The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-01 00:00:00

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THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY .EVENING, MARCH 1, 1867.

THE EYRE DEFENCE and AID FUND.—
SUBSCRIPTIONS to be paid to the credit of "The
Eyre Defence and Aid Fund," with the United Service (km-
nany (Limited), bankers, and army and navy agents, 9,
Waterloo-place, Pall mall, Londo❑ ; or Messrs. Smith,
Payne, and Smith, I. Lombard-street. E.C.
All communications to be addremied to the Honorary Secre-
tary, No. 9, Water!• o- place, rail-mall.
HAMILTON HUME, Hon. Se3retary.

The Prince of Wales and the Lileboat
Service.,

s welfare and prosperity. For 43 years it had
steadily pursued its benevolent objects with a success
which had grown year after year. Innumerable lives
had been rescued by it, and he observed that, while
in 1824 the number so rescued was 124, last year
it amounted to no less than 924. Vain, however,
would be the exertions of the promoters of the so-
ciety, vain would be their annual meetings, and
vain would be their generosity of the British public
were it not for that happy combination of humanity
and bravery which had ever been the characteristic
of the true British sailor. (Cheers.) The British
seaman. was always ready to come to the rescue, and
to throw himself, however desperate the chances
and dangerous the undertaking, into the lifeboat
and rush to the help of his suffering and endan-
gered fellow-creatures. Let them, then, pay the
tribute which was due to the gallantry which dis-
tinguished that portion of our countrymen. (Cheers.)
It was true that from the skill employed in the con-
struction of lifeboats much of the danger which for-
merly attended such exertions had. been lessened,
'and he was gratified at observing that while the
report mentioned the fact of the saving of upwards
of 900 lives only five had been lost in the operation.
Still great was the danger, and, consequently, the
credit due to those who rattle those noble exertions
and encountered such risks. (Cheers.) There were
two gratifying points of novelty in the report—
the growing interest which was taken in the insti-
tution by the inhabitants of inland towns. There
was probably no town in England, however remote
from the sea, in which the exertions of this society
were not appreciated. Ile had had that mornirik
the agreeable duty of answering a letter from a
correspondent at Worcester, near which city he
lived, enclosing a subscription in aid of the funds
of the institution, and they were aware that there
were few places more remote from the sea than that
inland town. (Cheers.) The other point was that
in a former report it was stated that the com-
mittee proposed to build and place at selected sta-
tions a few improved fishing-boats provided with
safety fittings, so as, if possible, to lead to the intro-
duction of some improvement of the smaller class
of our coast fishing-boats. The present report
stated that two of the boats bad been completed and
placed in the hands of trustworthy fishermen on
the coast of Scotland, and had alre.aly been produc-
tive of the most beneficial results. (Hear, hear.)
Ile earnestly hoped that the friends and suppor-
ters of the society would not relax their exer-
tions to supply it with the means of continuing to
confer on the country those benefits which it has so
long rendered. (Cheers.)
The Earl of llanDwicKE seconded the resolution,
and said that the institution was really endeavour-
ing to save the lives of one of the most valuable
classes of men in the country. Although the report
gave such a gratifying account of the continued
success of the society, it should be remembered that
daily and hourly there were calls upon its funds.
He was glad to hear that lifeboat stations were
being established on the coast of France, because
nothing could be of greater assistance to British
seamen who sailed in the Channel. (Cheers.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.

Yesterday the Prince of Wales presided at the
annual meeting of the Royal National Lifeboat In-
stitution, which was held, through the courtesy of
the Lord Mayor, in the Egyptian-hall of the Man-
sion-house. His Royal Highness arrived shortly
before two o'clock, and watreceivcd at the private
entrance of the Lord Mayo pd escorted thence to
the State drawing-room. , e Lord Mayor wore
his State robe on the occasi *, and was attended by
the Sword and Mace beariis of the Corporation.
From the draWing-room the Prince was conducted
to the hall by the Lord MaYitir, accompanied by the
Earl of Hardwicke, the Eel of Shrewsbury, Earl
Percy, the Duke of St. Albans, Sir Anthony de
Rothschild, General Knollys, Lord A. Paget, Sir
J. Pakington, Sir S. Northeote, M.P., Mr. Thomas
Baring, M.P., Mr. Goschen, M.P., Mr. Tite, M.P.,
Mr. Stephen Cave, M.P., Mr:Seely, M.P., Mr. T.
B. Potter, M.P., Mr. R. -e:.' Banbury, M.P., Sir
Thomas Fremantle, Mr. -Philip Cazenove, Mr. R•
Eykyn, M.P., Mr. Alderman' and Sheriff Waterlow
and Mr. Sheriff Lycett, Mr.. Alderman Rose, Mr.
Alderman Dakin, Mr. George Lyall, Major Snell,
Sir F. Outram, Admiral Sir W. Bowles, Sir Edward
Perrott, Capt. Richards, RN., Hydrographer to
the Admiralty ; Sir John Hay, Admiral Sir S.
Dacres, Sir Alexander Milne, Admiral Goidon, Mr.
Lewis, secretary, and manimbre,allOf whom occu-
pied seats on the dais. There *as a large and influi
ential audience -besides ill tae: -body- of 430)41,

EUROPEAN ASSURANCE SOCIETY.
Empowered by Special Act of Parliament.
CHAIRMAN— Gen. Sir FREDERIC SMITII, F.R.S.
Policies payable during life, indisputable, not liable to
forfeiture.
The ROYAL NAVAL, MILITARY, and EAST
INDIA Life Department, affording peculiar advantages to
Officers and others in the Navy and Army, is under the
especial patronage of
HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN.
Annual Premium Revenue, upwards of £310,000.
New Premium Income in 1865 exceeded £62,000.
Life, Fire; Guarantee, and Annuities at advantageous
rates.
The European is the only Society authorised by the Im-
perial Parliament to Guarantee the Fidelity of Govern-
ment Officials.
Full particulars of the popular principles of this Society
will be found in the New Prospectus, which will be for-
warded to applicants, post free.
Offices— 316, Regent-street ; 17, Waterloo-place, Pall-
mall; and 69, King Williani-street, City.
HENRY LAKE, Manager.

many of whom were ladies. -
The Prince of WALES, on assuming the chair,
said—My Lord Mayor, my lords, ladies, and gen-
tlemen,—lt affords me very great pleasure to occupy
the chair to-day upon so interesting an occasion as
the present. Among the many benevolent and
charitable institutions of this country there are, I
think, few which demand our sympathy and support
more and in which we can feel more interest than
the National Lifeboat Institution. (Cheers.) An in-
stitution of this kind is an absolute necessity in a
great maritime country like ours. It is wholly dif-
ferent in one respect from other institutions, because
although lives are to be saved they can in Close cases,
in which this society operates only be saved at the'
risk of the loss of other lives. (hear.) lam
happy to be able to congratulate the institution upon
its high state of efficiency at the present moment,
and upon the fact that by its means very nearly
1,000 lives have been saved in the course of the past
year. (Cheers.) Lifeboats have been given by
many benevolent individuals—some as thank-offer-
ings from the friends of those whose lives have been
saved, and others in memory of those who are un-
happily no more. I am happy also to be able to
say that lifeboats do not only exist on our coast,
but that our great example in this matter has been
imitated by many foreign maritime countries, and
they have chosen our institution as the model for
their own. (Cheers.) I beg upon this occasion to
tender, in the name of the institution, our warmest
thanks for the kindness and courtesy of the Lord
Mayor in allosiing us to hold our meeting in this
hall. (Cheers.) It is indeed a peculiarly fitting
place in which to hold such a meeting, closely con-
nected as the institution is with the City of London.
Very nearly half a century ago the institution
oiginated in this city. In 1850 the late Duke of
Northumberland became its president. My la-
mented father was also a vice-patron, and took the
warmest interest in its prosperity. (Cheers.) I
am happy to say the respected secretary, Mr. Lewis,
occupied that position at that time, as, indeed, he
had long before that time. He has held it ever
since, and much of the success of the institution is
owing to his long experience and the energetic man-
ner in which he has directed its working has raised
the institution to its present high state of efficiency.
(Cheers.) I may say that there are 174 lifeboats
afloat, and that in the course of the past year
33 have been called into existence, at a cost of
no less than £17,000, the whole of which has
been defrayed by benevolent individuals. Be-
fore concluding the brief remarks which I have
addressed to you, however imperfectly, upon this
occasion, I call upon you once more to offer your
support to so excellent an institution. lam certain
you must be convinced that it is one which is really
a necessity for a great maritime nation like this. I
congratulate you that it has arrived at so efficient
a state, and I feel quite sure that you would be the
last to wish it to decay from want of funds.
(Cheers.)
The secretary, Mr. Lewis, then read a report, of
which we give a summary :—" The institution had
during the last year received nearly £17,000 from
inland towns and private individuals. The com-
mittee referred with pleasure to the fact that the
French Shipwreck Society, formed on the model of
the institution, would before long possess no less
than 32 lifeboat establishments. The institution
was now building five of its improved fishing-boats,
provided with safety fittings, hoping thereby to
gradually introduce such improvements in the
smaller class of coast fishing-boats as might lead to
a considerable diminution in the loss of life, which
so frequently occurred from their being overtaken
by gales of wind when at a distance from the land.
During the past year 33 new lifeboats had been
built, and most of them placed on the coast of the
United Kingdom by the institution. Carriages and
boat-houses had also been provided for most of them.
Disasters at sea during the past year had been very
numerous, and many of them were most distress-
ing. The number of shipwrecks was 1,787, ac-
companied by the loss of 602 lives. Great efforts,
hcwever, continue to be made to render every
possible assistance to shipwrecked crews, and this
assistance is by no means limited to the efforts of
the lifeboat men. Men of all ranks come forward
not only to lend a helping hand, but also freely to
risk their own lives to save the life of the drowning
mariner. Last year the large number of 426
lives were rescued exclusively by the lifeboats
of the institution, in addition to 17 vessels
saved from destruction. In addition, 495
lives were saved in the same period by fishing-
boats and other means—a result arising from the
encouragement given by the institution in rewarding
all who are instrumental in saving life from ship-
wreck on our coasts. This large number of 921 lives
is independent of 359 lives saved by the rocket ap-
paratus, worked by the Coastguard, and which is
provided by the Board of Trade. The total number
of lives saved during the 43 years from the establish-
ment of the institution in 1824, to the end of the
year 1866, either by its lifeboats or by special exer-
tions for which it has granted rewards, is 15,901.
During the past year 16 silver medals, 25 votes of
thanks, and £2,173 have been granted in rewards.
Since the formation of the society it has expended
on lifeboat establishments £165,702, and has voted
83 gold and 772 silver medals for saving life, and
pecuniary rewards to the amount of £24,450. The
total amount of recsipts during the year 1866 had
been £41,718 ; and the expenditure, including liabi-
lities, £40,394. The committee spoke highly of the
co-operation afforded by their local committees, the
Board of Trade, Coastguard, and railway and steam
packet companies. The institution has now under its
charge 174 boats, and its operations extend all over
the British isles."

Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE moved :—" That this
meeting has heard with much satisfaction the encou-
raging statements just detailed in the annual report
of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and con-
siders it a cause for much thankfulness that its life-
boats have been the means, during the past year, of
rescuing so many of our fellow-creatures from a
watery grave. And remembering that the society
has now a noble fleet of 174 lifeboats, and that the
same require a large permanent annual income
to. maintain them in a state of thorough
efficiency, this meeting is of opinion that the
society is em'nently deserving of continued
and extended public support." The right hon.
baronet said the institution was called the
" Royal National Lifeboat Institution." It was, iu
a word, " national," and it was important to know
how that word applied. The institution was not
supported by the funds of the nation, but by the
personal and pecuniary assistance of the people of
the country. They had the advantage that day of
being presided over by the heir apparent to the
throne ; they had been addressed by the First Lord
of the Admiralty ; and there were some present
connected with administrative departments of the
Government. But the institution was not " Royal"
or " National," except in the sense that the Queen
and the Royal Family took a deep interest in it, and
that it rested on the sympathies and co-operation of
the people themselves. (Hear, hear.) There was,
however, a readiness on the part of the Govern-
ment to assist the institution. In his own depart-
ment (the Board of Trade) they were ready to
render every assistance and co-operation by provid-
ing a rocket and mortar apparatus which had been
found extremely successful in saving life, worked by
that valuable body of men the coastguard. (Ap-
plause.) He felt bound to pay a tribute to the
gallant conduct of many Cornish clergymen—espe-
cially of Mr. Robinson—in their successful efforts

to save life during the year ; and he bolived that

those who perished at Padstow had not perished
unrewarded, because their memory would be held
sacred. (Cheers.)
Lord ALFRED PAGET seconded the resolution.
He always thought it a great misfortune that in
this country there were so few harbours of refuge.
(Hear, hear.) There were many hundreds of miles
of an iron-bound coast near. which vessels were con-
stantly going backwards and forward in all weathers,
ill-found, " flying light", or too deeply laden, and
which, when they got upon a lee shore, it was im-
possible to keep them off. He held that lifeboats
ought„to be established on every part of the coast at
which there was no harbour of refuge. (Hear.)
He seconded thc resolution with great pleasure.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS put the resolution, which

was carried.
Mr. BANTING (speaking from the body of the hall)
said he had a few remarks to make if his Royal
Highness would permit him. (His Royal Highness
bowed assent.) The fact was he had the materials
for a life-boat and appendages in his pocket.
(Laughter.)

Mr. LEWIS (secretary)—His Royal Highness
would be glad to hear more distinctly what your
object is.
Mr. BANTING said he was an annual subscriber to
the institution, and some six years ago, having,
along with some earnest friends, contributed to-
wards the cost of .a lifeboat, they did him the honour
of christening it by the name of a favourite child of

his. The lifeboat was wrecked, but so much regret
was felt at the circumstance, and so much public
excitement was occasioned by it, that the
boat was replaced. A good lady who, as
well as himself, had suffered much on account
of the loss of the boat,- had given him a cheque
for £6OO to provide a lifeboat to be christened after
his daughter. (Loud and prolonged applause.) 116
therefore begged to hand his Royal Highness a
cheque for £6OO. The lady had given no name, but
she wished to make him the medium of handing in
the amount on that auspicious occasion. When
more money was required he trusted they would got
a similar contribution. (Mr. Banting then handed
the cheque to his Royal Highness amid loud
applause.)
His ROYAL lIIGIINESS—I am 'sure the whole meet-
ing is very much indebted to this gentleman for the
great interest he has taken in the institution, and for
the very handsome donation he has given from a
lady. (Applause.)
Mr. Goscuu►.N, M.P., moved "That the thanks of
this meeting be given to the Board of Trade for the
important and cordial aid they continue to afford
to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Also
to the Commodore Controller-General, the Deputy-
Controller-General, and the officers and men of her
Majesty's coast-guard service, for their continued
valuable assistance to the society." The right lion.
gentleman said that however anxious he might

Sir J. PAKINGTON, in moving the adoption of the
report, said he entirely concurred in what his Royal
Highness had said that in a maritime country like
this such a society as the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution became almost a necessity. He also joined
his Royal Highness most cordially in offering his
congratulations to those who had so long and so suc-
cessfully promoted the interests of the society. He
congratulated his noble friend (Earl Percy) who had
so worthily succeeded his near relative, the late Duke
of Northumberland, as the head of the institution,
and also Mr. Baring, the member for lluntingdon,
who well deserved a tribute, fcr having through a
long series of years spared no exertions to promote

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Pit IC P 4d.
STAMPED sd.

be for the prosperity of the society be should
not wish it to lose any of that independent cha-
racter which marked its operation. (llear.) At
the same time Sir S. Northcote had informed the
meeting of the support and assistance which was
rendered to the institution by the Board of Trade.
He felt certain the meeting would be glad to hear
that the assistance of the Board of Trade had
been always cheerfully given—(hear)—and it was
a great satisfaction to the mercantile community
to know that the presidency of the Board of Trade
was in the hands of a gentleman who had shown
such an intimate knowledge of everything con-
nected with mercantile interest. (Hear.)
_ _

Sir E. PERROTT seconded the resolution.
Ilis ROYAL HIGHNESS put the resolution, which
passed.

Mr. CAVE, M.P., acknowledged the vote on the
part of the Board of Trade, which, he said, was
bound to diminish as much as poSsible the risk in-
curred by those "who go down •to the sea in
ships." Nothing could be more painful than the
accounts which they read of shipwrecks, and it
was the business of the Board of Trade to do all
it could to guard against the loss of those who
manned their ships. lie agreed with Mr. Goschen
that the institution should not lean too much on
that or any•other Government department.
Sir A. MILNE moved--" That-this meeting tenders
its cordial thanks to Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P.,
F.R.S., V.P., the chairman ; to Thomas Chap-
man, Esq., F.R.S., V.P., the deputy-chair-
man ; and to the other members of the
committee of maiiagetivettk-;--#tir- -'tiier-tatterite

attention with which they continue to administer
the important affairs of the institution. Also to the
honorary local committees of the several branches
of the institution on the coast and at inland towns,
for their zealous and valuable co-operation."
General KNoLLYS seconded the motion.

The Rev. E. HEWLETT (Manchester) responded
to the resolution, and said that the Manchester
branch had supplied nine lifeboats within the last
three years. (Cheers.) Ilis Royal Highness had
permitted them to call one of the boats after his in-
fant son. (Cheers.) That boat had been instru-
mental in saving many lives, and whenever it did
so the utmost interest was excited in Manchester by
the event.

His ROYAL HIGHNEss—I have the pleasure to
announce that another benevolent person (Captain
Harris, of Roehampton), has just contributed £420
to the funds of the institution. (Cheers.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The Duke of ST. ALBANS moved—." That this
meeting tenders its best thanks to the Right Hon.
the Lord Mayor for so kindly placing the Egyptian
Hall at the disposal of his Royal Highness on this
interesting occasion.
Mr. POrrER, M.P., seconded the resolution, and
said he was certain the Lord Mayor would not
merely receive the thanks of that meeting, but that
his kindness would be appreciated by every friend
of the National Lifeboat Institution throughout the
country. (Applause.)
His ROYAL HIGIINEss put the motion, which was
carried with acclamation.

The LORD MAYOR returned thanks. It was with
the greatest pleasure he placed the hall at the dis-
posal of the meeting, and he felt that he only spoke
the sentiments of the citizens of London, when he
said that for any meeting at which his Royal High-
ness would preside the hall would be at its disposal.
(Hear, hear.) As his royal highness said, the in-
stitution was intimately connected with the mer-
cantile interests of the City, and he felt that in
granting the use of the hall he was only showing the
City of London was deeply interested in the Na-
tional Lifeboat Institution. He had just placed in
his hands a note from Mr. S. Morley, whose bene-
volence was well known. That gentleman requested
his name to be put down for the sum of 100 guineas.
(Cheers.)
Earl PERCY moved That the loyal and re-
spectful thanks of this meeting be given to his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, K.G., for so
graciously and ably presiding over the 43d annual
meeting of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution,
and thus, by his countenance and support, render-
ing to the philanthropic cause in which it is so
actively engaged the greatest service." The noble
lord asked his Royal Highness to accept from the
Institution the model of a lifeboat which had been
contributed by the city of Manchester, and placed
at the shore of his (Earl Percy's) native county at
Berwick-upon-Tweed, being named the " Albert
Victor," by the permission of the Prince, after his
Royal Highness's eldest son. It had already been
instrumental in saving between 30 and 40 lives.
(Cheers.)
Mr. T. BARING, M.P., seconded the resolution,
which was carried amid loud cheering.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS—My Lord Mayor, my
lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I tender you my
warmest thanks for the very kind manner in which
the noble lord has moved his resolution, and for that
in which it has been seconded by Mr. Baring. I
beg also to thank you all for the great kindness with
which you have supported me on this occasion. So
much has been said, so many able speeches have
been made, and so much time has already been oc-
cupied by the proceedings of the meeting, that I
will not trouble you with any further remarks. But
I have not only to thank you, my lord (Earl Percy)
and the other members of this institution for your
kindness in presenting me with this model, but also
to accept it with peculiar pleasure as it is named
after my eldest son. (Applause.) And I hope that
in time, when he grows up, he will recollect that in
his infancy a lifeboat was named after him, and
that in the three years after his birth it was instru-
mental in saving from 30 to 40 lives. (Applause.)
His Royal Highness was then conducted from
the chair by the Lord Mayor, and left the hall, the
entire company standing and cheering him as he
went out.
The proceedings then terminated.

At the conclusion of the proceedings, his Royal
Highness, with a select company, was entertained
by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress at a dejeuzzer
which was served in the Long Parlour. The invited
guests included the Earl of Hardwicke, the Duke of
St. Alban's, Sir John and Lady Pakington, Sir Staf-
ford and Miss Northcote, Sir A. de Rothschild, Earl
Percy, Lord H. Cholmondeley, Lord A. Paget, Mr.
Goschen, M.P., and Mrs. Goschen, Mr. S. Cave,
M.P., and Mrs. Cave, Admiral Bowles, Admiral
Dacres and Lady Dacres, Sir T. Fremantle, Sir J.
Hay, M.P., Gen. Knollys, Admiral Sir A. and Lady
Milne, Admiral Seymour, M.P., Sir E. Perrot, Mr.
T. Baring, M.P., Vice-Admiral Gordon, Vice-Ad-
miral M‘Hardy, Rear-Admiral Ryder, the Mayor of
Exeter, Mr. C. T. Gabriel, Mr. T. Gabriel, Mr.
Leaf, Mr. E. and Mrs. Levy, Mr. Alderman Cope-
land, Mr. G. Lyall, Mr. Alderman Salomons, M.P.,
I Mr. Alderman Dakin, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff
Waterlow and Mrs. Waterlow, Mr. Sheriff Lycett
and Mrs. Lycett, Mr. J. Somes, Capt. Ward, R.N.,
Capt. Walter, R.N., Mr. Whitworth, Capt. Rich-
' ards, R.N., the Hydrographer to the Admiralty ;
Mr. W. 11. Barton, Mr. Chapman, Captain C. It.
Egerton, M.P., Col. Clayton, Capt. Arrow, De-
puty-Master of the Trinity House ; Mr. R. Lewis,
the Rev. J. R. Stock, and Mr. Gibbs.
The LORD MAYOR, after the company had drunk
to " The Health of her Majesty the Queen," pro-
posed as a toast " The health of the Prince and
Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal
Family," remarking that his Royal Highness had
by that visit conferred an honour on the city of
London, and on the Mansion-house, which would
be long remembered and appreciated. The prospect
of the restoration of the Princess of Wales to health
was a source of gratification to the country at large
and to the citizens of London in particular, in
whose affections her Royal highness had made a
place which she so well deserved. Ile congratulated
his Royal Highness the Prince on another addition