The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-27 00:00:00

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT

INSTITUTION.

The annual general meeting of the Royal National
Life-boat Institution was held yesterday at]the London
Tavern. Rear-Admiral his Grace the Duke of Northum-
berland occupied the chair. The meeting was numerous,
and highly respectable.
The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, who was received
with applause, said that this institution, among all the

societies in the United Kingdom, was the only one which
had for its object the saving of life from shipwreck.
He had much satisfaction in stating that seamen, daring
the past year had in several cases established life-boat sta-
tions along the coast chiefly from contributions among
themselves, and bad very much distinguished themselves
in the saving of human life in more cases than one.

(Hear, hear.) This institution had had the pleasure of.
subscribing in aid of those praiseworthy and spirited
efforts. A great change had occurred in their institution
during the past year ; he referred to the aid they now
received from Government. That aid, however, was
given in a vary judicious way. The Government, wish-
ing them to increase rather than to diminish their efforts,
had decided not to contribute towards the expense of
life-boats and the like. Their aid was to be given in the
way of paying the crews of life-boats established by the
institution; and in the shape of liberal 'rewards to
those instrumental in saving life. It was not the
amount received from Government that was valu-
able ; it was the acknowledgment of the principle which
was to be chiefly prized, During the la.,t year 130 lives
had been saved by the exertions of the institution, under
the blessing of God. Many cases of distinguished courage
bad been seen ; as at Whitburn, in Durham, where the
boat went out eight times and saved 60 lives. However,
he regretted to say that 1,500 lives had been lost by ship-
wreck during the year ' • and of these at least one-half
might have been saved had there been a sufficient num-
ber of life boats along the coast. He regretted also to
announce the loss the institution had suffered in the
death of Captain Manby, whose mortar apparatus had
proved so invaluable. That gallant officer himself saw
upwards of 1,000 lives saved during his life by means of
' his invention. The boats now belonging to the institution
were all in the highest state of order, well supplied with
storehouses and launching carriages, and all the crews
had the greatest confidence in them. Before he sat
down he would do himself the pleasure of stating to
the meeting that the Emperor of the French, to show
the interest he had in their society, had sent them a
contribution of 500 f. (Loud applause.)
The report was then read by the SZOBETARY (Mr.
Lewis), which stated that the life-boats of the institu-
tion had saved during the past year 132 shipwrecked
persons, and that the society had granted rewards
amounting to 3101., besides many honorary rewards, for
rescuing 223 others. The institution has now 50 life-
boats under its charge. The accounts showed that the
sums expended during the year on the objects of the
society amounted to 3,6721. 15s. 4d.; while the gross re-
ceipts were only 1,7441. 19s. 4d.; leaving an excess of
expenditure over income of 1,9271. 16s. This amount,
deducted from the capital of the society, left them in
possession only of the reduced sum of 6,7611. 9s. 6d.
Captain SHEPHERD, H.C.S., Deputy Master of the
Trinity House, moved the adoption of the report. He
congratulated the society ou the aid given by Govern-
ment through the Board of Trade. It was to be ob-
served, however, that that aid was given in a way which
would not by any means free the society and the public
from increased exertions. On the contrary, that aid was
given only as a reward for exertions, so that the more
good they effected the snore money would Government
give them. The society, since its institution in 1824,
had b‘ en instrumental in saving about 10,000 lives, and
it was to be hoped that, with the countenance now given
by Government, they would be enabled greatly to in-
, crca,:e the sphere of their operations, and materially t
add to the benefits which the institution conferred upon
society.

• Mr. GREGSON, M.P., seconded the motion, expressing
the disappointment he experienced on observing that the
subscription list contained the names of so few of the
mercantile houses in the City.
The report was unanimously adopted and ordered to
be circulated.

Mr. MASTERI lAN, M.P. moved the following resolution :
—" That, this meeting, recognising the national importance
of the loyal Life•boat Institution, and the benefits which
have resulted to the cause of humanity from its long-con-
tinued and successful exertions, pledges itself to use its
best influence to increase the resources of the society
This meeting further desires to express its sincere ere:
that, notwitstanding the large number of lives that have
been saved during the past year through the direct
agency of the life-boats of the institution and other
means. upwards of 1,500 persons - perished from ship.
wreck within the same period on the coasts of the
United Kingdom,• a circumstance which more than ever
demands the renewed and increasing exertions of the
Life-boat Institution, which may thus, under the blessing
of God, be the instrument of lessening much of the
misery which such a large sacrifice of human life must
necessarily cause."
Mr. WM. GOTTON, F.R.S., I3econdod the resolution,
which was unanimously agreed to.
The thanks of the meeting to the Committee of Ma
nagement fur the care and attention with which they
had conducted the affairs of the institution weraeth en_
propo:,ed by Mr. Weguelin, governor of the Dank
Dover, o:-
-Begland, Feconded by the Rev. Mr. Yates, of
and acknowledged by
deputy-cbairnlan of the institution.
o osed, and Mr.
Mr. THOMAS BARING, M.P., then
ILrdtpition :—" That
FRANCIS WILSON secondedb,.
Mr. Thomas Chapman,
the meetingre' be given to his
the very cordial thanks of this
Northumberland, president
Grace the Duke
holfs Nablreteondoemt
iidn andltohtedchaapipr,iaus e alsoa nd
interest which he takes in the
foofr the
ti t society,
co nti
I • •
National Life-boat Institution."
welfare of the Loyal
agreedtoa
The resolution was
the meeting then separ
continued kind

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mittee of Artillery,
THE SAILORS AND THEIR riOR
ocene, I understand, took sEs—A very amusing
Naval Brigade on Saturdayplace at the camp of
morn' Commissariat department. morning. An officer of the
from arrived
Lord Raglan to there with an order
have
inspection as many had d all the horses mustered for
of late, off the strength died, and otherwise disappeared
brigadier h of his establishment. . The. good-
naturedCaptain Stephenlw 1(1 commands the maritime camp,
for sounding "th us
ingt"'
immediately issued orders
e eneral assem " o the y
of the 'naval brigade
. g
In a moment f cavalry
the whole cam
became filled with equine life, from the snorting steed
who sniffed the keen morning air, and the hardy enduring
Cossack, to, the drooping chargers, some of whom pro-
baby belonged to the horse artillery who fought at In-
kerms.n, or to the 600 who rode into and out of " the
jaws of hell" at Balaklava. Some were claimed and
taken away ; others were not. But how came the men
by all those horses ! The different questions and
answers were, I am told, very amusing. Sailors are
fond of pets, and naturally kind hearted. Some stated
that they bad rushed forward and arrested the farrier's
uplifted arm, as he was about to terminate the lives of
some. They led. them to camp, where they succeeded
in restoring suspended _animation. •- Others' had bought
theirs for a bottle of grog,, and some for a quid of to-
bacco ; whilst some, finding the horses straying about,
bad led them home to take care of them.—Letters from.
the Camp.

TIIZATRE ROYAL lIAYMARKET.
:glider tin, management of Mr. Buckstone.
TIIIS EVENING,

Will be performed ROMEO AND JULIET. Romeo, Miss Club-
man ; Juliet, Miss Swa.nborougb.
After which. a new
TING
called THE NEW HAY-
MARZET SPRING MEETING, 1855.
To conclude with MAKE YOUR WILLS.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. Queue SEAN.

THIS EVENS G,

will be performed the original adaptation of Casimir Delavignes
'
Bistorlcal Play, entitled LOUIS THE ELEVENTH. Principal
character by Mr. C. Kean.
To conclude with (14th time) a Romance, in two acts, entitled
THE MULETEER OF TOLEDO; or, King, Queen, and -Knave.

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, *Adams Celeste.
THIS EVENING.
Win be Performed the Drama entitled THE
MYSTERIOUS
STRANGER.
To conclude with A NEW EDITION' OF ;TUE FAIRY TALES
OF MOTHER GOOSE, with numerous highly-coloured Illustrations.

ROYAL oLymple THEATRE.
Lane and Manager. Mr. A. Wigan.
Trust EVENING,
will be performs a Comediette., called LAW FOR L
Danvers ADIES.
Characters by Messrs. A.. Wigan, G. Vin ing, H. Cooper,
and Miss Castleton.
After which, KILL OR CURE. Charand acters
roml Miss by Messrs. Robson,
Emery, and F. Vining ; Mrs. A. Wigan Bey.
To be followed by the Fairy Extravaganza. called THE YELLOW
DWARF AND TAE, KING OF IHE GOLD MINES.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Under the direction of Miss Rebecca Isaacs.
THIS EVENING,

Will be performed Donizetti's Opera of THE DAUGHTER OF
TILE REGIMENT.
After which, Km; QUEER AND HIS DAUGHTERS THREE.
To conclude with THE WATER? AN.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEA.TItE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke.
Great and Glorious success
Novel Performances of the Dwarf Elephants.
THIS EVENING.
An Interesting Equidrama called, THE FIELD AGAINST THE
AVOURITE !
After which, the matchless SCENES in the ARENA, in which
hiss Emily Cooke will appear.
To conclude with a lively Afterpiece.
A new Military Act Drop, painted by Fenton, has been added to
the Embellishments.
!lox-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W
West. Acting Manager. Mr. W. 11. Cooke. Equestrian Director,
Mr. W. Cooke, Jun.

HIGH WATEB. AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tvs DAT _Morning 50 rain.after 10 1 Evening 23 min. aft.ll
To. tiossnw -Morning 0 aun.after 0 j Evening 53 min. att.ll

!HE WEATHER.—BIIN OITICA, April. 2T.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
o—highest since neon yesterday.
40 —lowest this morning and during the night.
53—this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 30•28.
WIND, N.E.—Light breeze, with fine sunshiny weather.

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