The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-01-24 00:00:00

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_ various-
bolo' approsehed when

the boat WM to be drawn arotiod the town, at two I
o'clock, people were seen hurrying to and fro in all
directions. Soon after half-past one a procession
was formed in the Market-place, which shortly after
began to " move on." Thousands of persons
followed it, but the crowd did not reach its climax
until the procession arrived on the Quay, where the
the centre of attraction, the lifeboat, was added. At
this time a procession was formed in something like
the following order :

Poole Police.
Harman's Bend.
°Moors and Men of Coast Guard Service.
Naval Ite,erve.
THE LIFEBOAT.
Carriage containing Miss Jackson, the Rev. A.
Wilkinson, and G. N. Penny, Req., hon. seo.
Carriages containing the Mayor, Sheriff, Magistrates,
Town Councillors, Harbour Muter, and Visitors.
Poole Rifle Corps and Bend.
Bournemouth' Rifle Corps and Band.
Hearts of Oak Friendly Society.
Ancient Order of Foresters.
Court Amity.
Court Unity.
Independent Order of Oddfellows.
Alliance Lodge.
Good Intent Lodge.
Philanthropic Lodge.
Good Samaritan Lodge.
District Officers.

In this manner the procession made a most thorough
perambulation of the town, at every street hundreds
adding to the orowd, until at last it was with some
difficulty the crowd got through the narrow streets
with which this town abound. The lifeboat was
drawn by four very powerful horses. The boat was
decked with flags, and her crew were seated
In it, attired in their cork jackets, and as
the procession passed some of the principal
gentry's houses they gave vent to their excited feel-
ings by giving several lusty cheers. OD arriving at
the spot where the boat was to be launched, the
biases were taken from the carriage, and preparations
were made for that event. This was about three
o'clock, and the concourse of people was immense.
The harbour was studded with boats of every de.
scription, whilst the shipping near the spot where
the launch was to talcs place were soon filled, not on
the decks only, but people, in order to obtain a good
view, scrambled up the rigging, and some took up
positions on the cross-trees. After the horses had been
taken away, Captain Robertson suspended • bottle of
wine with a ribbon from the lifeboat's rudder.
Everything was now in readiness for the launch, bat
before this took place,
Captain Romtarsom addressed • few words to the
assemblage. He said it was customary on all
occasions when a lifeboat was launched to
ask the blessing of God upon the enterprise, because
they all knew, and no one knew better than sea-
faring men, that without God's help men's efforts
were in vain; and so he would call upon the Rev.
Mr. Wilkinson to offer ups prayer, that God would
be pleased to encourage and preserve those men who
risked their lives in order to save their fellow-
creatures.

The Rev. A. WILKINSON then offered up a very
beautiful and appropriate prayer, in which he
implored Clod to preserve the crew of the lifeboat in
all their undertakings, and to bless the lady who
had given the boat.
The prayer having been concluded, Miss Jackson
advanced to the boat, and dallied the bottle of wine
against it saying, "God speed the Manley Wood."
In a minute after the boat, containing her crew
and Captain Robertson, gracefully did from
its carriage, and amidst the shouts of the
crowd darted into its element. Ka took a
tremendous dive, but almost immediately righted
herself, and scarcely shipped any water. The
crew then gave some hearty cheers which were re-
sponded to by the crowds ma both sides of the
harbour, after which they rowed the boat about.
The only mishap which occurred in the launch was
that the rudder of the boat became unshipped, but
this was soon put right agaio. A more successful
launoh could not have taken place. The lifeboat
afterwards proceeded to her destination, North
Haven, where a boat-house has been built, the land
for which was most generons'y given by Sir Ivor
Guest.

In the evening a grand banquet in honour of the
event took place at the London Hotel, when a most
recherche repast was providol by the worthy host
and hostess of that establishment, Mr. and Mrs.
Norbury. The spread comprised every delicacy of the
season, whilst the wines were of the choicest
vintage. A very aristocratic oompany sat down,
under the presidency of the Vice-Preeident of the
Poole, Bournemouth and Studland Bay Branch of
the National Lifeboat Institution, G. Belben, Esq.,
jun., ex-Mayor of Poole.
On the removal of the cloth, the CHAIRM&N
alluded to the disappointment which the committee
felt on their receiving a letter that morning from
Lord Osborne, intimating that he would not be able
to take part in the proceedings of the day. His
lordship had been in London, where, as everywbere
else, he was looked upon as a very popular man, and
had been lecturing and preaching so much that he
had overtaxed his strength, and it was, therefore,
necessary that he should have quietness in order to
recruit his health.

The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were suitably
given and responded to, after which
The CHAIRWAN said the next toast he had to pro-
pose was the toast of the evening, it was that of the
"National Lifeboat Institution"—(cheers)—an in-
stitution which was established for the purpose of
saving the lives of their fellow-creatures—of those
men who imperilled their lives in a trade in order to
earns livelihood for themselves and their families. This
institution had been the means et saving hundreds
and thousands of lives, and it had now established
on the crud a number of lifeboats, and had so excited
the interest of all classes that people contributed
most freely towards its object. In the case of the
lifeboat launched that day, a lady had given it, and
although at first the gift was received reluctantly by
the town, feeling that no lives had been lost here,
still the gift was pressed upon them by the institu-
tion, and they now felt thankful for it. (Hear,
hear.) Although they would drink the toast of the
Lifeboat Institution with much pleasure, he thought
they would agree with him that that pleasure was
much enhanced when a gentleman visited them, as
Captain Robertson had done, for the kind way and
trouble he had taken in getting them to accept this
boat, and the kind way he had borne with them;
but he now saw that they appreciated the gift of the
boat, and that his efforts had not been in vain.
(Applause.)
Captain ROBERTSON, in reply, after thanking the
chairmen and company for the kind manner
in which they had received him, said that as he was
only a minor member of the Lifeboat Institution
it made him hesitate how he could return thanks.
He assured them that he appreciated the reception
he had met with amongst them, not only on his own
account, but that of the institution of which he was •
member. The Chairman, in proposing his health,
said that he had taken a great deal of trouble with
them. That trouble WM always a pleasure. If the
people of Poole did not wish for a lifeboat, because
they considered one was not required on this part
of the collet, they were quite right, because it was
well to know whether it was really required or not,
and although there was some doubt about it at the
beginning he did not think there was any in the
end, and be thought everyone would now say that it
would be useful at Poole. (Cheers.) It might not
be required for many years, but they had the satis-
faction of knowing that they would have one
stationed here whether it was wanted or not, and
he thought the boat was appreciated. (Hear, hear.)
The Lifeboat Institution was supported by voluntary
contributions from all parts of the country, and it
was most gratifying to meet with the reception
which had been accorded to it that day. During
the two years and half he had been connected with
the institution he had never seen such a turn out.
(Cheers.) The bueiness of the institution was
conducted by gentlemen who gave their time, which
involved a considerable amount. Their boats were
manned by crews who volunteered. No one was
obliged to go. It was one of the most purely
British associations there was. Except a few officers
-neoeuary to carry on its work there—were no paid
persons. All the branches of (be institution were
managed by committee. who gave their services
voluntarily. The institution was much indebted to
men who came forward in the hour of danger to
man their boats. Some persons thought lifeboats
would do impossibilities, but this was an idea which
ought to be shaken off their minds. There were
times and oases when lifeboats could be of no service
whatever, but these cases fortunately rarely occurred.
Men were always ready to come forward and meet
danger, if there was any probability of effecting
their purpose, and be had never known an instance,
in which there was life to be saved, in which there
were no volunteers. As a proof of the sympathy
?which the institution met with, he said the number
of their lifeboats had now increased to 139, and
would be 140 in a day or two. Besides supplying
bur own coast with lifeboats they were stimu-
lating continental nations to have them, as
the institution had built boats for Spain, Portugal,
Prussia, and other places; and some were now
being built for the French Government. There
was hardly • day but some foreigners inquired
of the institution which were the beat kind of boats;
but they were somewhat staggered at the cost. The
Sweeds and Danes for many years had lifeboats on
heir coasts; but they were upon the old principle;
herein all the boats of the National Lifeboat
institution were made upon the self-righting
principle. Hitherto Continental nations had held
the old principle, but recently a Swedish gentle-
man had been furnished with plans of the boats of
the National Lifeboat Instituaon, and he had no
4loubt that system would be adopted. After a few
further remarks, Captain Robertson said he could
lot allow this occasion to pass by without returning
thanks to the numerous bodice who accompanied the
boat around town. It was the beet turn out he had
ever seen; every body turned out in their beet. If
the lifeboat was ever wanted she would be up to the ,
mark, and he had no doubt from what he bad seen of '
the crew that they would not be found wanting.
(Loud cheers.) I
M. IL WeLcri, Esq., in the course of • very 1
humourous apeech,said he had a moelignitifying wan i
to propose—the donor of the boat. (Cheers.) He
bad not the slightest idea who the lady -
tbla he knew that she muss be • good

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eontended thmet‘rotthkud woo a *at , * *f,raiminatiag ummage.
iiiiiii=ihrhlre *Mild -be great tgaprOvermusk, biaint Ikr.: **Meow nt KAMA TOW*.
*, and asked why it should be behind other towns , T.he noM, of prre , r4uatopixtion 'gni observable
hi ma being NAM& if • they wished for ilte_proe- `3l.,irr4iai im. .1.141 meads of roll
pm*, of Portland they must improve it. There , q tjamigi , Aleaketihr. blab
were more visitors tio'kbii Ow* by tfidalindis hi oho ' lying " the —ships in the harbour, and it
day now than there used to ha 20 ...... ~..,