The Express.
London, England, 1860-01-06 00:00:00

(Stamped id. AdditioaaL) [TWOPENCE.

ADMIRAL BIA OBARLEB NAP/SA OX TIM
NATIONAL DEFANOIB.
LOWESTOFT, JAN. 6.
Admiral Sir Charles Napier undertook to be pre-
sent last evening at a topsider held In this town to 'promote
the enrolment of "Royal Naval Volunteers" &nog the
coast. Captain STEWARD presided, and the meeting was
numerously attended.
81r C. NATIRR, after alluding to the program made in the
rifle corps movement, said—Whether the Emperor of the
French intended to attack us it was impossible to say, but for
the last 20 years there had been a coastoot augmehation In
the navy of that country, although, geograpideolle speaking.
France was very differently situated to ourselves. WORT
Britain, u an island, relied for defence on her navy and the
fertresms on her coast; whirr France, as • military power,
had an army of 600,000 or 700,000 men. Nobody amid
know better than the present audience that the upset of
naval affirm had new greatly changed. In days gone by
there was no such thing as steam, and the country wee then
defended by the navy aloes. The application of steam to
modern machete had now produosd a great change, and given
other countries amrestadmatage in sneakier, ne, andalthough
he believed that the superiority and skill of our mat
would sings be maintained, still the difficulty of
invading oar hest was not so greet es an termer
days. A year ago it appeared that the Frisch
navy was almost equal to our own, and he was sorry to may
this was owing to she inattention we bed paid to oar envy.
(Hen, hear.) For NNW years be had sews danger In war
position, bat we wore now, he was glad to say, build*:y, a
amber of large ships and flee highs& Still, what would
be the use of betiding *hips and eroding heft It we had sot
sea to man them P This was our real nemenity. When
perliameat voted • certain number of seamen, 30,000 or
411,0 that total could be kept up when it was ones obedised
by Wa&g forekar4 the boys, as they grew sp, to most
elelloffeblemea4olo34-11114fles &amide, asneminlihm wet.
remdriatt, as In the ones of alarm or inn** sad the
mot local it women to mil ant 10,1100 or JON%
the met under ordinary elongations were not to
be had. The mercantile marine had Its number of
, nose, mad the navy Its number, bat In the ease
of as eseirgency extra men for the latter were not to be had;
sad he wee glad to find that the government had at last come
forward, and taken measures for forming a room foam.
Coast volunteers had been for eases time organised to mist
the coastguard in looking eller =eaten ; and, if necessea
they would come forward in the event of war sadd
taking place sad man the Mem ships. It wee bee that
they might have to fight, but at present they had only to put
down their names, and come forward in case of emergency to
defend the coeat. The Lasts plying on the oosst were some
of the finest in the world, and they were fit to receive the
enormous men—elephants he might cell them—who went
out in them sometimes to save life sad property. When they
thus put 4.1 r to ships in dishes@ they braved great daugers,
sad could not say whether they would come back again.
Fighting was nothing at all to this, for then WAS excitement
in it. (Laughter.) The plan miler which enrolment was
now invited was diffamot from that of the coast vo-
lunteers. The government hoped to raise 30,000 men
to be ready in the event of an Invasion of this
country or an easel from France, and they would
be required to serve is any part of the world in
time of war. The class invited to enrol themselves were able-
bodied seamen, and they would receive 61. a year manly to
be ready when wanted. They walks/amble for 23 days'
drill annually, and would maws while up la. Id. per day
victualling money, and 1.. per day pay, with the advantage
of • pension of no less than 121. • year after ten years' en-
rolment, which, under mega namelettiona, might be enjoyed
by their wives after their demean In addition to this, whe-
ther wounded or net, they would be eligible to an asylum in
Greenwich Hospital. The time for drill would be so selected
as not to interfere with their fishing and other ordinary hen-
, they might with leave go foreign voyages, and gun-
bats iwoula be stationed so that they had their drill at home.
What inconvenience, he would ask, would they endure in
learning under such circumstances satheee different exercises
with guns, cutlasses, and muskets, in order that they
might be atficient defenders of their country in
the event of war Men not drilled were nothing
more than a mob. Some might be Inclined
to say, Oh, we should do very well ;' but if he took 100 of
the 400 seamen present, and accustomed them by die ipline
to the nee of guns, cutlasses, &c., he would wager his life
that if he were to put himself at their heed he would lick "
the whole of the rest. (Laughter and cheers.) Sailors sad
henchmen could not be expected: to come forward as riflemen
—they were born to the sea and:accustomed to the sea only ;
bat it was to them that the country looked foe its defence.
The government had not asked him to address the meettng,
but being on a visit to his daughter in the neighbourhood, he
had volunteered to ask those:present to volunteer. If they
did not do so, any lenity " privateer might come down upon
them, burn their homes, ravish their women, commit all
manner of atrocities, sad drive them like • Gook of sheep
before the wind. Another view of the matter mu, that in
the event of war the government might compel them to come
forward. The Queen has • right to call upon them
to defend the country; but now, when there
was no immediate chance of attack, her Mejeety offered them
a certain sum of money to go and be drilled, that in the event
of war they might be able to defend themselves, their wives,
and property. With reference to impressment, the parlia-
ment and people of this country were dead against It. He
had himself brought • bill Into parliament not to establish
the press-gang, but to exercise a little gentler compulsion.
His measure was to the effect that every boy, after serving
three or four yeses in the merchant service, should, before he
was entitled to be ranked as • British ',small, be compelled
to serve two or three year. on board a man-of-war, that he
might be fit fur service. He thought when he brought this I
measure forward, and he thought now, that this would be an
excellent preparation ; but the Hoses of Commons would not
entertain the scheme became ft was a species of compulsion.
He stated this tootle, that the House of Commons was opposed
to the slightest show of compulsion, and for this reason sailors
were now called upon to volunteer. He did not wish to ,
doodles them. If • war broke out, it would be absolutely '
asemeary to compel men to come forward, and everybody
mast do so, not only sailors, but gentlemen and noblemen.
He was not one to say that the poor man should be the
lime to serve and fight, but every man, from the 'Ricca of
to royal blood down the poorest in the
and, ought to come
forward, if it was necessary for him to du so, for the defence
of the country. (Cheers.)
The CHAIIILMAX stated that he was informed on excellent
authority that • battery would be shortly erected at Peke-
field, commanding the Gitway, and another at Lowestoft
Nees Point, commanding the reads.
air C. NAPIER, in acknowledging a vote of thanks h-
oarded to him for hie attendance, noticed the almost total
extinction of corporal punishment in the navy, and referring
to the late mutiny on board the Princess Royal, said in that
ease ea admiral and twelve captains sat to inquire into the
cheamMenom, while, when the men of the Great Eastern
refused to scrub the decks, a single magistrate committed
them

ST. PANCRAS AND NORTH MIDDLESEX RIFLE
BRIGADE. The numbers attending the drill of this
Brigade have so increased within the last few days
that the capacious vestry-ball of St. Pancras is becoming
wholly inadequate for the accommodation of the effective'.
Since the almost unanimous vote of the corps upon the uni-
form, which is the design of Kr. Berry, of Upper Seymour-
street, Oakley-square' the enrohnesta have doubled. It is
most gentlemanly, consisting of a steel-coloured grey doe-
skin, with black braid facings, black collar and cuffs, cross-
belt and pooch, with the name of the corps encircled with
laurel la braise, sad silver bugle in centre sword belt.
knickerbocker gaiter., gray cap with oilskin cover and
black sword belt, &o. The price la under 41. It is stated that •
very large and well-known firm In the district is about to
equip a perfect company of its employes to join the brigade,
which will than number over 200 efts:rives,

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MERSEY DOCK
80/MD.—TIEN NATAL aiSEßVll.—Captain Mends., R.N.,
of her Majesty's ship Hastings, having applied to the Mer-
ry Dock Board foe a berth for his vessel in one of the
Liverpool docks, daring the drilling of the new naval is.
serve, the subject wee partially demand at the meeting
of the Mersey Dock Board, yesterday (Thursday). Serena
members of the board thought the granting of a fns berth
to the Rulings for the prowess of drilling men would in-
terfere with the waking of the dock.. The chairman said
that the berth was only wanted for three months, till the
great Boat at Birkenhead was opened. Captain Mends bad
Mend to pay the regular dues, though the government had
a right to use the docket free of charge. For hie part he
thought that the board should afford every possible orga-
sms to the government in developing the navel 111•061 VIS of
the Coantry. The harbour-master was ultimately requested
to prepare a report on the 'object, which will be discussed
next week.
BRAVE CONDUCT.—When the schooner Contest,
Captain J. Pinkbant, belonging to Messrs. Ring and Lu-
ster, of Plymouth, wee on -her passage home team New.
fotendiand, in lat. M 1.30 north, and lon. 7.06 west, it became
wiessiary to tack ship. William Haseltme, a seaman, went
aft, sad wee la the sot of unhooking the guy tackle from the
man boom, when the vessel plunged suddenly forward, and
he enibetanately lost his hold, end fell over the port quarter
intethe MIS. The bold ladder, a boat's oar, and a Muddier
mil yard were thrown after him, and ha providentially pot
passerdoa of the oar sad yard. The helm wee then put herd
a-port, but the veinal unfortunately refused step, there
Wag too much sea en. Sail was then shortened, and the
ship hove too. Without a request from the muter, or the
owser, Mr. Lamour, who wee oa board, the little jolly boat
wee sheerfolly launched over all, and Henry Stapleton, meet
leseph Gay, second mate, Joan Ristrel., and Thomas
Lama, seamen, got in at considerable risk, and pulled away
from the ship. After an absence of half an hoer sad when
bare kr their safety began, to pervade the sands of the
smell remainder of the mew, the punt hove in eight with
poor Reseltine in the stern sheete. lie wee treated with
great care, end the next day returned to duty. Our readers
will be beam able to sppreelate the noble daring of these
ass whoa they see hitormed that the Contest wee wader
deable-reeled sails, the wind being very stmOK am law*
east by =db.

PIZAIIIRFATION OF DPI FROM SHIPWRBCII.

Yesterday a meeting of the Royal National Life-
boat Institution was held at he hour, John-street. Adelpbt ;
Twowse CHAPMkI4, Esq., F. 8.5., in the chair. There
wars also present Admiral Cator, Rear-Admiral Gordon,
Deputy Muter of the Trinity gotwe; AIR. Boetefeurr
BR., Captain Wuhingtor, R.N., 1.1t.8., Hydrographee
of the Admiralty; Captain Dalt, R.N., C. 8.; W. H.
Herten, Beg.; end Captain Ward, R.N., inspector of life-
boats to the institution.

Mr. Luton'
.(she secretary) having real the minutes of the
previous meeting,
A reward of 121. was voted to the crew of the institu-
tion's lifeboat stationed at Barmouth, for putting off on
Friday last, and rescuing fourteen persona, including the
master's wife, from the ship Britannia, of Bath, United
Mates, which, during • gale of wind, was wrecked off
Born:tooth. This is the second time this valuable lifeboat
has rendered important services within a few weeks to
American ship which had, their masters believing that
they win above Holyhead, grounded is Cardigan Bay. The
lifeboat was reported to have behaved admirably on both
occasions.

A reward of 121. wee also voted to the crew of the Thorp-
DM lifeboat, belonging to the National Institution, fee going
off in her in the night and moving eight of tin MOW et the
brig Henry Morten, of Sunderland, which, daring stormy
weather and a heavy tea, foundered on SizewsU Bank ma the
10th ult. la less than an hour after she sank in 6 fathoms
of water. The lams excellent lifeboat again put off on the
13th ult. and assisted in bringing safely to port the sloop
Sybil, of Goole, which was found in • sinking state off
Thermos§ on the night of that day.
A reward of 131. 10s. was likewise voted to the mew of the
institution's lifeboat at Lytham, for putting off, in her and
seesedwg an the 6dh, sat Ma alt. the crews,
m
of diem persons, treat the brigantine Hannah. laini
London, the sloop Harbors of Andwoh, and the brigantine
Robert Beery of Dundalk, which, during stormy weather,
had grounded on the outlying sand-banks. The lifeboat had
subsequently rucxeded in bringing stately to port two of the
marmosets. The boat wee reported to hays behaved nobly on
each ootesion.

A nerd of 121. was also voted to the Filey lifeboat, be-
longing to the institution, for meeting off in the night, and
misting to bring the crew of seven men of the schooner
Obve Branch, from Colchester, safely Into port, which duns*
foggy weather and a heavy surf had become a total wreck off
Filey, on the 17th nice
Ths institution's small surf lifeboat at Yarmouth had also
been instrumental in saving the crews of 12 men from the
brig John, of Shields, and the schooner Ferone. of Exeter,
which during stormy weather had grounded off Yarmouth.
Rewards amounting to 801. were also voted to the inetitu-
Don's lifeboats at Appledore, Devon; Aldeburgh, Suffolk;
Ithislare, Wexford; and Greet Yarmouth ; for patting off in
them, sometimes in the darkness of the night, and during
I very tempestuous weether, to vase le which had eignals of
disuses laying, but which to many instances had afterwards
got out of danger, and proceeded on their voyage.
A reward of 131. was also voted to the society's lifeboat at
Cabo», on the ooest of Wexford, for putting e and bringing
on shore four persons belonging to the ship Soranauth, of
Liverpool, which, during stormy weather, had foundered on
the Blackwater Bank on the 11th ult. Seventeen persons,
including the master's wife and child had previously ono-
ceeded in reaching the shore in two of the wreck's boats.
During the past year the lifeboats of the institution had
succeeded in rescuing nearly two hundred shipwrecked mikes
from a watery grave.
Captain Allan Young, Lae of the Arctic yacht Fox, who
has long been a liberal supporter of the Lifeboat Institution,
had recently sent to it en additional handsome contribution,
stating " taut he knew perfectly well the greet value of a
lifeboat in coming up channel and nearing a lee shore."
The silver medal of the institution and 11. ware voted to
Henry Boyd coast guard boatman, at St. John's Point; and
61. to five other boatmen, for putting off in • shore boat, and
rescuing, at considerable risk of life, the crew of eight men
of the brigantine Water Lily, which, during a terrific surf,
was wrecked in Dundee= Bay on the Bth ult. Henry Boyd
particularly distinguished himself by his gallant conduct on
the occasion, It was only after three attempts that the boat
succeeded in reaching the wreck and taking off the crew.
The vessel went to pieces in half an hour after the crew were
landed, and the fishing boat that was used melee occasion
was completely destroyed on landing. Captain Ridge, R.N.
inspecting commander, who reported the laudable services;
stated the necessity of an additional lifeboat in Dundrum Bay.
The National Lifeboat Institution has already one in the
vicinity.
Also the silvermedal end a copy of the Institution's vote on
parchment to C. M. Talbot, Esq., M.P., chairman of the
South Wales Railway Company, in acknowledgment of his
Intrepid services by wading with others, at much risk of life,
into the surf, and rescuing several men from the barque
Joseph Jean, of Jersey, which during a heavy gale of wind
was wrecked on the Glaniorganshire ooast, near bir. Talbot'•
residence, a few weeks ago. Mr. Williams, a farmer, who
also received the silver medal of the society, had c7urageonaly
followed the example of Mr. Talbot, by rushing into the sea
on horseback to attempt to save Nome of the poor fellows.
Four other men, who had creditably exerted themselves on
the occasion, roceived from the institution 31. for their
valuable services.
The second service clasp was likewise voted to Mr. W.
Tregidgo, chief officer of the coast-guard at Newquay, Corn-
wall, who had previously received the medal of the institu-
tion, and 121. to several other men, for their courageous con-
duct in rescuing, by wading into the surf, the crews, consist-
ing of eleven mss, of the French vessels Anal', of Venues,
sad the Union, of St. Yeast, which during a violent storm
were wrecked near Newqtmy. Mr. Tregitgo particularly
distinguished himself on the occasion, often wading up
to his neck in a tremendous sea to the rescue of the poor
foreigners.
Several other rewards, amounting to 341. 10a. for
courageous services in saving life were at swards voted.
It is truly gratifying to witness the summons and intrepid
exertions that are being made on the coast everywhere to
✓ye the lives of shipwrecked persons. The sound of the
minute gun at sea, or the burning light on booed the dis-
tressed ship, is sure to be responded to by the hardy men on
shore. No matter how dark the night—how terrific the
tempest blows—how blinding the snow drift is—that signal
of imminent danger on board yonder ship nerves the strong
man who, c elm and collected, at this hour no danger seems to
appal. Yet aid it is to Mete that it happens occasionally
that In attempting to rescue others the gallant men are
themselves engulphed in the boiling elements. The widows
of feur such brave fellows received, yesterday, from the Na-
tional Lifeboat Institution, 751., as a small gratuity in their
great bereavement.
It was decided to order lifeboats to be built for the Isle of
Wight, North Berwick, and Elle. Others were ready to be
mat to St Andrew's, Poreheawl, Carmarthen Bay, Port-
rush, and Silloth. The lifeboat at the mouth of the,Dannbe,
which is on the plan of the institution end built by Messrs.
Forrest!, was reported to have saved the crews of several
English ships during some recent terrific storms in the Black
Bea.

It was reported that a friend of the institution had, a few
days ego, left at its beakers 3001. Masers. Jaffrey and Bon,
of Bt. Mildred's-court, again presented to the institution the
wet (1801.) of a !Behest and her equipments.
Payments amounting to 1,3601. for lifeboats, boathouses,
and transporting carriages. were modest the meetiog.
The financial accounts of the institution for the past year
were ordered to be met to Mr. NOS., the public accountant,
who has been the auditor of the institution for many yeses
Put
It was reported that the Board of Trade, and particularly
Its marine officers, cordially co-operated with the institution
Ia oerryieg out its philanthropic work.
J. B. Potter, Eel., of Manchester, having been elected a
vice-president of the institution, in acknowledgment of his
munificent contribution of 1061. to the institution, the pro-
ceedings closed.