SUPPORTED SOLELY BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

PATRON HIS ROYAL  HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.G.

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALKS.

H.R.H. THE DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA, DUKE OT EDINBURGH, K.O.

CAPTAIN His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE or YORK, B.N., K.G.

THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, K.G.

CHAIRMAN —SIR EDWARD BIRKNECK, BABT , V.P. —Colonel Frrz-ROY CLATTON, V J.

Sttrrfarp CHAMM Dixbnr, Ego,, F.B.S£.

APPEAL.

THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT have to state that during the past year (1896) the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION expended £71,476 on its 298 Life-boat Establishments.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE WORK OF THE INSTITUTION DURTNG 1896.

£ . d.

Number of Lives rescued by Life-boats, in addition to 80 Vessels saved by them 313 Number of Lives saved by Shore-boats, &e. 149 10,003 7 4 Amount of Rewards granted during the Year Honorary Rewards:—Gold Medal 1 Silver Medals 5 Binocular Glasses 9 Aneroid Barometers 4 Votes of Thanks on Vellum... 39 Certificates of Service . . . . 5 Total . . 63 461 £10,603 7 4 The number of Lives saved either by the Life-boats of the Society, or by special exertions for which it has granted rewards since its formation, is 40,182. The rewards and recognitions granted by the Institution in the same period comprised 99 Gold Medals and Clasps, 1,161 Silver Medals and Clasps, 271 Binocular Glasses, 16 Telescopes, 14 Aneroid Barometers, 1,567 Votes of Thanks, inscribed on vellum and framed, 66 Certificates of Service framed, and £174,693 in money.

The Committee earnestly appeal to the British Public for Funds to enable them to maintain their 297 Life-boats now on the Coast and their Crews in the most perfect state of efficiency.

This can only be effected by a large and permanent annual income. The Annual Subscriptions, Donations and Dividends are quite inadequate for the purpose. The Committee are confident that in their endeavour to provide the brave Life-boat men, who nobly hazard their lives in order that they may save others, with the best possible means for carrying on their great work, they will meet with the entire approval of the people of this the greatest maritime country hi the world, and that their appeal will not be made in vain, so that the scope and efficiency of our great Life-saving Service, of which the Nation has always been so proud, may not have to be curtailed.

Annual Subscriptions and Donations are earnestly solicited, and will be thankfully received by the Secretary,CHARLES DIBDIN, Esq., at the Institution, 11 JOHN STBEBT, AT aT,pm) London; by the Bankers of the Institution, Messrs. CODTTS and Co., 59 Strand; and by all the other Bankers in the United Kingdom.—2nd August, 1897.