AT the invitation of the Admiralty, two Life-boats took part in the Commemora- tion on the Thames, on Monday, the 4th August. The Procession Committee having expressed a preference for power- boats rather than for the typical pulling- boats, the Totland Bay Steam Life-boat James Stevens, No. 3, and the Motor- boat, Duke of Connaught, just completed at Cowes for the new Baltimore Station, were brought to London for the purpose, the former boat being manned by her own crew, and the latter by a crew from Clacton-on-Sea.

The boats presented a smart and attractive appearance, and were in every way a credit to the great national and humane Service which they had the honour of representing. They were greeted with bursts of cheering by the vast crowds which lined the banks of the river from the City to Chelsea.

Many of those present probably saw Life-boats afloat for the first time, and others must have been surprised to see Life-boats without the oars, with which they are generally associated in the mind of the public.

Unfortunately, both the Chairman and the Deputy-Chairman of the Insti- tution were unable to be on board, but the Committee of Management was well represented by the following members: Admiral Lord Beresford, Mr. Harold Clayton, Sir Woodburn Kirby, Mr.

Henry R. Fargus, Mr. J. F. Lamb, Brig.-General Noel M. Lake, Engineer Rear-Admiral Rudd, Mr; Alfred G.

Topham, and Sir Philip Watts. Various officials of the Institution were also on board the boats, which were under the command of the Chief Inspector, Cap- tain H. F. J. Rowley, C.B.E., R N.

Whether by design or accident, the position of the Life-boats in the proces- sion was singularly appropriate. They followed closely after the model of the 18-in. gun, and thus were shown to- gether the mightiest instrument of destruction and death, and the latest i means for the preservation, of life from shipwreck.