The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-06 00:00:00

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT

INSTITUTION.

A meeting of this institution was held yesterday,
at its house, John-street, Adelphi—Captain Sir Ed-
ward Perrott, Bart., V.P., in the chair. There
were also present Admiral Gordon, deputy master
of the Trinity House ; Col. Palmer, Montague Gore,
Esq., George Lyall, Esq., M.P., Captain De St.
Croix, and Capt. Ward, inspector of lifeboats
to the society.
The minutes of the previous meeting having been
read, _ _ _ _

A 'reward of £6 10s. was voted to the crew of the
Cahore lifeboat, belonging to the institution, for
putting off to the rescue of the crew of the Spanish
barque Primera de Torrieveja, from Liverpool to
Havannah, which during thick and foggy weather
and in a heavy sea had stranded on Blackwater
Bank on the 7th ult. The barque was found with
her rudder disabled, one of the pumps choked, and
making water rapidly. The master and 14 men
left the vessel in their own boats, and after
one boat had been swamped, succeeded in
landing at Ballinamona. One man had been,
however, inadvertently left on board the ship.
At two p.m. information was sent to Cahore of the
wreck when the lifeboat was immediately launched
and proceeded to the bank. Meanwhile the barque
had worked off, and with one sailor on board
drifted out to sea. As soon as this was observed
the lifeboat bore down to the ship, which she sue-
ceeded in overtaking about five N.E. from Cahore
Point. The crew of the lifeboat finding, on getting
on board the veesel, that the water was rapidly in-
creasing in her hold, thought it advisable to' beach
her near Arklow, which was safely accomplished.
A reward of £8 was also granted to the crew of
the Lizard lifeboat, which also belongs to the
National Lifeboat Institution, for going off in reply
to signals of distress from the schooner Hurrell, of
Penzance, which, during a dense fog and a heavy
ground swell, was found to be in a very dangerous
position near the Old Lizard Head.' The schooner
was found by the lifeboat in a very critical situa-
tion, within a cable's lefigth of a precipitous cliff
ahead, and on either side high and dangerous rocks.
Her crew, four in number, had collected their
clothing, and were about to leave her in their own
punt when the lifeboat arrived alongside, and had
they done so would not in all probability have
reached the shore alive, as the passage between the
scattered rocks and the shore is most intricate. At
the request of the master the lifeboat remained
alongside during the night, and at daylight suc-
ceeding in warping the vessel clear of the rocks,
and in anchoring her in a secure position.
A reward of £8 was likewise given to the crew
of the institution lifeboat stationed at Penmon,
Anglesey, for putting off in reply to a signal of dis-
tress from the smack Pink, of Chester, which dur-
ing blowing weather and heavy rain was observed
in a dangerous position about a mile from the life-
boat station. On arriving alongside the smack she
was found to have carried away her mainboom, and
to have only one cable out, which the master said
he feared would give way every moment, and his
vessel be driven on Puffin Island. As his request
the lifeboat remained alongside until 11 o'clock
p.m., when the weather having moderated the
vessel fortunately got out of danger.
A reward of £l3 was also voted to the erew of the
lifeboat of the society stationed at Wicklow, Ireland,
for putting off in the night and in a heavy sea, with
the view of saving life from a wreck, which was,
however, from its sudden disappearance, supposed
to have foundered before the arrival of the lifeboat.
A pecuniary reward was also voted to Mr. W. H.
M'Kay, of Wick, N. 8., in consideration of his
laudable and prompt services in wading into the
sea and rescuing at some risk of life, the master of
the brigantine Nymph, of Greenock, which during
stormy weather had been wrecked near Loch Inch-
ard, Sutherland. .It appeared that the poor man
had perseveringly clung to his vessel's boat, which
had previously been swamped, until she was
amongst the breakers close to the shore. Here Mr,
M'Kay rushed to his help, and succeeded in bring-
ing him safely to land.
It was reported that the institution had sent new
lifeboats during the past month to Southport, in.
Lancashire, and Rye, in Sussex. Others were
ready to be forwarded to Aberystwith, in Wales,
Scarborough, in Yorkshire, and Llanddwyn, in
Anglesey, When it is remembered that each life-
boat at the establishment costs at the outset nearly-
-1:500, and £4O a year afterwards to keep it in work-
ing ordef, it will at once be seen how large the
expenditure of the institution must continue to be.
During tits present year the society has thus spent
£B,OOO on its lifeboat stations. Some of its life-

boats have already this year saved nearly 200 per-
sons from various wrecks. The demands yester-1
day on the society were so heavy that it was de-
cided to ask its bankers for a loan until some of its
small funded capital could be sold. It is earnestly
hoped that the public will extend their continued
support to an institution which is so actively
engaged in rendering important services, in the
hour of their direst need, to a class of men on
whom England must always depend to a great ex-
tent for its commercial prosperity and the safety of
its shores.

A communication was read from her Majesty's
Commissioners of the International Exhibition of
1862, requesting the National Lifeboat Institution
to exhibit some model barometer•indicators. The
commissioners had previously given their sanction
to the institution for the exhibition of a full-sized
self-righting boat, fully equipped and mounted on
her transporting carriage.
A letter was also read from Admiral Sir Baldwin
W. Walker, Bart., K.C.8., commander-in-chief of
her Majesty's naval force on the African coast,
expressing his thanks for a set of cork life-belts,
which the institution had presented 1 o him on
his leaving England, in token of its appreciation
of the important services he had rendered while
he held the office of Comptroller of the Navy to
the lifeboat cause. Sir Baldwin stated that he
continued to entertain the liveliest interest in the
noble and philanthropic object of the National
Lifeboat Institution. Sir Baldwin had been for
many years a member of the committee of ma-
nagement of the institution.
The society expressed much regret at the la-
mented death of Vice-Admiral Sir Thos. Herbert,
K.C.8., who was one of its vice-presidents and a
liberal contributor to its funds. Sir T. Herbert
had for many years past taken an active interest
in the working of the institution.
Payments amounting to £650 having been made
on several lifeboat establishments, the proceedings
terminated.

N. CHEVALIER ON LORD PALMER-
IS'IO.IV'S ~TEECH AT DOVER.

Lord Palmerston's speech at Dover has found a
severe critic in M. Michel Chevalier. The name of
that gentleman is honourably known in England.
Years ago, when Free Trade principles were utterly
heretical in France, and not absolutely orthodox
even in this country, M. Chevalier stood forward to
defend them, and his abilities, which have now
received Imperial recognition, have been steadily
exerted in promoting the true interests of com-
merce, and consequently the true interests of States.
The complaints of such a man, therefore, must ne-
cessarily carry weight, and the public will certainly
not desire that they should remain unanswered.
The Warden of the Cinque Ports spoke the senti-
ments of his countrymen, and M. Chevalier will
permit us to observe that those sentiments, upon his
own showing, admit of easy justification. It will tend
to simplify the case if we transcribe the exact words
by which M. Chevalier appears to have been offended.
After speaking, as every statesman speaks, in praise
of the Volunteer movement, Lord Palmerston con-
tinued thus :—" We cannot attempt to cope with
those great States which maintain hundreds of
thousands of regular soldiers. We accept with
frankness the right hand of friendship, wherever it
is tendered to us. We do not distrust that right
hand because we see the left hand grasping the hilt
of the sword. But when that left hand does so
grasp the hilt of the sword it would be extreme
folly in us to throw away our shield of defence.
There are, gentlemen, two securities for peace. The
one consists in a state of perfect insignificance ; the
other in a state of perfect defence. The security
arising from perfect insignificance England, I think,
will never enjoy. The security for peace which
arises from a perfect state of defence unconnected
with any notions of aggression, not coupled with
hostility towards any one, but confined solely to a
manly determination to protect and maintain what
we have, is a security which I trust this country
will long continue to possess."
This is plain speaking, certainly, but plain speak-
ing is generally best, and always most agreeable to
Englishmen. We will not ask M. Chevalier what
he objects to, for that is plain. " France," he ob-
serves in substance, "is considered in the world as
the chief representative and principal champion of
social and political progress. She inspires admi-
ration and sympathy in the peoples who hope for a
happier destiny, and receives marks of the hatred
and distrust of the men who still entertain the pas-
sions of another age, . . . I regret that speeches
recently delivered oblige me to range on the side of
the latter some Ministers of a great nation, our
nearest ally, and renowned for its love of liberty
and progress, towards which the Emperor has made
advances honourable to both parties, and which
merited a better welcome and a more sympathetic
response." M. Chevalier is evidently chagrined at
the limitations given to the confidence placed by
England in the disposition of France. We ought to
have met the Imperial advances without reserve. We
ought to have taken our friend's right hand without
looking askance at his left. We ought to have ac-
cepted the Commercial Treaty, and winked at the
iron-cased fleet. In short whereas Louis Napoleon was
manifestly desirous of retaining and cementing our
alliance by falling in with our national policy, even
at the risk of alarming the timid Protectionists of
France, we might in common fairness have closed
with his overtures, and left his relations with the
rest of the world to settle themselves. That is
clearly M. Chevalier's view of the matter. In reply,
we have only.to say that Lord Palmerston's words
were entirely justified by facts, and that his conclu-
sions were only those which a representative of one
of the Great Powers of Europe was bound to adopt.
It is impossible that M. Chevalier can quarrel
with the accuracy of the Premier's description. He
cannot attempt to deny that France does indeed
stand with her hand en the hilt of her sword. For
years past that has been her constant attitude, and
it is but the other day that the sword was drawn.
We have no right to complain of this. It is her
business, not ours; but we have a right to observe
it, and act accordingly. There can be no doubt
that France is, as M. Chevalier proclaims, respected
abroad. Her rank among nations has been power-
fully established and her influence greatly extended
during the present reign, but the instrument of this
elevation has been the sword. The Emperor has
succeeded, at times by his arms and always by his
armaments, in impressing Europe with a dread of
his power. The result is unquestionable, the ma-
chinery may be seen at Chalons. An army of fabu-
lous magnitude carefully maintained at the highest
pitch of modern discipline, and equipped with the
newest inventions of military science, is an instru-
ment for working out mighty _ends. A navy
modelled upon a grand scale and principles un-
known before is a potent auxiliary. These forces
are so maintained that they can be put in motion
with incredible rapidity. France, in short, holds
herself in a state of absolute preparation for the ulti-
mate appeal of Sovereigns, and she has shown that
she can resort to this appeal for considerations
which to others might appear insufficient. She
alone, according to her own assertion, goes to war
for an idea. This is an imposing attitude, no doubt,
and gratifying, probably, to the national tempera-
ment, but if it is not standing with the hand on the
sword-hilt we know of no attitude which could de-
serve that description. The whole power of France
which, as M. Chevalier truly says, is great, rests on
the tremendous forces which she could instantane-
ously put in motion. We are not concerned to ques-
t tion M. Chevalier's account of the uses to which
this power is applied. We may allow him to affirm
without dispute, that the sword of France would
never be thrown into any seale hut the scale of
civilisation and progress. We say only that there
the sword is, and that there, without the least dis-
guise, is the hand upon its hilt.
But M. Chevalier, perhaps, will admit these facts
and yet deny the justice of the application. His
words, indeed, rather seem to assume that it is for
France, in this age, to wield the sword of Christen-
dom, but that we, knowing and sharing the princi-
ples of her policy, ought neither to take umbrage
at her attitude, nor put ourselves distrustfully upon
our guard. France is a "champion" armed at all
points, and ready for action ; but she is the cham-
pionnakthat
ty
of the right, and none ought to suspect or mis-
trust her but the maintainers of the wrong. Why,
then, should England exhibit suspicion instead of
Minister,thi b
sympathy, and why should her
is hardim e to
r Pr
his want of confidence, give expression to " the
passions of another age ?' I
M. Chevalier can really want a reply to such argu-
ments, but, if he does, we can readily give it him.
It is not the usage of Governments in any oto
resign the control of international affairs to a single
one of their number. It is not consistent either with
the safety or independence of States to let one State
acquire extraordinary power by armament while
the others rely supinely upon the integrity of the
" champion's" intentions. France, in M. Chevalier's
own words, proclaims a mission which at least in-
volves disturbance. She could not be dreaded by
one party and looked up to by another if she were
resolved to let the affairs of Europe remain just
as they are. If the " peoples who hope for hap-
pier destinies" turn to her with admiration, it is
because they anticipate her support ; if the men
of a bygone time hate and mistrust her, it is
because they fear her attack. There is probably
nothing in all these assumptions but what a true
Frenchman would cheerfully acknowledge. France
has claimed and exercised functions of this kind
in all ages, and she has undoubtedly conferred
many benefits upon Europe. She has also, how-
ever, inflicted many times the calamities of war;
she has not always shown herself superior to am-
bition, and even if she has now outlived such
weaknesses she cannot in reason expect that