UNEMPLOYMENT, strikes, the worldwide trade depression, and the political uncertainty—in a word, the full reaction after the years of war from which we have been suffering during this present year—have necessarily had a grave effect on all public charities.

The Institution has suffered with the rest. If it has perhaps suffered less than most, that is because we have a most capable and devoted body of honorary helpers, working for us all through the country, and because the national value of the Service must, whatever be the circumstances of the time, make a direct appeal to every patriotic man and woman. i Nevertheless, the Institution is face to face with a very heavy deficit on the year's working. It amounts, at the date of writing, to over £90,000, and is due entirely to increased expenditure connected with Motor Boats, new Boat Houses, and Slipways. It will therefore again be necessary to make up the deficit by a transfer from general capital. The Institution is fortunate in this that, during the war, when all construction of new Life-boats ceased, it was able to put by considerable sums. Were it not for this fact, the only way to meet our present difficulties would have been to curtail the important programme of Motor Life-boat construction on which the Institution embarked some time ago. That would have meant some sacrifice of the efficiency of the Service ; and to sacrifice its efficiency would be to risk the loss of lives which could have been saved. The Committee of Management decided, therefore, that the building of the new Motor Life-boats should go on. But, as was indicated in the Annual Report, the programme may have to be spread over a longer period than was at first contemplated.

* * * * * Naturally, this method of meeting the deficit by the realisation of investments cannot be continued indefinitely, particularly as the annual revenue from investments is a most important part of our ordinary income, and without it the sums received from subscriptions and donations would not be sufficient to meet the expenses of the Service. I mention these facts lest anyone should think, on reading of the many developments which we are now making, that we have 1 not suffered from the prevailing depression.

On the contrary, the Institution is passing through a period of grave anxiety, and there is urgent need to obtain a great increase of public support.

Manchester and Salford's Record Contribution.

In spite of the exceptional difficulties to which I have just referred, the Manchester, Salford and District Branch has again raised a record sum. Its contribution in 1920 was £5,230, the largest sum which the Institution has ever received from it; and had the Branch succeeded in maintaining this record during the past year we should have felt that it was giving the Institution really splendid support. But Manchester was not content to do this.

Determined to show in the most striking way that, whatever else might be affected by the scarcity of money, by strikes and unemployment, the Life-boat Service ought not to suffer, it has beaten last year's record by £340. This increase would have been still greater but for the fact that the largest of the Works Collections had not been completedwhen the Branch financial year ended on the 30th September. Oar cordial congratulations and most grateful thanks to Manchester and Salford ! Such help is a great encouragement to the Institution at a time of grave difficulty and anxiety.

Life-boat Days.

The general depression and unemploy- ment have necessarily had a marked effect on the results of the Life-boat Day Efforts, as will be seen from the list published elsewhere ; but; taken as a whole, they have been extraordinarily good, and are yet another proof of the hold which the Life-boat Service has on the affection and generosity of the public. It is indeed something to be proud of that in a year of unexampled difficulty it is possible actually to report a number of record results.

***** As one would expect, the effect of stagnant trade has been greatest in the Efforts in the industrial areas. It has been most marked in the Midlands and in South Wales. In the agricultural districts and in the seaside resorts the decrease in results has not been so great. The chief effect of the depres- sion, however, has been not so much a decrease where Days have actually been held, as an inability to carry out Efforts in a good many places.

***** To start with Scotland : Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dumferline, Largs, Stranraer, and a number of smaller places have all actually raised larger sums than last year; while the result in Glasgow, though smaller than last year, was, in the circumstances, very good. In the North of England, Manchester and Bradford both raised large sums; Preston Bridlington, Morecambe, Whitby, and Hornsea all raised larger sums than in 1920. Life-boat Day was revived at Wigan, and Middleton held a Day for the first time. The Welsh holiday resorts— Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, Aberystwyth, and Barmouth—all had very successful Days; and, in spite of the acute depres- sion in South Wales, Newport, in the neighbouring county of Monmouth- shire, more than doubled its result of 1920. In Ireland, in spite of the excep- tional difficulties of these times, both Dublin and Belfast Lough had splendid results; and Portrush fell only a little below its record sum of 1920.

* * * * * Oxford, as already reported, had a record result, and in the Eastern Counties, Cromer raised twice as much as in 1920, Colchester showed an increase, successful Days were held at Margate, Walton-on-the-Naze, Skegness, and Mablethorpe, and a Day was held for the first time at Ely. In the South of England there were many successes, record results being obtained at East- bourne, Southampton, Portsmouth, Ex- mouth, Teignmouth, Banbury, Truro, Taunton, Ventnor, Shanklin, Frome, Clevedon, and Newbury; while for the first time Days were held at Weston-Super-Mare and Swindon, and proved a great success.

To summarise: In about eighty places, which, in 1920, brought in over £5,000, no Days have been held during 1921, and 60 per cent, of the " Days " held show a decrease on the results of 1920. The remaining 40 per cent, show an increase on 1920, and about thirty Days were held at places which did not have a Day in 1920.

I should add that this summary of results, like the list of Days published elsewhere in this issue, is for the Branch year ending the 30th September, 1921, and does not take into account a num- ber of Days held during October, which belong to the financial year 1922.

"House to House" Appeals and Collecting Cards.

In spite of these notable and encour- aging successes, the fact remains that there has been this year a great falling- ofl in the income obtained by street appeals. This fact has to be faced, and the best way of facing it is not simply to say—true though this may be— that as the country recovers from its present unexampled business depression so will the proceeds of our Life-boat Days increase, but at once to use all other possible means of appealing to the public. We know by experience that, in bad times as well as good, the public will give to the Life-boats as generously as they can. The chief need is for workers to carry our appeals everywhere.

I would ask all those who are willing to help us in this way, and especially, of course, members of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, to read the article published elsewhere in this number on " House to House Collections." I am confident that if we could get some thousands of ladies who would be willing systematically to appeal for the Institution, in this way, and also with individual collecting cards, we should obtain such an increase in our income as would remove all our present anxiety.

Life-boat Collecting under Fire.

The ladies who help the Institution by working for it on Life-boat Days have often to endure great fatigue and serious discomforts of weather, but I think they will all admit that no condi- tions have ever been more trying than those most bravely faced by the ladies of Dublin who were collecting on the 24th June, when there was fighting actually going on in the Dublin streets.

The Assistant Secretary of the Branch wrote to me on that day: " There were two serious ambushes in our streets to-day—several persons wounded.

Some of our Collectors (Ladies) were actually at the scene in Dorset Street, and had narrow escapes, while one of our ladies rendered first aid to a woman who fainted. The same lady helpers are nevertheless continuing to sell flags, and we are doing very well in the special effort generally/' ***** This brave devotion to the Life-boat Cause was well rewarded by the result of the Dublin appeal. I am sure it must have given a very special pleasure to all who took part in the Day—as it most certainly did to the Institution—when they heard that the total sum realised was £572, which exceeded last year's result by over £80. In the midst of civil war, with fighting in its streets, Dublin ladies collected and Dublin people contributed still more than before to the Life-boat Service. It is an amazing comment on Irish character and Irish affairs. It is also as signal a tribute as the Institution could ever hope to receive to the high and uni- versal appeal of its work.

Sir William Hillary's Descendants.

It is very gratifying to be able to report that, as a result of the article on Sir William Hillary in the May number, the Institution has heard from his descendants. It will be remembered that his son died withovit issue, but his daughter, Elizabeth Mary, married a Captain Preston and had children, and her descendants, who have taken the name Preston-Hillary, have written and most kindly offered to place at the dis- posal of the Institution any information which they have about its founder.

The present head of the family is Mr.

S. R. Preston-Hillary, of Upminster, in Essex, who has become an Honorary Vice-President for Life of the Institu- tion, while his two sons have become Life Governors.

Certificates for Life-boat Men.

The Committee of Management de- cided some little time ago that Certifi- cates of Service should be awarded not only, as has long been the practice, to Coxswains, but to all members of the crews, in recognition of long and meri- torious service. The first of these awards were made in July, and are reported else- where in The Life-Boat. The Certificate is a reproduction in colours of a painting of a Life-boat launch by the famous marine painter, Mr. W. L. Wyllie, R.A.

It records the number of years wThich the recipient passed in the Service and the position which he held in the Boat.

When the Committee decided to have this new Certificate it consulted Mr.

Wyllie about the design, knowing that it had in him a friend who had taken a life-long interest in the Life-boat Service, and that in the past he had always been most ready to give it his help and advice.

* * * * In fact, on one famous occasion Mr.

Wyllie and a number of other distin- guished artists played the part of very candid friends. They did it by sending a " Round Robin " (now framed and hanging at the House of the Institu- tion) in which they wrote—" Meaning no offence, and asking pardon for the liberty "—that however much they wished to immortalise the heroic deeds of the Life-boat men, they were'' daunted by the excruciating blue paint'' used on the Institution's Boats. They prayed that we would adopt some other of the one hundred and fifty tints of blue.

Among the famous names on the " Round Robin," besides Mr. Wyllie's, are Millais, Dicksee, Sant, Alma Tadema, Pettie, and Orchardson. It was charac- teristic of Mr. Wyllie that he was not content simply to sign the " Round Robin," but sent the Institution a painting of a Life-boat at sea, to show how much more beautiful she would look when painted a delicate pale blue. If the Institution did not adopt this colour, nor any other of the remain- ing one hundred and forty-nine tints, but obstinately adhered to its original French ultramarine, it was not out of want of sympathy or respect for the distinguished painters who had so courteously criticised it, but because it was compelled to put such practical questions as cost and durability before even the feelings of the artist.

* * * * That, however, is by the way. When consulted about the Certificate, Mr.

Wyllie's advice took the most practical and generous form of a very fine painting of a Life-boat being launched through breakers, which he presented to the Institution. This painting showed not only his skill as an artist—which other people can appreciate—but also his inti- mate knowledge—which we appreciate as others cannot—of even the smallest details of Life-boat work. It was accu- rate in every particular except—need I say ?—the blue of the Life-boat.

A Plucky Rescue.

A service which deserves a word of special mention was performed by Thoma? Griffiths, the Second Coxswain of the Cardigan Life-boat, on the 16th August. Several small sailing boats were fishing outside Cardigan Bar when the weather became squally, and they had to run for shelter. Griffiths was in one of the boats, with a boy named David Davies. He was farther out in the Bay than the others, and was the last to return. On his way in he saw another boat in distress, labouring in the sea, and went to her help. A strong southerly gale was now blowing, with squalls and a rough sea. Before Griffiths could reach the boat, she was swamped and sank, leaving her one occupant struggling in the water.

Griffiths had to lower his sail, but with oars managed to reach the drowning man just in time, and got him on board, completely exhausted. Not only was the rescue most promptly carried out. but Griffiths and Davies ran a con- siderable risk themselves, and the Com- mittee of Management have awarded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum to Griffiths, and a monetary award both to him and to Davies.

The Motor Life-boat Programme.

Excellent progress has been made with the building of Motor Lite-boats, and the Boats for six Stations have already been completed and senb to the coast this year, those for Gorleston, Peter- head, WTick, Eastbourne, Wexford, and Blyth. This makes a total of thirty-one now on the coast, out of the fleet of two hundred and forty-three Life-boats.

In addition to the completion of these Boats, work has gone on satisfactorily with the first twelve of the large pro- gramme of Motor Life-boat construc- tion. The Boats for Brixham, Selsey and Sennen Cove should be finished before the end of this year, and the Boats for Buckie, Bembridge, Barry Dock and Appledore early in the new year. Meanwhile, the plans for the New Brighton Life - boat — the new and larger type, with cabin accommodation, of which particulars were given in the Annual Report of last year — are now finished, the Boat has been ordered, and I hope to be able to publish, in the next issue, an article by the Chief Inspector of Life-boats fully describing this Boat.

Motor Tractors for Launching.

There are now four Tractors stationed on the coast, at Hunstanton, Bridling- ton, Rhyl, and Hoylake, while there is a fifth at Newquay, Cornwall, not yet available for service. In June a very successful night practice was carried out at Hoylake under exact Service conditions. No notice was given to the crew, and a night was chosen when a strong on-shore wind was blowing and there was a high sea. The alarm-rocket was fired at five minutes to eleven, and at a quarter past eleven the Boat was launched. The night was dark, the moon being covered with heavy clouds, but the work was made very much easier by the acetylene headlight which the Tractors carry. Not only was it found that the Boat was more easily and promptly launched than had ever been possible with horses, but in the surf the Tractor was able to push the Boat-carriage farther out than horses had been able to take it. Altogether it was a launch which not only showed the value of the Tractor, but the smart- ness of the Hoylake crew.

A Line-Throwing Gun.

I had hoped to publish in this issue an article by the Chief Inspector of Life-boats on the Line-throwing Gun which the Institution has adopted, and which we hope to instal in all Motor Life-boats, and in other Life-boats where it is considered necessary. This gun is now being tested at different Stations by the District Inspectors, and as these tests have not yet been com- pleted, the Chief Inspector's article must be postponed until the February issue.

Gift from a Norwegian Shipping Firm.

I have, before this, called attention to the generous way in which many foreign shipping companies support the Institution. They contributed nearly £1,000 to our funds in 1920— about a quarter the total received from the shipping community of the United Kingdom—and we have just received another proof of their recog- nition of the international value of the Service. A Norwegian firm, who were already subscribers, Messrs. H. M.

Wrangell & Co., of Hangesund, have sent the Institution a cheque for over £15, this being the whole of a sum which they received from the Admiralty as their share of a salvage award for the salving, by one of their ships, of ; an Admiralty buoy. No country has | been more ready than Norway to show j its appreciation of the services to its shipping of the British Life-boats. On seventeen different occasions our Life- boat men have received presentations or special thanks from the Norwegian Government.

Two More Gifts from Salvage.

The Committee of Management have rith. much, pleasure a gift of from the crew of the Blyth Life- , which, they have made to the Institution out of money awarded to them in connexion with the salvage of the ketch Arkley, of Liverpool, on the 13th June, 1920; and a gift of £5 from the Sennen Cove crew out of the amount awarded them for services to the s.s. Haliartus, also of Liverpool, on the 22nd January last. The Institution has now received three gifts of this kind from its own crews during the present year.

A Life-boat Crew's Generosity.

Another very fine instance of the generosity of the Life-boat men them- selves towards the Institution comes from Scarborough. On the 20th Sep- tember last the Life-boat was launched, during the forenoon, to the help of two fishing and pleasure cobles full of pas- sengers, which were in danger of being swamped. The Life-boat took off the passengers, sixteen in all, landed them, and, again going out, stood by the cobles until they had come safely into harbour. Meanwhile the rescued pas- sengers had made a collection among themselves and other visitors, and on the Life-boat's return offered the money to the Coxswain and crew ; but they refused it, asking, instead, that it should be put in the Institution's Collecting Box at the Boat-house. When the Life-boat men themselves, who are prepared to risk their lives in the Service, remember also its need of financial help, I am sure that those whose only way of helping is with money will feel that they must not fall below this generous example.

A Life-boat Man's Gift of his Pension.

Under "Awards to Coxswains and Life-boat Men" it is reported that Joseph. Bell has been awarded a Certifi- cate of Service and a Pension on his retirement after twenty-seven years' service as Signalman at Mablethorpe.

There is something to be added to this.

When told of the award, Bell said that he did not wish to receive a pension.

The Committee therefore commuted it to a lump sum, and this sum was sent to him. He has returned it as a donation to the Institution.

Practical Gratitude.

On the night of the 19th August, the i Porthdinllaen Boarding-boat went out | to the rescue of three boys, who had been caught by the fog while fishing, : and had not returned. The alarm was given by the friends of one of the boys, who offered to pay all expenses of the j launch. They were told that in no circumstances could the Institution accept payment for the saving of life, I and the father of the boy thereupon sent a generous donation to the Branch.

Sand Picture Appeals.

In the issue for last November I gave an account of a charming sand-model of a Life-boat rescue and a Light- house which was made at Rhyl, during their summer holiday, by two boys of Royton, in Lancashire, and by three Birmingham girls. Again, this summer, a girl and two boys, all three from Nottingham, built a fine lighthouse and sea scene out of sand, with toy figures and ships. The model was lighted at night with Chinese lanterns, and the following stirring appeal was shown with it :— S. 0. S.

HELP THEM TO LAUNCH THE LIFE-BOAT.

Saturday Monday .

. . .£160 Depends upon you.

UP THE VISITORS ! And the visitors did "up" to the ex- cellent sum of £15 Is. 2d. in eight days.

I hope that many others will realise the possibilities of sand-models as a way of appealing to people when they are on their holidays, that is, at the time when they are feeling happy and generous, and when, for the one time in the year, they see ships and the sea. I should like to see such appeals made at all the big seaside places, and I recommend it to all members of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. There are the children on the shore in their hundreds, ready to be their willing h3lpers.

Life-boats in Bolshevist Russia.

In his speech at the Annual Meeting, the Prince of Wales gave a list of those foreign countries—seven in all—which in the course of the previous few weeks had applied to the Institution for advice and help. To this list is now to be added the present Russian Government, which, through its Trade Commission in this country, applied for a copy of The Life- Boat, and on receipt of this asked that its Department of Salvage, Diving, and Life-saving Work might be supplied with full particulars of the recent im- provements and innovations carried out by the Institution. These particulars were at once sent to Russia.

Trinity House and the Coast-guard Service.

I am very glad to be able to publish together, in this number of The Life- Boat, articles on Trinity House and the Coast-guard Service, which have been specially written for it respectively by Captain Sir Herbert Acton Blake, the Deputy Master of Trinity House, and by Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair, until recently Admiral commanding the Coast-guard and Reserves. With these two very interesting historical articles before them, readers of The Life-Boat will be able to see clearly how the duties of watching and protecting the 5,000 miles of coast of the United Kingdom are distributed, and how the Coast-guard and Trinity House work with the Life-Boat Institution to pre- vent disaster and to save life.

* * * * * It is interesting to note that for many years the Corporation of Trinity House were large contributors to the funds of the Institution. In the first year of its existence, 1824, they were the most generous of its supporters with a contribution of £500, and this sum was given regularly for over twenty years. It was then increased to £1,250, and this remained the Corporation's annual donation until 18C4. In that year—and the reason for the change I have, not been able to discover—it was ,' reduced to £."iii, and four years later it ceased altogether. Twenty years later it was revived, and from 1885 to 1888 the Corporation gave the Institution 100 guineas a year. This new con- tribution then ceased, but from 1895 onwards the Corporation have con- tributed 10 guineas a year to the City Branch. In this connexion it may be interesting to recall that, in the early days of the Institution, very large con- tributions were received yearly not only from Trinity Plouse,. but from Lloyd's and many big Marine Insurance Companies as well as from many ship- ping firms, but that these contributions ceased altogether long since, or else contributions of hundreds of pounds became contributions of a few guineas.

When I reflect on the urgent needs of the Service, and the meagre support j which it at present receives from some ! quarters which have most cause to re- cognise its value to the nation, I feel the truth of the poet's words :—Nessun maggior dolore cine, ricordarsi del tempo i felice nella miseria..