Institution. The other half goes to the Liverpool boat fund.

" I am, dear Sir, yours gratefully, " W. H. GRANT, " Master B.S. Venetian." WEXFORD.—At 9 A.M. on the 15th of January, the Civil Service No. 1 Life- boat, manned as usual by Custom House officers and pilots, was launched to the assistance of the s.s. Slaney, of and from Liverpool for Wexford, with a general cargo, which had stranded on the East Bar while entering the harbour during a strong gale of wind from the E.N.E. and a very heavy sea. The Life-boat was towed out by a tug, and at about 11 o'clock came alongside the steamer, took off fifteen passengers, transferred them to the tug, and a second time proceeded to the vessel, and succeeded in rescuing her crew of seventeen men and the pilot.

GORLESTON.—The No. 1 Life-boat, the Mark Lane, was launched at 1.45 P.M. on the 17th of January, during a strong S.E. by E. wind and a heavy sea, to the assist- ance of the s.s. Speedwell, of Yarmouth, which had grounded on the North Sand while attempting to enter' the harbour.

The Life-boat laid out an anchor, and ran a hawser from the south pier-head to the steamer; but in doing so she was cast on the sand, and driven ashore by the force of the tide. The No. 2 Life- boat, the Leicester, then went out and remained by the vessel until she floated, and was got safely into harbour.

LOWESTOFT.—At 3 o'clock on the after- noon of the 17th of January, the second coxswain of the Life-boat observed that the trawler Snowdrop, of Ramsgate, had run aground on the north part of the Newcome Sand, during an E. by S. wind and a heavy sea. The Life-boat Samuel Plimsoll was therefore at once sent under sail to the vessel, which by this time had hoisted a signal of distress, her rudder having been knocked away, besides which she was leaking badly. She managed, however, to beat over the sand, and was taken in tow by a steam-tug, the Life- boat following astern to steer her.

NEW ROMNEY, KENT.—Distress signals having been shown by the barque Win- dermere, of Newcastle, bound from London for Eangoon, with a general cargo, during a moderate E.S.E. gale and a heavy sea, on the 17th of January, the crew of the Sandal Magna Life-boat were immediately summoned, and the boat was launched at 9.15 P.M. On reaching the vessel, which had stranded off Littlestone, it was found she was striking very heavily, and was driving along shore. The master and crew, thirteen in all, were therefore taken into the Life-boat, and landed at about 1.30 A.M.

BLYTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.—At 3.40 A.M. on the 19th of January, a steamer, which subsequently proved to be the s.s. Jutland, of Newcastle, bound from Chatham to Blyth, in ballast, with a crew of thirteen men, was observed behind Seaton Sea Rocks, burning lights and blowing her whistle. The wind was blowing very moderately from the S., but the sea was very rough. Shortly after- wards the vessel drove ashore on the rocks, and the No. 1 Life-boat, Salford, was at once launched, and went to her assist- ance. The Boat experienced much diffi- culty in getting round the East-pier, owing to the heavy sea; she went as close to the vessel, however, as the rocks would permit, but failed to get alongside. The coxswain, therefore, hailed the crew, and told them to stop on board their vessel, and the Life-boat would remain by them until the tide fell. Communication was subsequently effected by the rocket appa- ratus ; but the vessel was too far off from the pier for the men to work the gear.

The crew, therefore, remained on board until the tide ebbed, when they got on to the rocks and were taken to the East- pier by the Coastguard boat.

MONTROSE.—On the 28th of January, about thirty large decked-boats, and twenty smaller ones went out to the fishing-grounds at about 4 A.M. during a light wind from the N.W. About 10 o'clock the wind suddenly shifted to S.S.E.

blowing strong, and the sea rose quickly.

The smaller boats returned to port, followed by the larger ones; but unfor- tunately one small undecked boat was detained by its lines fouling, and ran great risk, the seas breaking on board her several times. This was reported by the other boats, and the Life-boat Mincing Lane, manned by a crew of fishermen, went out and attended the boat safely over the bar.

The Mincing Lane was also launched at 9.15 A.M. on the 2nd of May, to the assistance of two large decked fishing- boats, the Excelsior and the Pilgrim, which were in danger during a heavy sea and a dense fog. The Life-boat pulled out about a mile and a half blowing a fog- horn, and the fishermen, on hearing it, sailed towards the boat, which then preceded them over the bar, consider- able risk being incurred in crossing it, and the harbour was safely reached at noon.

PLYMOUTH and YEALM RIVER.—On the night of the 28th of January the Plymouth Life-boat Clemency and the Yealm River Life-boat Bowman went out in reply to signals of distress shown by the barque Wellington, of Windsor, N.S. The wind was blowing a gale from the S.W., accom- panied by a very high sea. It was found that the vessel was brought up by her two anchors with all cable paid out, be- tween the Mewstone and the coast, close to the rocks, but not touching them, and that she required a steam-tug to tow her to Plymouth. The Life-boats were em- ployed several hours in passing lines and hawsers to and from the tug, under cir- cumstances of difficulty and danger; re- mained by the vessel while she slipped her cables, and accompanied her into the River Yealm, where she was griunded on the mud at about 4.30 on the following morning. The sea being too heavy for the Plymouth Life-boat to work her way back, she waited until the tug left at about 4.15 P.M., and was then taken in tow and returned to her station. In con- sequence of circumstances connected with the death of the captain of the Wellington, whose body was on board the vessel, and some of the sailors being wounded, the Queen's Harbour Master requested further services from the Yealm Life-boatmen.

They were placed on board the vessel, and given full power to act as guard on the crew previous to the magisterial enquiry into the case. They remained there until 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

At 4.45 on the morning of the 31st of January, the Wellington, which had been brought from the Yealm to Plymouth Sound on the previous evening, parted from her moorings during a gale of wind from the S. and a high sea, and drove ashore at the back of Millbay Pier. This being observed by the coxswain of the Plymouth Life-boat, he immediately called the crew together, launched the boat, and proceeded to the vessel. The Life-boat- men were requested to pass a tow-rope from a steam-tug to the vessel, and re- mained by her until she was towed off at about 6.30. As the ship had lost her anchors and chains, and had, therefore to be moored temporarily to a buoy, it was thought advisable to keep the Life- boat afloat until the weather moderated at about 10.30 A.M.

PENZANCE.—During a strong S.S.W. gale and a heavy sea on the 31st of January, the Life-boat Dora was launched at 7.30 A.M., in reply to signals of distress shown by the barque Petrellen, of Pors- grund, Norway, which was riding very heavily at her anchors. Her crew of eight men, fearing the vessel would go ashore, jumped into the Life-boat im- mediately she got alongside, but the captain and mate decided to remain on board the ship.

On the following morning the crew re- turned to the vessel, the weather having somewhat moderated; but at 9.30 P.M. the wind and sea again increased, the ship's cables parted, and she drove ashore between Penzance and St. Michael's Mount, where she became a total wreck.

The Dora, Life-boat proceeded to her again, and safely landed the eight men, and the master and mate, at about 11.30.

This was the first service rendered by the Dora, the boat having been only placed on the Station a few weeks pre- viously.

A large number of fishing-boats were running for the harbour during a heavy gale of wind from the S.W. and a rough sea, on the morning of the 24th of April.

At 8 o'clock the Dora was launched, and remained afloat eight hours, assisting and indicating the best course for the boats to take, the entrance to the harbour being greatly impeded by the steamer Ransome, which had sunk at its mouth. Happily the boats, notwithstanding the tremendous seas they had to encounter, got into the harbour without any casualty occurring.

At noon on the following day the Life- boat was again taken out and piloted some other fishing-boats, which were making for the harbour, the entry to which was still attended with danger, the sunken steamer having broken up.

In connection with these services, the following letter appeared in the Cornish- man :— " SIR, "Permit me through your columns to express the thanks of the fishermen who ran to Penzance harbour in the storm of Friday last to those through whom the Life-boat was manned and made ready in the case of an emergency. Under the most favourable circum- stances, taking the harbour in such a heavy sea was a highly dangerous performance, but the danger was intensified by the obstruction the Ransome offered.

" The greatest care had to be exercised to get the boat through the confusion of fishing craft running into the harbour, and the greatest risk of her being smashed was run. Nevertheless she was got into a position to render assistance, if necessary.

"Fortunately her services were not required further, though several boats had narrow escapes.

As one of those who ran in at this critical time, I can say the presence of the Life-boat inspired us with confidence; therefore we give thanks to the authorities and crew.

"Yours, &c., " A NEWLYN FISHERMAN.

"Newlyn, 28th April, 1885." NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND. — At about 10 o'clock on the morning of the 2nd of February, the sea became very heavy, and several fishing cobles, which had gone out at 5 o'clock, ran much danger -while returning ashore. The Life-boat William Hopkinson, of Brig- house, put off to their assistance, and piloted them safely in.

PORTMADOC, NORTH WALES.—At about 11.30 P.M., on the 6th of February, the Life-boat John Ashbury was launched, signals having been seen in the bay, during a strong S.S.W. wind and a heavy sea. She went in the direction of the light, which at 12.20 disappeared, and on the boat arriving at the place where it had been shown, nothing could be seen.

At 3 A.M. the Life-boat crew dropped their anchor; for an hour after which they worked to windward until daylight, the wind increasing to a gale from the S.W., with heavy showers. At daylight they ran for Portmadoc bar, and then had a signal from a tug, which had also remained in the bay during the night.

At last the Life-boatmen found the wreck, dismasted and covered by the sea, and happily succeeded in rescuing seven of the crew. The Life-boat was then taken in tow by the tug, and landed the ship- wrecked men at about 11.40. The master and three of the crew had unfortunately been drowned in attempting to get ashore in their own boat. The wrecked vessel proved to be the barque Spanker, of Glasgow, from Jamaica, bound for Liver- pool, with a cargo of logwood.

SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.—The Herbert Ingram Life-boat was launched at 8.30 A.M. on the 7th of February, and rendered assistance to the schooner John Lee, of and for Blakeney, from Shields, with a cargo of oilcake, which had stranded at IngoldmelFs point during a fresh breeze from S.

SCARBOROUGH. — The fishing smack Lady's Page, of Scarborough, while run- ning for the harbour during a strong S.S.E. wind and a very heavy, sea at 1 A.M. on the 22nd of February, grounded out- side the outer pier. A flare was shown for assistance, in response to which the Lady Leigh Life-boat was launched, took a rope from the vessel to the pier, and on the rise of the tide the smack was warped off by the pier capstan and taken into safety.

SUNDERLAND.—The schooner James, of Inverness, bound for Sunderland in ballast, while making for the port during a S.S.E. wind at 9 P.M. on the 1st of March, stranded on the outer bar of the river Wear, and made signals for assistance.

The No. 2 Life-boat Mary was launched, but grounded on a bank, the water being low; she got off again however, reached the vessel, and at the request of the master remained by her until a tug ar- rived and towed her off.

RAMSGATE.—In answer to signal guns, the Ramsgate Life-boat Bradford went out in tow of the harbour steam-tug Vulcan at 2.15 A.M. on the 14th of March, during a fresh N.E. wind. After cruising about for some time without finding any vessel in distress, at 5.30, a small vessel, which proved to be the ketch Minnie, of Bideford, bound from Newcastle with a cargo of manure, was observed stranded on the North Sand Head, and a boat was seen riding astern of the Gull Lightship.

The Life-boat proceeded to the lightship, took off the shipwrecked crew of four men who had taken refuge there, and landed them at Ramsgate at 8 o'clock.