The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-18 00:00:00

ROYAL UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION.

A lecture was yesterday given at the house of the insti-
tution, Whitehall, by Captain Ward, R.N., on the subject
of life boats, the hon. gentleman being the inspector of the
life boats of the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

The gallant officer's lecture was admirably adapted to
the perception of nautical men (and, indeed, landsmen
also), and was of the most searching character as to the
origin of life boats, and the progressive improvements
which had been made in the construction of such boats.
He described every principle on which life boats were con-
structed, as opposed to that of every other boat; and he
specially called attention to the boats which had been built
by the National Life .boat Institution. In the case of open
boats it was imagined that they were liable to be swamped,
and assuredly the chief thing requisite in a life boat was,
if possible, to counteract this difficulty. To secure extra
buoyancy was one of the great principles in building life
boats. This was promoted by air-tight compartments.
which added to the stability of the boat, throwing water
to the centre, which became ballast. A variety of dia-
grams, which were suspended from the walls, were here
pointed out and explained. He next dilated upon the
boats which were constructed upon the self-righting prin-
ciple, and to the consequent self-discharge of water re-
quired, which added to the buoyancy of the boat,
this being effected by relieving tubes open at both
ends. The gallant officer discussed in succession the
merits of the various inventions from the year 1789, when
a lifeboat was built in one of the northern ports, and 18
boats of that kind had been built. The lecturer gave a mar-
vellous nu wber of facts (and included sound reasoning upon
them), the object being chiefly to show the ♦ast benefits
which had arisen from the self-righting lifeboats adopted
by the National Institution. The lecturer showed upon
unmistakable data the superiority of the principle of self-
righting boats, an idea which at one period had been
laughed at, and which in its practical application sub-
sequently was for a short time believed to be wanting.
Statistics, however, were adduced showing the small loss
of life in these boats as compared with all others, and in
conclusion the gallant officer showed the superiority of the
National Lifeboat Institution boats ; and alluded to the
necessity of the use of really good life belts, which now
formed a part of the equipment of life boats, his own in-
vention, a sort of cork jacket, having been adopted—this
jacket being divided into sections, so as leave plenty of room
for the play of the cheat, whilst covering the shoulders,
chest, and upper part of the back.

The lecture was listened to with great attention, and the
lecturer was thanked far his kindness.

BANK RETURNS.

The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of the cir-
culation of the Private and Joint-Stock Banks in England
and Wales for the four weeks ending Dee. 14. These
returns, combined with the circulation of the Scotch and
Irish Banks for the same period, and the average circula-
tion of the Bank of England for the four weeks ending the
11th Dec. (the nearest date furnished by their returns),
will give the following results of the circulation of notes in
the United Kingdom, when compared with the previous
month :

Nov. 16, Dec. 14,
1861. 1861. Increase Decrease.
Bank of England 20,804,876
.20,049,8g5'• 754,981
Private Banks 3,503,810 3,354,5031 149,307
Joint-stock Banks 3,009,131 2,908,938, 100,193
Total in England 27,317,817 26,313,336 1,004,1 81
Scotland 4,513,062 4,647,725 134,663
Ireland 6,458,197 6,407,249 60,948
United Kingdom 38,289,076 17,368,310 £920,766

And, as compared with the month ending the 15th lee.
1860, the above returns show a decrease of £106,529
in the circulation of notes in England, and a decrease of
£187,994 in the circulation of the United Kingdom :
On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve-
ral banks the following is the state of the circulation :
rhe English private banks are below their fixed
issue
The English joint-stock banks are below their
fixed issue £393,49

Total below fixed issue in England £1,386,824
The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue £1,898,451
The Irish banks are above their fixed issue £52,755
The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng-
land in both departments during the month ending the 11th
Dec. was £15,016,454, being an increase of £791,821 as
compared with the previous month, and an increase of
£1,433,884 when compared with the same period last year.
The following are the amountsof specie held by the Scotch.
and Irish banks during the month ending the 14th Dec. :--
Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks £2,701,089
Gold and silver held by the Irish banks 2,392,919

£5,094,009
Being an increase of £220,889, as compared with the
previous return, and a decrease of £73,268 when compared
with the corresponding period of last year,

DEATH OF COMMANDER THOMAS PICKERING
CLARKE, R.N.—We have to announce the death of the
above officer, which occurred at his residence at Bath, on.
the 11th instant, in the 75th year of his age. The deceased
officer entered the navy in April, 1800, and while cruising
off Bordeaux witnessed the capture, 26th October following,
of La Diable a Quatre, privateer, 16 guns, and was pro-
moted to lieutenant 28th April, 1807. He shared in the
bombardment of Dieppe, St. Valery en Caux, and Bou-
logne ; was present in several smart skirmishes with the
French flotilla, and attended the expedition to Flushing in
August, 1809. He was next employed in rocket service ill
North America, and returned home in 1813. After fur-
ther serving in the Downs and on the coasts of America,
and Fiance, he went on half-pay in September, 1815. He
retired with the rank of commander, January 17, 1843.
NEW 'BANKRUPTCY ACT.—We learn that Mr.
Charles Dance, chief clerk of the Court for Relief of In-
solvent Debtors, retired at the end of September, but has
occasionally given his attendance since to the present time,
to make up his accounts. This circumstance gives no rise
to the other officers and clerks, as the new act provides that
no vacancy in that establishment shall be filled up. Mr.
Dance has only been chief clerk since May, 1858, but many
years in the office. We are also informed of the retire-
ment of Mr. William Pennell, one of the official assignees
in London, and that two or three other gentlemen of that
class are spoken of as likely to retire soon. No vacancy ill
the number of official assignees in London will be filled uP
until reduced to three. There were nine. We are not at
present able to give the sums the above named gentlemen
have retired upon, but we believe them to be from £l,OOO
to £1,500. Intimation has been given that the estimate of
retiring allowances under this new measure will amount to
£lO,OOO in six months from its coming into operation..'
Civil Service Gazette.

In consequence of the Spanish steamer discon-
tinuing to run between Cuba and St. Thomas, the mail
will in future be made up for Cuba on the 17th of the
month.

The Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company
have for the present ceased to issue debentures, havins
raised £1,000,000, or three-fourths of the total sum to b°
ultimately so obtained by them. The new shares, to the
amount of £1,500,000, which they have just put out, com'
plate the share capital estimated to be required for this un'
dertaking.

The Mercantile Fire Insurance Company Psi"
terday issued their table of rates for the insurance of nor"
chandise, (Cm, in the port of London, and a full inspection
by their surveyor of the various docks and wharfs enunie'
rated in the tariff. rho reductions of rates from those of 010
combined offices are, on the docks and their uptown ware"
houses, about 30 per cent., and on the first-class wbar'
about 20 per cent.