100 PLYM AND TAMAR HUMANE SOCIETY. 



The necessity of such a society is sufficiently shown 

 by the lamentable and painful fact that, since its insti- 

 tution in December, 1831, no less than 44 cases of 

 drowning have occurred within its district, and many 

 of these would have had a fatal termination but for the 

 application of such prompt and fitting means as have 

 been provided by the society ; rewards have been con- 

 ferred on 15 individuals through whose heroic and 

 prompt exertions 19 persons were rescued from a watery 

 grave. The medical gentlemen residing in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the stations have in every instance where 

 their aid was necessary afforded most valuable assist- 

 ance, it is impossible to give too much praise to these 

 individuals who whilst engaged in the active duties of 

 an arduous profession are ever generously alive to the 

 necessities of their fellow creatures, mid cheerfully and 

 gratuitously sacrifice their time to the cause of huma- 

 nity. 



I cannot conclude my observations on this excellent 

 institution better than in the following quotation from 

 the 1st report published by the committee : "An insti- 

 tution, having for its object the preservation of life, 

 cannot surely be required to plead. Its claims come 

 home to our hearts, and call for support and sympathy 

 with a force irresistible ' to a people who go down to 

 the sea in ships, and occupy their business in deep 

 waters.' We are impelled, by every feeling which 

 we hold dear, to save a struggling fellow creature from 

 Death, to cling to him even when the embers of exist- 

 ence are apparently extinct, to exhaust every resource 

 of skill in order to re-kindle the vital spark, and 'back 

 to its mansion call the fleeting breath. ' ' 



"The sympathy that leads us to assist others conduces 

 to our own security, for who may not be indebted for 

 his life to the instrumentality of this or some other 

 similar Institution." 



"The Friends of and Contributors to these Institutions 

 may well be called the friends of mankind. It must 

 be an ample reward for all their liberality to enjoy, as 

 well they may, the invaluable though silent happiness 



