The Freemasons' Life Boat.

circumstances , on the part of the Albert Edward coxswain and crew , who are a willing , able , and disciplined set of men ; and wo feel sure the Freemasons Avill be highly gratified by this second proof of the value of their gift , and thankful for such answers to their best wishes .

On Sunday morning , by the invitation of the worthy President of the Branch ( the Rev . H . Law , Vicar of St . Paul ' s ) both crews attended Divine service at St . Paul's , Avhen special prayers wore offered up ; and the Vicar , in most suitable and feeling terms , alluded to the

event . The crews Avalked to and from Church m couples , and in returning , some of the inhabitants fell in . Several of the Local Committee and the Hon . Secretary also wero present . In tho evening the crews attended the Wesleyan Chapel , a large number of people being present at tho service .

Tho National Life-boat Institution , having conveyed the intelligence of this Life-boat service to the Grand Master the Prince of Wales , through General Sir Dighton Probyn , V . C ., H . R . H . directed the following answer to be sont to tho Institution : —

Sandringham , Norfolk , 27 th January 1879 . SIR , —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24 th inst . In reply to the same , I am directed by tho Prince of Wales to bog you will assure tho Committee of tho Eoyal National

Lifeboat Institution that the information you communicate of the lifeboat Albert Edward , which was presented to tho Institution last year by the Freemasons of England , having been instrumental in saving , on the 24 th inst ., a shipwrecked crew of 14 persons , has caused His Eoyal Highness much pleasure and satisfaction . I have the honour to be , Sir , Your obedient servant ,

( Signed ) D . M . PROBYN , L . O ., Comptroller . To Richard Lewis , Esq . Secretary Eoyal National Lifeboat Institution .

Though the courtesy of Bro . Lewis wo are enabled to place before our readers the following copy of the return furnished to the National Lifeboat Institution in this case by its Clacton-on-Sea Branch .

EOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION . LIFE-BOAT " ALBERT EDWARD , " STATIONED AT CLACTON - ON-SEA . EETURN or SERVICE ON THE 24 th DAY or JANUARY 1879 . DATES AND CIRCUMSTANCES or TnE CASE . About seven a . m . on the morning of 24 th January , in answer to signals from the " Swin Middle" Light Ship , the "Albert Edward " put to Sea , wind blowing hard from the Eastward . Proceeding in a

Southerly direction , sighted a ship dismasted on the East end of the Swin Middle Sand , and tho Sea making a complete breach over her . On nearing the wreck , saw the crew standing in a group near the port quarter , dropped anchor , and veered down to the ship ; about 9 . 30 a . m . found her masts and yards alongside . After seven attempts to got tho crew , the boat having fdled three times , succeeded in getting

eleven ; the ship having altered her position , found it impossible to approach the wreck again on account of tho wreckage alongside , tho remaining three had to be hauled throngh the breakers by life-lines . After getting tho crew in the boat , found the wreck had fouled Lifeboat ' s cable , which was obliged to be slipped in order to save Lifeboat and Crew , then made for the shore , and landed about 2 . 30 p . m .,

the Crew very much exhausted , especially tho Captain , who had been hurt on his ship before being hauled through the breakers . The Life-boat's Crew had a great deal to encounter , and it was only after much perseverance that they succeeded in saving the lives . On account of its being low Avater , the boat had to be drawn out into the sea some distance before it could be launched , the heavy seas

completely breaking over the horses and men in charge . The Life-boat was the first to render assistance . The Captain of vessel so much exhausted that he had to be carried ashore . Tho horse hire , as yon will observe , is heavy , owing to the horses having to bo kept in the stables , and having to be rnbbed down all day long ( at intervals ) . It is hoped they have not received any serious injury , their work was

exceedingly trying and very risky . The 20 s was paid to the owner of the smack , who picked np the Life-boat's cable , & c , and brought same on to Clacton-on-Sea Pier . The Committee beg respectfully to recommend that the crow of the " Albert Edward " should for this service receive something extra , as they certainly had a most dangcrons duty to perform .

QUERIES . ANSWERS AND REMARKS . 1 . Name of Vessel , and where "Hebe . " belonging to ? 2 . Name of Master , and of E . It . Pone . Owners ?

3 . Eig , Tonnage , Number of Full rigged ship ; GOO tons regis . Crew , and Persons on tor ; number of crew , 14 . board tho Vessel ? 4 . Where from ? Where bound From Darmstadt ; bound for Lon . to ? don . 15 , What Cargo ? or in Ballast ? Cargo of Deals .

G . Probable Valuo of Ship and £ 12 , 000 . Cargo ? 7 . Wind , Weather , and State of Wind from Eastward ; Weather Sea ? clear : Sea rough . 8 . Time of Day ? State of Tido ? 5 a . m . ; low water . 9 . Exact spot whero Wrecked ? On East end of Swin Middle Sand . 10 . Number of Livos Saved by Fourteon .

the Life-Boat ? 11 . Number of Lives Lost ? None . 12 . Supposed cause of Wreck ? Captain mistook Lights . 13 . Was it a total Wreck , or Stranded . Stranded or Sunk ? 14 . Time of launching Lifo-boat ? 7-30 a . m . 15 . Timo of reaching Wreck ? About 9 . 30 a . m . 16 . Time of returning ashore ? 2 . 30 p . m . 17 . How did the Boat behave ? Well . " IS . By whoso authority Avas she Coxswain ' s , in answer to Signals .

ordered out ? 19 . Was any Damage dono to tho Yes , damago to rudder , and to Boat ? Extent of Eepairs anchor stock , boat's fenrequired ? dor on stem head , and loss of sweop .

Number of Karnes of times afloat Special Crew in tho Risk , Lifo-boat if nny 20 . State the Names of the Crew B . Legorton 8 Nil .

of tho Lifo-boat on this J . Cross 8 „ occasion , and number of E . Osborne 8 „ times these Men have W . Willis 7 „ been off in a Life-boat to J . Green 8 „ a Wreck ; noting ( in the M . Nichols 7 „

third column ) any special B . Addis 8 „ case of individual exer- J . Tye 8 „ tion . J . Knight 3 , T . Mason 4 „ J . Austin 5 ,

It . Kill 6 21 . Amount , if any , of Eoward None . received locally or from elsewhere . 22 . Amount , if any , of Salvage . None . ( Signed ) EOBT . L EOERTON , Coxswain-Supt .

( Certified ) FRED . J . NUNN , Honorary Secretary , Date , Both January 1879 .

CASE or THE WRECK OT THE "HEBE . " A return of the expenses incurred by the "Albert Edward" Life , boat , on the 24 th of January 1879 , in rendering assistanco to the Crew of the " Hebe , " ag per anuexed Wreck return . NATURE OF EXPENSE . £ s d

1 . —Life-boat ' s Crew of 13 Men for servico on the 24 th of January , by saving , in easterly wind , the Lives of 14 persons from the " Hebe , " wrecked on Swin Middle Sand , at 10 s each man - - - - 6 10 0 Eefreshment for Crew - - . - 0 13 0 2 . —20 Persons for assisting to launch and haul up tho Life-boat , at 2 s each person , and extra to man in charge of Boat , 2 s 6 d , and ono half ticket , Is - - 2 la G Paid to Smack "Euorgy , " of Colchester , for bringing in Cable , Ac . - - - - - - 1 0 0 3 . —The hire of G Horses , or other means , for Transport of the Life-boat to site of the Wreck , a distance of — miles , at — shillings each Horse - - - 3 3 0 Men with Horses , extra for extra work - - 0 4 G Total £ 14 6 0

We hereby certify that tho Services abovo stated were actuall y performed , and that the items specified are correct . Given under our hands this 25 th day of January 1879 .

( Signed ) FRED . J . NUNN , Honorary Secretary . GEO . P . BATES , Officer of Coastguard or Customs . Eor . ERT LECERTON , Coxswain of Life-boat . To the Secretary of the Royal National Life-loat Institution . MINUTE or TIIE CENTRAL COMMITTEE IN LONDON ONLY .

oy . Jan . 27 th Eeceived and acknowledged . „ 29 th Forwarded draft to Hon . Sec . for £ 14 6 s , reserving the question of extra remuneration until the next meeting of the General Committee of the Institution .

Amongst events that are fixed for next week we may remind our readers that the New Concord Ball will take place at Freemasons ' Hall on Wednesday . On Friday the members of the Carnarvon and Mizpah Lodges give a Ball at Cannon-street Hotel . Miss Matilda Eoby , a yonng lady of whose ability as a vocalist we have had occasion to speak ou several occasions , announces her

First Benefit Concert for Monday , 10 th February , at the Vestry Hall , King ' s Eoad , Chelsea . Miss Eoby will be assisted by Madame Worrell Duval and Miss Martha Harries ; Mr . Lester , Mr . Alfred Eudland , Mr . Theodore Distin , Mr . Harry Horscroft , and Signor Jervis Enbini . Solo violin , Mdlle . Vittoria De Bono . Conductors , Mr . J . Tnrle Lee , Herr Trousselle and Mr . T . S . Pudclicombe .