and a
half's loss of time. But we mention this merely as a fact, not as a
complaint. Accidents will happen. The Ramsgate lifeboat service is
admirably regulated, and for once that an error of this kind can be
pointed out, we can point to dozens--ay, hundreds--of cases in which the
steamer and lifeboat have gone straight as the crow flies to the rescue,
and have done good service on occasions when all other lifeboats would
have failed, so great is the value of steam in such matters. On this
occasion, however, the tug appeared late on the scene, and hailed us.
When the true state of the case was ascertained, the course was directed
aright, and full steam let on. The Ramsgate lifeboat, _Bradford_, was
in tow far astern. As she passed us the brief questions and answers
were repeated for the benefit of the coxswain of the boat. I observed
that every man in the boat lay flat on the thwarts except the coxswain.
No wonder. It is not an easy matter to sit up in a gale of wind, with
freezing spray, and sometimes green seas, sweeping over one. They were,
doubtless, wide awake, and listening; but, as far as vision went, that
boat was manned with ten oilskin coats and sou'-westers. A few seconds
took them out of sight; and thus, as far as the _Gull_ lightship was
concerned, the drama ended. There was no possibility of our
ascertaining more, at least during that night; for whatever might be the
result of these efforts, the floating lights had no chance of hearing of
them until the next visit of their tender. I was therefore obliged to
turn in once more, at three a.m. Next forenoon we saw the wreck, bottom
up, high on the Goodwin Sands.

On Friday morning, the _Alert_--tender to the lightships of this
district, under command of the Trinity Superintendent, Captain Vaile--
came off to us, and we learned the name of the vessel, that she was a
total wreck, and that the crew, seven men, had taken to their boat, and
succeeded in reaching the _South-Sand-Head_ lightship, whence they were
almost immediately after taken by the Deal lifeboat, and safely landed
at Deal.

It is to be carefully observed here that, although in this case much
energy was expended unnecessarily, it does not follow that it is often
so expended. Often--too often--all the force of lifeboat service on
this coast is insufficient to meet the demands on it. The crews of the
various boats in the vicinity of the Goodwin Sands are frequently called
out more tha