The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-02 00:00:00

PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM SHIPWRECK.

Yesterday a meeting of the Royal National Insti-
tution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck was held
at the offices, John. street, Adeiphi, ,Capt. L. Pmeaorr in
the chair.
Mr. Lewis, the secretary, having read the minutes of
the previous meeting, the silver medal of the institatiou
was voted to Lieutenant E. Kelly, R.N., harbour-mastic
of Port Louis, Mauritius, in appreciation of hie gallant and
very laudable conduct on the occasion of the wreck of the
ship Randolph, which had on board 2154 coolies. When the
vessel was discovered she was found to be a total wreck,
with nothing standing but her bowsprit and jibboom, and
about 60 coolies (chiefly women and children) were huddled
together on the fore part of the wreck, which was rapidly
breaking up. It being late in the afternoon, every exertion
was made to save them before sunset, but
there was much difficulty experienced on account of
the heavy sea running at the time, in approach-
iag the wreck, over which the sea was breaking
fearfully. Lieutenant Kelly, however, with great tact suc-
ceeded in bringing his boat under the wreck's jib-boom,
and the people were thus dropped into the boat between
the rollers. Some of the women, from fright, let go the
rope and fell into the water, but were instantly picked up
again. The children, as they were dropped, were caught
without receiving any injury in the arms of the crew of be
boat. After much danger, and considerable risk to his crew
and boat, the lieutenant succeeded in saving on four trips
every one remaining on the wreck, being 60 coolies and the
mate of the ship. Lieutenant Kelly h►d been presented
with a gold medal by the inhabitants of the island for his
noble exertions to the unhappy people, and hii being
honoured with the medal of this old and valuable
institution, on which officers and civilians set so high •
value, is another well merited tribute paid to his gallantry
on the distressing occaaioa in question.
Other rewards having been granted for saving life from
shipwreck, a new life-boat, on Mr. Peake's design, was
ordered to be built for Androsaan.

It was stated that some time since the institution had
determined to place a life-boat at Cranfield-point, on the
coast of Down, on the application of Inspecting Lieutenant
Servant., R /i , who had most creditably exerted himself
in procuring promised subscriptions for so desirable an
object. It appears, however, that his benevolent inten-
tions, as well as those of the institution, wen about to be
completely frustrated, in which probably the loss of the life
of many a brave fellow is involved by the conduct of the
pilots and fishermen of the place, who have determined not
to form a boat's crew, on aesoent, as they my, of the in-
sufficiency of saticipMed reward to them in we their err-
Tien shall be required to goo( to a stranded WOOL Such
pusillanimous behaviour stands out in a bold relief to the
conduct of the generality of the saw ekes of people enthe
cant of Ireland, whose gallantry we have often had occa-
sion to chronicle, and the ahoy, institution to acknowledge
and »ward.
The proceedings then closed.

DAMN= VALLEY RaILWAT.--Contractors, it in
stated, aim offend to construct this Liao from Dartford al
Fmaiashan, payed last session, sad to guarantee S pet
cent. Sa mlsw sd sapital.