The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-17 00:00:00

vanced science. Many of these wrecks were
doubtless due to preventible causes, especially when
we look to the large number of miserably equipped
and unseaworthy vessels that ply our coasting
trade. We have, therefore, good reason to hope
that when Mr. LAIRD'S bill shall have become law,
and no ships are sent to sea without being pro-
perly found, with cables that do not give way
when the anchor holds, and with anchors that do
not come up when the cable bears the strain, we
may see a considerable diminution in the number
of our annual shipwrecks. These 1,602 disasters
represent a loss of 568 lives within the year—a loss
that would undoubtedly b 3 very much greater
were it not for the praiseworthy efforts of the
National Lift boat Institution, since, daring that
period, no less than 4,563 persons were saved by
lifeboats, the rocket apparatus, and other means.
Of course a large number of those thus saved were
rescued independently of the society, but there can
be no doubt that it has given a stimulus and en-
couragement to saving life and property from ship-
wreck which has had a most beneficial effect. The
institution boasts, with justifiable pride, that during
the forty years of its existence the number of lives
saved by its lifeboats and by special exertions,
which have received its rewards, has amounted to
13,568. This, indeed, is a most gratifying result,
and one which speaks volumes for the practical
utility of such an association. Not only are its
services beneficial in rewarding and encouraging
courage, but it has been instrumental in improving
the character of our lifeboats generally, and in
obtaining the highest degree of perfection at pre-
sent possible. A proof of the high degree of effi-
ciency which has now been attained in their build
is found in the fact that, during the past year,
6,000 persons have been afloat in them without
a single instance of loss of life ; and although
many of these occasions were only the quarterly
trips for exercise, yet many of them were voyages
undertaken amid rolling breakers and sweeping
tempests in which no ordinary boat had dared have
left the shore. 417 lives and 17 vessels have during
the twelve months of 1863 been rescued by their
means', and it may interest the meteorologist to
know that the committee of the association, no in-
considerable judges, reckon the gales of last Octo-
ber and December as among the most disastrous
that ever visited these shores. Against such enemies
as these no skill nor science can altogether protect
us, but that is no reason why every effort should
not be made to reduce our annual catastrophes to
the minimum which as yet they are very far from
reaching. The committee of the institution are
making indirect as well as direct efforts to attain
this desirable end, and have succeeded in accomplish.
ing a very important reform. Thanks to their
having repeatedly called attention to the subject,
the Lords of the Admiralty are now taking steps to
provide every man-of-war with an efficient lifeboat,
a precaution which it is only marvellous can have
been so long neglected. A new scheme has also
been set on foot, which proposes that the committee
should place at some of the principal fishing stations
on our coasts insubmergible fishing boats, which
might after satisfactory trial provide samples of
building to those localities. We hope this plan w

be found to work well, but we fear it may meet with
some loeal opposition. ft is gratifying to know
that the institution has been able to add fifteen new
boats to its already large fleet, and that others are

in course of construction, Many persons have

generously come forward with gifts for the cost of
lifeboats, no less than twelve of such liberal dona-
tions being recorded within the year. In addition
to the large sums left by legacies, a new and inte-
resting feature is apparent io the fact that those

who have lost ralatives have sometimes cotnmemo

rated their departed friends by associating their

names with this public benefaction. This is a

worthy memorial of the most de3erving, and sets an

example which will, we hope, be followed. It is

clear that with a shipping " representing," in the
words of the report, " aboat 60 millions of•tons, and

400,000 vessels which cleared outwar•js and entered

awards from British ports during the year," grew

and continuous efforts are necessary to prevent a
frightful sacrifice of life on the rocky and weather-

beaten coasts of these islands. The Lifeboat Inst
tution performs this important national work we

and thoroughly, and has, therefore, a right to look
with confidence to the public for encouragement

and support.

The speech of the hon. member for Halifax on
Monday evening deserves some attention, if only
in acknowledgment 9f the arduous labour which it
bears witness to. Mr. STANSFELD, it will be re-
membered, when first appointed to his present
office, declared his intention of endeavouring to
reduce to something like order those Admiralty ac-
counts whose very name is generally accepted as
the emblem of hopeless confusion, extravagance,
and mystery. He has fulfilled his promise by
examining closely into the subject, and has intro-
duced various changes and improvements, which
have for their object the great end of simplify-
ing the Dockyard accounts. Mr. STANSFELD
informed the House on Monday evening that the
Admiralty Dockyard accounts might now challenge
comparison with those of the best managed private
yard in the country. The description which he
gave of the process now gone through certainly
exhibits great care and caution in securing accuracy
and guarding against errors and malversations.
The manufacturing balance-sheets are still, he
admits, open to criticism, and further simplification
is advisable. The finance accounts, which showed
in what proportions the estimates were exceeded, or
otherwise, were not on previous occasions found
satisfactory by the House, They wished very
justly to look a little more closely into the details of
dockyard labour, and Mr. STANSFELD has, therefore,
introduced what he calls labour charts, in which
the House will have "every farthing of expendi-
ture for labour, as attested by the books, brought
to book and distributed among the ships and the
services in which the labour has been employed."
These charts are not only to show the payments
and charges, but to explain the nature, amount, and
variety of labour engaged, with its cost and the
nature of its operations. This, if fully carried out,
will be an essential advantage, as it will enable the
House to keep some check upon the extravagant
expenditure that often goes on for no good, such as
the continual alterations and the jobbing of various
kinds that is only too common in our naval matters.
Most persons,will agcee with Mr. STANSFELD when
he says that no large business was ever safely or
profitably conducted that was not based on an
accurate and exhaustive system of accounts. He
has, therefore, done good service in reducing the
heterogeneous expenses of the dockyards into some-
thing like order and consistency, and in opening
out their intricacies to the light of day. Unhappily,
the reformer is unable to touch the department
which especially calls for reform—the very Board
of which he is a member. The power which
deals with the abuses of its construction
and practice must come from without, and
many a hard fight will have to be fought before the
substantial changes required both in the letter and
the spirit of the administration of our Admiralty
affairs ate fully carried out. There is no reason
why such an important department of the State
should be continually under what may be styled