328 
REPORT— 1854. 
initios of the sea, caused the Duke of Northumberland to offer prizes for the 
best description of life-boat. This produced many competitors. Butalthough 
prizes have been awarded, and boats constructed in accordance with what 
was presumed to be the best model, nothing has been established which effi¬ 
ciently answers the purpose required; and the greater portion of the coasts 
of Great Britain and Ireland continue without the means of rescuing our t 
intrepid seamen from a watery grave! 
On the south coast of England, which is about 3.50 miles from the Land's | 
End to the North Foreland, there are but fifteen life-boats stationed; the 
eastern and western coasts, however, are better provided, there being forty- 
nine for the former, between the Land’s End and Berwick-upon-Tweed, a 
distance of 448 miles; and thirty-three boats for tbe latter, a distance of 700 
miles; while the eastern coast of Scotland has but six life-boats in all, and 
the western only two, the Hebrides and Shetland Islands not having a single 
life-boat I There arc five on the eastern coast of Ireland, but not one on its 
western shores. So that the Liverpool establishments for the preservation 
of life in this respect exceed by two the whole number in Scotland, and are 
nearly double those of Ireland. 
The recital of only a few of the losses which have occurred since this sub¬ 
ject was agitated last year, cannot fail to show that it is high time that more 
efficient and improved means were adopted to preserve the lives of seafaring 
men. 
During the gale on the 27th of August 1853, many casualties occurred. 
The Brenda, with a cargo of timber from Quebec, was wrecked just below 
Beachey Head. Her crew, expecting her to founder, ran her on shore at 
Newhaven. No ordinary boat could have lived, says the account, in the 
tremendous surf; but by the rocket apparatus a rope was got out to the 
ship, and the crew at length enabled to land, though in a most pitiable con- 
flition. 
During the same night, the Australia, for Rio from Grimsby, was driven 
ashore ofl Shoreham. The life-boat was launched, made her way through 
!1 t ri >< I mm nuuf __.1 _.i ,i 
a tremendous surf, and rescued the crew. 
A new life-boat was driven on shore oft’ Kimmeridge during this gale, 
nothing known of her crew ; and many coasters were seen to founder, to 
which no aid could be given for want of efficient life-boats. 
About the same date, Aug. 21, the ship Marie, of II14 tons, from Lima 
to England, with guano, foundered at sea; fortunately her crew was picwa 
up by the Spanish barque Maria. 
Aug. 24. The Jessie Smith was wrecked in the Orange River, and four 
men drowned for want of a Bfe-boat. 
kept 25. The schoouer John Laverock, from Glasgow, was wrecked off 
Iala J- . ii l h «L c “ supposed to have perished. v . 
CniiTn ' T U! ? s *‘ C Wri 8 ht » packet-ship, from Liverpool to New Yotf. 
nf rl?'™™ a , ru Insb "“‘grants, struck on a rock about forty miles south 
Fnrtnn T ?," e A " cather anfl with a thick fog. She began to 6U '*P ,d, J r ; 
on v n l y ! h f Captain Hadfidd, came to her assistance, but ** 
° * ,ako “8^ o{ her cabin-pass,:, .gers on board; and she therefore 
very dem fa (lT 00 P"' CUK assistance Cor tbe Isaac Wriglit, 
tbe -team L rl "“ tCr " hcn " ,e fed her. On the 2nd ofOelober. 
»1 b bfawkS S“f' tuU °". SUr,Ctl fTO "> Liverpool in quest of ,he unforlnn* 
Sent 27 TW A f T f- 8 Unkn ' nvn 10 «l>e writer, 
from ijverpool erai e ra "‘- s Wp Cbarlemont, 1500 ™ 
trie was hiinchr.fi n f *'* P a88e “8 er 8- She struck on Barwcn Heads, 
gg was launched, and swamped; the jolly-boat was launched, to convey a 
