The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-03 00:00:00

many of
e heavy
o had a

—" 0
get-

wooden leg, sing out as the .
Lord, save me ; we are gone 1"
ting off my coat, and then swam wiLi• to-
wards the shore. I had my head frequently under
the water, and at times thought that there was no
use in continuing my efforts to reach the land by
swimming, as I felt certain I should be drowned.
however persevered, and was ultimately picked up
by William Bill and William Morton, in the boat
June, near the Queen's Dock Basin. I was much
exhausted, but, nevertheless, had to walk from the
George's Picrhead to the receiving-house, owing to
the cabdriver refusing to take me because my clothes
were wet. Mackay's boat was about 24 feet long
and 7 feet beam, strongly built, and I could have
trusted her almost in any sea.
The boat was picked up and brought to the
Prince's Pier. She is a strong boat, and considered
one of the best on the river.

NAVY Rum.—The contract for rum for the navy
has been taken by the undermentioned firms :—Messrs.
Lemon Hart and Sons, 40,000 gallons; Messrs. Thomas
Lowndes and Co., 20,000 gallons ; Mr. Alfred Lamb, 40,000
gallons.
The Rcyal Mail Company have abolished the
system of paving their commanders chiefly by per centages.
The commanders are to be paid in future by salaries only.
The captains of the Atlantic packets are to receive each
£l,OOO a year, of the Brazil packets £9OO a year, of the in-
ter-colonial packets, £BOO a year after sit years service,
and £6OO a year under six years' service.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ROYAL NEW YEAR'S
GlFTS.—Yesterday morning the distribution of the royal
new year's gifts amongst the deserving poor of the parishes
of Windsor, Now Windsor, Clewer, and the Holy Trinity,
took place in the royal riding-school, which was tastefully
decorated with banners and evergreens, and the various
articles were arranged on the tables. Her Majesty, his
Royal Highness the Prince Consort, the Prince of IVales,
their Royal Highnesses the Princesses Alice, Helena, and
other branches of the Royal family, attended by the ladies
and gentlemen in waiting, took their places over the eastern
entrance of the riding school. The money value of the
articles distributed is altogether about £6OO.
GALLANT LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—BARMOUTII,
Doc. 31.—1 have much pleasure in reporting the additional
valuable services yesterday of the Barmouth lifeboat be-
longing to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. A
large ship, the Britannia, of Bath, United States, was seen
ashore early yesterday morning, about four miles rom hence
wind S.W., blowing very hard. The lifeboat was with some
difficulty pulled over:the bay, owing to the strong spring-
tide against her and the wind ; the sail was set to run to the
vessel. Tho sea alongside was awful, so much so that I ex-
pected to see the boat capsized every moment, or dashed to
atoms against the ship's side. The lifeboat behaved far be-
yond the expectation of everybody. Fourteen persons, in-
cluling the captain's wife, were taken from the vessel, five
num preferred remaining on board, who came on shore the
next morning in one of the ship's boats. The lifeboat filled
very often, but soon discharged the water. One of the
ship's crew had a very narrow escape of being crushed to
pieces between the ship and the boat. He fell in trying to
get on board the lifeboat, and but for the activity of some
of the boat's crew ho must have been killed. It will pro-
bably be remembered that this valuable lifeboat was instru-
mental a few weeks ago in saving from destruction another
large American ship, the Troy, with her valuable cargo of
cotton.
IMPROVEMENTS ON TIIE CHURCH OF CRATHIE.—
The church of Crathio has lately undergone considerable
repairs and improvements. New doors and windows, in
the Gothic style, have been made. The inside has been
lathed and plastered ; the pulpit and front of the gallery
painted. A new vestry has also been built, and means
taken for the ventilation and heating of the church—in
short, it has been so reformed as to be made a more fit
place of worship for Royalty. There is a talk of having the
arms of Scotland painted on the panels of the seat in the
gallery occupied by her Majesty. The Gordon arms on the
Aborgeldie seat remain as before,--Ban.ffshire Journal.