The one of these dangers is palpable enough; but the other, lying beneath the surface, like the sunken rock, calls all the more for the watchful pilot's care. Each danger is of a double kind; but, emerging from our metaphor, we will at once plainly state the actual dangers to which we allude. They have sole reference to the degrees of pecuniary remuneration and of credit or blame that are bestowed on the crews of lifeboats in return for the important services which, frequently at imminent risk to their own lives, they perform in the interest of their fellow-creatures.

Now, at first thought, it may not unnaturally be felt that the danger can only here lie on one side, and that it would be impossible to overestimate or over-remunerate such services, for what higher act can a man perform than to risk his life to save that of another? It is, however, precisely because we estimate at their highest value the splendid, the heroic services of many of our lifeboats' crews, that we desire to eliminate from them, so far as possible, the dross of mercenary motive, and to hold them up, so far as possible, as the pure, unalloyed gold of disinterestedness and self-devotion, that we include amongst the dangers to be avoided in the bestowal of an indiscriminate or exaggerated amount of reward either of a pecuniary or laudatory nature. The subject, however, requires delicate handling.

We will first consider the question of pecuniary payments. Before the National Lifeboat Institution seriously undertook the work of surrounding the coasts of our country with lifeboats, and superintending their future management, it was a common complaint amongst the sea coast boatmen that they met with no encouragement from other classes to induce them to risk, their lives in endeavouring to save those of shipwrecked, sailors. A uniform scale of payment was, however, then established by the Institution for its lifeboats' crews, viz., ten shillings per man for each occasion of proceeding to the aid of a wrecked crew in the daytime, and £1 each by night; double payments being given for extraordinary services.

Without wishing these payments to be looked on as equivalents to serious risk of life, it was considered, having due regard to the safe qualities of the lifeboats, that they were sufficient to act as an encouragement, without being enough to establish a mercenary motive in lieu of the more honourable and more noble one of a desire to save the life of a fellow-creature.

As a general rule, therefore, we consider that this scale of payment should be adhered to, and that it is only in cases of a very extraordinary character that it should be departed from. We will illustrate our view by a case. Some years ago a very creditable and daring service was performed by the crew of a lifeboat on the English coast in rescuing the crew of an American ship. A gentleman who hap-.. pened to be on a visit to the place at the time wrote an enthusiastic letter to a leading journal, appealing to the public to subscribe for the reward of the lifeboat's crew, which appeal was so liberally responded to that a considerable amount was contributed. The matter was then taken up by the then American consul, who, thinking that his own

countrymen were bound, in honour, to contribute as much as the English public, appealed to them in the same cause, and the result was that the two appeals produced a very large sum, amounting to several hundred pounds, which was divided amongst the few men who manned the boat.

Now, we should be sorry to grudge any poor hard-working man such a "windfall;" but that there are important interests involved in the issue. In the first place, as will be evident to most persons, so magnificent a reward would in similar cases, as it was in this one, be dependent on the accident of there being an enthusiastic or able letterwriter on the spot ready to plead in behalf of the lifeboat's crew, and therefore other lifeboat men at other places might at about the same time, as was the case in this instance, perform equally meritorious services, yet receive only the ordinary scale of payment as above described. The result might therefore be to cause discontent, or at least disappointment and a sense of neglect, amongst the less fortunate boatmen elsewhere, whilst it would probably also lead themselves to depreciate the payments made them on other occasions. But the worst result of all would probably in most cases be to increase the mercenary feeling.

On the other hand, however, there are cases of so extraordinary a character, that some special mark of approbation or admiration is called for in addition to that awarded by the institution on its usual scale, and in such cases a local contribution may be appropriately and beneficially resorted to. We will also illustrate this view with

a case. 1

At daylight on the morning of the 20th of October, 1865, the wind blowing strong from N.N.E., with a heavy ground sea on, a vessel was observed on shore on the western spit of Hayle Bar, from three to four miles distant from St. Ives. The sea was making a clean breach over her, and the crew were supposed to be in the rigging. The St. Ives lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was at once launched. In crossing the bar, with the drogue or drag-bag in tow, which carried her safely over two heavy surfs, a tremendous sea broke over the stern, and the drogue-rope breaking, from the immense strain on it, she flew before the crest of the surf in almost a perpendicular position, and running her bow under water, broached to and upset; she soon however righted, and the crew again all managed to get on board. Two oars, grapnel, anchor, and rope were lost, and two crutches broken. Rowing four oars only, the crew contrived to get her under the lee of the vessel, which was the French brig Providence, of Granville, 98 tons register, Capt. Challit, from Cardiff for Dieppe, with 138 tons of coal. With a heavy sea and strong under-current, however, they found it impossible to get alongside. Nearly an hour passed in signalling to the French crew to send a rope by means of a spar or raft; when this at last was done, the coxswain signalled to haul on board the life-buoy, intending to take the men off through the water, but he could not make himself understood. Two of the crew now endeavoured to reach the lifeboat by means of the

connecting rope; one was being dragged on board, and the other was within four or five yards, when a fearful sea broke on the broadside of the boat, and upset her a second time. She righted instantly, but the poor fellow who was on the rope lost his hold, and was never seen again. The other held fast to the boat, and the crew once more got into her without accident. The communication with the vessel had not been broken, and the lifeboat again hauled up as near as possible to her. The captain and remaining two men then took to their boat, when the second wave capsized them. Through a fearful sea the lifeboat was hastily hauled ahead, and the three men were most fortunately picked up. The crew of the lifeboat landed at Hayle thoroughly exhausted. A more heroic service has perhaps never been rendered by any boat.

In admiration of it a local contribution was raised to present a suitable acknowledgement of their bravery and endurance to the lifeboats' crew, in addition to the awards of the Lifeboat Institution. The amount collected exceeded £100, giving to each man between £12 and £13, and we feel sure none will be found to say that it was not well deserved.

Apart, however, from the pecuniary question is the ideal one-that of praise or blame-and unless to the utmost sord id minds, in whose eyes gold is the embodiment of all good, or other worthless characters, who is there amongst us that is uninfluenced by, or indifferent to the good' opinion of his fellow-men? But to be really valued praise must not be exaggerated or it will run risk of being despised, even by those who are the recipients of it, yet who know it to be more than they are entitled to. Excessive praise and admiration, therefore, and the honorary awards of medals and votes of thanks should also be reserved for cases of a striking and exceptional character, when great courage, determination, or endurance has been displayed.

On the other hand, however, great mischief may be done and much pain inflicted by hastily attaching blame to men who may have exerted themselves to the utmost of their power to save the lives of their fellow-creatures, yet who have been unsuccessful. For what can be more galling, or more likely to induce a man to decline to engage in so hazardous a work as the going to a wreck through a raging surf, than the upbraiding him with cowardice or inefficiency when he may know himself to have done all that it was possible to do. When his services are again craved by the drowning men in the stranded or foundering ship, but the weeping wife and little ones are perhaps likewise appealing to him to remain at home-if he be then reminded of the bitterness of spirit with which he heard his last brave but unsuccessful efforts depreciated, and himself reviled by those who had safely watched them from the shore, can we, or ought we, to feel surprised if that reflection should throw its weight into the scale, and he should leave to others the task which his manhood would otherwise have prompted him to perform?

Yet such injudicious and unfeeling conduct is not uncommon on the NO. 1.-VOL. XXXV.

G

part of, it may be, well-meaning persons, but who never having had their foot in a lifeboat in a heavy surf, and being quite ignorant of the terrific force with which it will often break over and overwhelm both boat and crew, expect impossibilities, and make themselves judges in the case.

We beg to remind all such, that under some circumstances of wind and sea combined, human strength is not sufficient to force any boat ahead, whilst never has a boat been built, and probably never will be, that would not also be liable, under some circumstances, to be upset.

We will relate one case amongst others, which during the present winter have given rise to animadversion on lifeboats' crews, because their gallant efforts have not been crowned with success, and which case will not only serve to illustrate our subject, but will, we trust, induce any who may read it to withhold a hasty judgment in any such case, should they ever have the pain to witness one.

At about 7th. p.m. on the 23rd of November, 1865, a vessel was seen in distress at the north side of Blackpool. The lifeboat of the National Lifeboat Institution was conveyed with all expedition opposite the scene of danger, and in a few minutes was launched into a raging sea. So strong a surf had the crew to encounter that the lifeboat filled three times in succession, and was with difficulty forced ahead against the wind and waves. After hard pulling she was got within 150 yards of the perishing ship, but at this point so complete a gale set in for half an hour that three races of sea broke over the men, and smashed four of their oars. The lifeboat was then backed into shallow water, and rowed up to windward, in order to make a second attempt, but they could not get so near as before. Driven back again, they by-and-by made a third noble effort, and now saw a light held forth from the imperilled ship, but found it utterly impossible to make advance against the heavy head sea that was rolling, and which for two hours and a half had been filling their boat as they boldly fought with the waves. The crew being then exhausted, and seeing all their efforts to be futile, came ashore. No sooner had they done so than the vessel capsized and broke to pieces; one side of her was washed up, and the cries of struggling sailors were distinctly heard. The lifeboat was again put to sea in the hope of picking up men that might be on rafts, or otherwise trying to escape, but nothing living could be found. It was now nearly midnight, and the lifeboat had become locked between two cliffs on the beach, from which position she was unable to get away without damage until six o'clock on the following morning. All the crew of the ill-fated ship were lost. The vessel was the brig Favourite, of Liverpool. She was loaded with palm-oil and seeds, and had a crew of ten men. The wreck was about a mile from the shore. In expression of approval of their exertions, although unsuccessful, the institution paid the crew of the lifeboat, thirteen in number, a double reward, or £2 each.

While inserting the above, which we have received from the active

secretary of the Lifeboat Society, in the Adelphi, we are impressed with difficulty as to the special award which he has stated, and we would propose that it be met in a manner that would not only recognize a special reward in the case by which it has been produced, but might also be extended to the registered boats' crews of all the lifeboat stations. When the reward subscribed for the special services of a lifeboat amounts to more than would give her crew £10, or £15, or wise among the crews of all the lifeboats of the institution. Some £20 each, let them be so paid out of it, and let the residue (after repairing the boat if injured in performing the service) go to a fund, to be divided periodically-say monthly, quarterly, or othersuch arrangement appears to us would be, not only fair, but considerate and reasonable. For these services men should be paid well, but not too well.-ED. N. M.

PIRACY IN THE CHINA SEAS.

Piracy, it appears, has lately been prevalent in the China Seas. In our last October number we inserted a notice forwarded to us from Singapore of the narrow escape of the ship Formby, of Liverpool, and so daring are these pests of the ocean become that no ships are safe in those waters unless they can take care of themselves.

The Overland Mail of the 14th of October says:-"Repeated acts of piracy along the coast, between this port and Shanghai, have given rise to a very strong feeling among the shipping and mercantile community in China that, unless something very decided is at once effected by the combined action of the respective governments, they will be obliged in self-defence to arm every ship and lorcha engaged in the coasting trade, and effect for themselves what the authorities will not do for them. The revelations made at the trial of the five Portuguese lately executed here, at the examinations of certain Chinese charged before the magistrates with the crime of piracy, and, above all, in the deposition made by the master of the lorcha Rockaway with reference to his capture and detention by certain pirates, leave no room to doubt that the piratical fleets are becoming daily more numerous, bolder, and more perfectly organized and directed. They have the best information; have well-manned boats, armed in a very efficient manner; safe harbours of refuge; excellent markets for their plunder; and such an amount of voluntary or enforced co-operation from the petty mandarins, soldiers, and coast population that they are everywhere certain of assistance, and, if needs be, of support.

"We have further in these accounts the most convincing proofs of the utter powerlessness of the Chinese squadrons to effect anything against the pirate fleets, even when spurred into motion by the remonstrances of our consuls, or shamed into a momentary display of energy