ith fatal results. Here is one example. In the month of
January, 1865, the Liverpool lifeboat, when out on service, was upset,
and seven men of her crew were drowned. This was not a self-righting
boat, and it did not belong to the Lifeboat Institution, most of whose
boats are now built on the self-righting principle. Moreover, the
unfortunate men had not put on lifebelts. It may be added that the men
who work the boats of the Institution are not allowed to go off without
their cork lifebelts on.

Take another case. On the 4th January, 1857, the Point of Ayr lifeboat,
when under sail in a gale, upset at a distance from the land. The
accident was seen from the shore, but no aid could be rendered, and the
whole boat's crew--thirteen in number--were drowned. This boat was
considered a good lifeboat, and doubtless it was so in many respects,
but it was not a self-righting one. Two or three of the poor fellows
were seen clinging to the keel for twenty minutes, by which time they
became exhausted, were washed off, and, having no lifebelts on,
perished.

Again in February, 1858, the Southwold lifeboat--a large sailing boat,
esteemed one of the finest in the kingdom, but not on the self-righting
principle--went out for exercise, and was running before a heavy surf
with all sail set, when she suddenly ran on the top of a sea, turned
broadside to the waves, and was upset. The crew in this case were
fortunately near the shore, had on their lifebelts, and, although some
of them could not swim, were all saved--no thanks, however, to their
boat, which remained keel up--but three unfortunate gentlemen who had
been permitted to go off in the boat without lifebelts, and one of whom
was a good swimmer, lost their lives.

Let it be noted here that the above three instances of disaster occurred
in the day time, and the contrast of the following case will appear all
the stronger.

One very dark and stormy night in October, 1858, the small lifeboat of
Dungeness put off through a heavy sea to a wreck three-quarters of a
mile from the shore. Eight stout men of the coastguard composed her
crew. She was a self-righting, self-emptying boat, belonging to the
Lifeboat Institution. The wreck was reached soon after midnight, and
found to have been abandoned. The boat, therefore, returned towards the
shore. Now, there is a greater danger in rowing before a gale than in
rowing against it. For the first half mile all went well, though