The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-12 00:00:00

LIFE BELTS FOR SHIPWRECKED SAILORS.

The committee of the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution have for several year. been painfully impressed
by the fact that, notwithstanding all the efforts made to
rescue shipwrecked seamen, by means of the numerous
lifeboats and rocket and mortar establishments which now
happily surround our coasts, there are yet large eumbersof
sailors, amounting to several hundred annually, who miser-
ably parish on our shores. After • full consideration of
the subject, and taking for their data the results of acci-
dents to lifeboats the crews of which bare been provided
with efficient life belts, and of others which have not been
so, the committee liars come to the conclusion that a large
somber of the unfortunate men who are thus every year
lost to their friends and their country might be saved if
they were invariably supplied with really efficient
life belts. With • view to bring about so desirable
en end, the committee of the National Lifeboat
Institution have, in the first place, caused to be
prepared an efficient cork life belt of so simple and inexpen-
sive a character that its costliness, at all events, should be
no barrier Wits universal supply to our merchant seamen.
Secondly, they have decided to make an appeal to the
owners of all merchant vesesia, but especially of those in the
home and coasting trade, on behalf of the seamen who work
their craft and whooshes' are risked in their service, and
to implore them to provide their servants with these im-
portant means of safety. Thirdly, the committee have
determined to uodertake, at least for a time, the supply of
life belts of the description above referred to, at cost price,
with a slew to bring about their general use on
our merchant ships. It is proposed to supply these
belts in chests containing the requisite number
for every size of vessel, through the custom houses
and shipping offline at the principal ports, and
to which sample chests will be at once forwarded. The
cost of each belt will be 45., and the average cost of the
chest to contain them will be 10e. A popular writer lately
commenced a tale by asking the question, " Is a man's life
worth 10s. 6d. r In now appealing to the owners
of ships and employers of seamen, the committee
would ask the question—ls a man's life worth 4s. ? There
can, of course, be but one reply to such a question. Last
any shipowner should, without reference to amount of coot,
think that it is sot his duty to provide his men with such •
means of safety, it is suggested that, whilst he should pro-
vide, in the first instance, the chest of belts, as a part of
the ship's furniture, he should require his master sod
crew to pay 641. each man annually, or ld. each on
abort voyages, in consideration of being thus pro-
vided for, which amount would be • good interest
on the sum thus invested ; and it is thought that
it would rarely happen that men would decline to isms
their lives at so trifling • oast. It bad at first occurred to
the committee that the Lifeboat Institution might under-
take the gratuitous supply of life belts to the crews of
me chant vowels, but on further consideration the magni-
tude of the uodartakiag appeared so great so to be likely to
interfere with the present ample sphere of its operations on
the coasts of the United Kingdom. It is hoped, however,
that thorns immediately interested in the movement—
namely, the (meets of ships and fishing vessels, and the
crews themselves—will so reschly undertake its direction,
that there will be no need for the more direct action of the
society. We ma add that applications for chaste of belts
may be far to the Sseretrify of the National Lifeboat
Institution. John-street, Adolph'. Loudon, through the
collectors of customs end shipping manias at the different
ports of the United Kingdom.

THE VOLCHTEER REVIEW. Mr. Wyld, of
Cloariercrosa, has lamed a useful plan of the volunteer
review to be held at Brighton next Monday, showing the
field, with the reads, the rendezvous, the strategic points.
the lines of approach, and the various positions to be
occupied.
OlkilitVANCE OF GOOD FRIDAY. —At a meeting
of the clergy of the rural deanery of Canterbury, held a few
days since, a resolution was adopted for the preentetios of
as address to the directors of the South Festers and
London, Chatham, sod Dover Railway Companies, request-
ing them so take into consideration the service they would
wafer upon religion by retain* to run excursion train. on
Good Fridave The memorialists further state that they
are aware tie working classes require recreatioe, but Good
Friday is the one day in the year which presents distinctive
and peculiar features for religious observance. The docu-
ment is signed by 21 out of the 23 clergymen belonging to
the rural deanery.
THE FATAL BOAT ACCIDILNT ors ERFrli. —Yes-
terday morning the body of George Johostone, another of
I the nrifcrtomate Naval cadets Weser* to the Worcester
training ship, who were drowned by the upsetting of a boat
as the 28th of February last, was picked up in Woolwich.
• reach by a waterman named Robert Carrier. By direction
of the coroner the body wee conveyed on board the Woe,
aster. Three of the bodies have sot yet been recovered.
CITY or LONDON COLLEGE, 52, LLADRNHALL-
BTAILT.—Major SUOli, the private secretary to Baron
Lionel de Rothschild, lass closaented to preside at the
lecture to be delivered in the theatre of this college to-
morrow by Mr. William Stokes. the subject being, "The
' Science of Memory sad Requirements of the Nineteenth
Century." The lectors will be illustrated by Dome of Mr.
Blokes's pupils, and will essomenes at 8 p.m.
likdrertisement.l—Houoway's OINTMENT AND
lhaLL—Dropeical Swellinga—Whatever may hi the remote
mass of collections of water In the homes body it must be
prodent to disperse them as soon sa possible. The
MOMS of secaceplialang this end are supplied by using=
ware Matsui to increase the activity of the Abair/bomb,
Mem Ilde eintsrant is well rub.ed upon the skin It removes NB
• veimonseenerestion. overcomes all mechanical obstructive MO.
tree edam of the bloel, and prevents the deposit of MILO MA
water. lellowais pills likewise augment the absorbing weer ;
they move circuitously on the capillaries through the
while his ointment sots directly through the akin. NT=
be employed in dzopsiee and diseases of the kidneys.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

OF ADMIRALTY.
Ms Admiralty Cowl &at Weitininater on Tueeday, April
M. May 2, and May 9, M 104, for annansooses and =done in
&ambers. and at 11 am =Mona In wort. The court will he se
rooms on Tuesday, April 11, mid on wary Tuesday, Widnes.
day. and Friday, from Medwillital, Aprll 19, to friday, May V,
both looloalvs.
APPRALS 001/2T.
The Avows court iral slt at Doctoricommons on Thursday,
April IS and IT, and May 6 aisd 11, at 101.