An extract from The Life-boat, or Journal of the National Shipwreck Institution, 1853.

THE Committee regret to have to state that the frequency of shipwrecks on the coasts of the United Kingdom, during the past twelve months, has been unprecedentedly great. They had occasion to observe, in their last Report, that the year 1851 was con- sidered to be the most disastrous, as respected shipwrecks, on record, the large number of 701 wrecks having been reported; but the past year has far exceeded it in amount and fatality —no less than 1,100 vessels appearing on the Admiralty Register of Wrecks, and the number of lives lost, as far as could be ascertained, being about 900.

The greatest destruction occurred about the latter end of October and beginning of November, when, within the short space of thirty days, 300 vessels were lost or damaged, with the fearful loss of 217 lives. Again, a very severe gale occurred on the 26th of December, which strewed the coasts of our islands with wrecks, and left such deep impressions in its wake as will not easily be forgotten.

The Committee need not now dwell on the sad scenes of desolation, of bereaved women and children ren- dered widows and orphans by these calamitous visitations; but it may be permitted to them to express their opinion of the necessity of the utmost efforts being made to provide life- boats and every other assistance for the fishermen and residents on our coasts who are ever ready to rush to the aid of their fellow creatures in distress. Too ready, the Committee might almost say, for, without habits of discipline and without proper boats, they are constantly venturing out, at the extreme hazard of their own lives, to the relief of the stranded crew. Of the casualties and loss of human life by wind and wave, which every winter brings with it, no inconsiderable num- ber consists of those who, whilst endeavouring, with imperfect means at command, to rescue the lives of others, have lost their own—a fact to which striking and melancholy testimony is borne by the number of widows and orphans to be met with on our coasts, mourning for those who have thus unhappily perished. Surely, with these fearful effects of the storm before them, our wealthier and more favoured countrymen cannot but be roused to a sense of the deficiencies that exist, and impelled to lend a helping hand to an Institution which has for its object to lessen the sacrifice of life from such calamities.

Since shipwrecks have been un- usually numerous during the past year, the efforts made to rescue their crews have been in proportion great and meritorious, and it is a source of satisfaction to know, that almost in every instance where the services of the life-boat have been called into requisition, during the late disastrous gales, they have been attended with success; and your Committee refer particularly to the life-boats stationed at Shields, which have, as usual, specially distinguished themselves; as well as to those at Yarmouth, Rye, Liverpool, Anglesea, and Wex- ford..