The boats of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and all belonging to them, are kept in roomy and substantial boat-houses, under lock and key, in charge of paid coxswains, under the general superintendence of local honorary committees of residents in the several localities. Each boat has its appointed coxswain at a salary of 8/., and an assistant at 21. a. year, with further allowances nnder special circumstances. The crew consists, in addition, of a bowman, who is paid 30s. a year, and as many boatmen as the boat pulls oars. A signalman is also appointed who receives a retaining fee of I/, per annum, and payment as a helper each time he is on duty. The members of the volunteer crews are registered and, wherever practicable, at least double the number of men required are entered on the register. Such men are mostly resident boatmen, fishermen or Coastguardmen. On every . every time of going afloat for exercise. It should be specially crews, excepting when remunerated by the owners of vessels for property salvage service, are paid by the Institution for their efforts, whether successful or not, in saving life. These payments are increased bv one half during the six months of each year beginning the 1st October, and ending the 31st March.

The Institution also grants retiring allowances to Coxswains, Bowmen and Signalmen of good behaviour and long service.

A reward of Is. is given to the man who first brings intelligence of a wreck in such a position as not to be in sight of a Coastguard man on duty or other responsible look-out man.

A flag hoisted by day, and the firing of a carronade (or other alarm signal) by night, are the well-known signals for calling the crew together.

On boarding wrecks, the preservation of life is the sole consideration. Should any goods or merchandise be brought into the Life-boat, contrary to the coxswain's remonstrance, he is authorised to throw them overboard.

The formatirnof a Life-boat Station costs considerably more than 1,0002., and the Annual Expense of maintaining it is about 1252.—in many instances much more.

Such is a brief summary of the chief of the Regulations under which the Life-boats are worked.

How faithfully and with what result they are carried out let the journals of each Life-boat Station and the annals of the Institution tell.

The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has now 290 Life-boats under its charge. Nearly all of these have been specially presented to it, and they save every year hundreds of shipwrecked sailors.

Altogether, the Institution has granted rewards for the saving of 41,842 lives, either by its Life-boats or by other means.

Despite, however, this fleet of 290 Life-boats, and of 16 others locally provided or otherwise sup- ported, and despite the numerous rocket apparatus stations on our coast, there remains the melancholy fact that between 500 and 600 lives are lost annually on or near the coasts of the United Kingdom alone, as shown by the Board of Trade Returns, proclaiming solemnly, though silently, that, for humanity's sake, and for the national credit, no exertions should be spared in providing every possible means for the conveyance of succour to Jie shipwrecked.

The Institution needs an income of at least 80,0002. to maintain its great Life-saving Fleet; and the Committee feel assured that it will never lack it so long as it maintains its boats in the state of thorough efficiency that they are in at the present time, and manned as they are on every emergency by as fearless and noble a class of men as ever Nelson or Collingwood led to battle to uphold our country's honour and glory..