Lifeboats. 



assisted and calculated for her husband in his labo- 

 rious work. 



I do not remember the exact period, but I think 

 it was subsequent to the Arctic voyages, that the 

 theory was discovered of those tropical hurricanes 

 which cause such devastation by sea and land. 

 Observations are now made on barometric pres- 

 sure, and warnings are sent to our principal sea- 

 ports by telegraph, as well as along both sides 

 of the Channel ; but notwithstanding numerous 

 disastrous shipwrecks occur every winter on our 

 dangerous coasts. They were far more numerous 

 in my younger days. Life-boats were not then 

 invented ; now they are stationed on almost 

 every coast of Great Britain, and on many conti- 

 nental shores. The readiness with which they are 

 manned, and the formidable dangers encountered to 

 save life, show the gallant, noble character of the 

 sailor. 



