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 81. and an assistant at 21. a year, with further allowances in 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 11.

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 occasion of going afloat to save life the coxswains and each of the crew receive alike from the funds of the Institution (whether successful or not) 10s., if by day, and 11., if by night; and usually 4s.

each for every time of going afloat for exercise. These payments are increased by one half daringthe 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. It should be specially noted that the Life-boat 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.

A reward of 7s. 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.

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 formation of a Life-boat Station costs at least 1,500/., and the Annual Expense of maintaining it is about 1251.—in many instances much more.

Such is a brief summary of the more important 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 ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has now 282 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 45,439 lives, either by its Life-boats or by other means.

Despite however this fleet of 282 Life-boats and of 16 others locally provided or otherwise supported, and despite the numerous rocket apparatus stations on our coast, there remains the melancholy fact that about 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 the shipwrecked.

The Institution needs about 100,000i. per annum 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..