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Royal National Life-Boat Institution

A meeting of this institution was held at its house, John-street, Adelphi, on Thursday week. Mr. Lewis, the secretary, having read the minutes of the previous meeting, it was reported that the French Government had forwarded through the Foreign Office, a gold medal for presentation to each of the first and second coxswains, and a silver medal for each of the eleven men forming the crew of the Albert Edward life-boat, belonging to the institution, stationed at Clacton-on-Sea, on the Essex coast. This great honour had been given in recognition of their services in rescuing, under most perilous circumstances, the crew of the fishing lugger La Madeleine, of Boulogne, which was last on the Gunfleet sands on Oct. 23 last. The Albert Edward life-boat was presented to the Institution in 1877 by the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England, in commemoration of their thankfulness at the safe return from India of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, H.R.H Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and has since then saved fifty-six lives from various wrecks. Rewards were granted to the crews of different life-boats for their services during the past mouth. Payments amounting to upwards of £4000 were likewise made, on some of the life-boat establishments of the institution. The late Henry Morgan Godwin, Esq., of Brighton, had bequeathed £1000 to the institution. The late Mrs. Anne Williamson, of Manghold, Isle of Man; Miss Emily Paddon, of Brighton; Mrs. Elizabeth Jeffery, of Nottingham; and George Cheesman, Esq., of Dorking, had also left it liberal legacies. Reports were read from the chief inspector and the five district inspectors of life-boats to the institution on their recent visits to life-boat stations.


A new life-boat house and life-boat were presented to the Royal National Life-boat Institution at Hastings, last week, by Mr. Charles Arkcoll, of Chatham, in memory of his late father, who spent much of his leisure time in Hastings.

Source: The Illustrated London News, No.2254—Vol. LXXXI, Saturday, July 15, 1882, p.70