CLACTON-ON-SEA. — In response to messages by telephone and signal guns fired from the Swin Middle Light-Vessel, on the morning of the 22nd March, the Life-boat Albert Edward was launched at 8.50 and found the brig Comforter, of Tonsberg, laden with firewood, from Fredrikstad for Rochester, stranded on the Middle Barrow Sand. A moderate E. gale was blowing and the sea was rough. At the master's request, the Life-boat -stood by the vessel but when the tide receded she broke her back and when the tide again flowed, her crew of seven men decided to leave her and got into the Life-boat. The wind and tide being against her, the boat hung on to the wreck for a time, but the spars, etc., beginning to fall she was compelled to cast off and anchored until high water, when she was able to proceed on her homeward journey. At daylight she fell in with the s.s. Spero, of Newcastle, which kindly towed her as far as the S.W. Gunfleet buoy, then crossing the Sands Clacton was reached at noon, all on board the boat being greatly exhausted..