648; N.W., 653; N.N.W., 315. Total 7,290. Showing that westerly gales are far more fatal to shipping than gales from any other quarter.

"Distinguishing the casualties according to the force of the wind at the time at which they happened, 720 happened when the wind was at force six or under, that is to say, when the force of the wind did not exceed a strong breeze, in which the ship could carry single reefs and top gallant sails, and that 514 only happened with the wind at force nine and upwards, that is to say, from a strong gale to a hurricane. The numbers for the last six years are shown in the following short table :

"In 1864 the number of collisions reported was 351, of which 88 occurred in the daytime, and 263 at night. This is an excess of the number of collisions reported in any year since 1855.

"For saving life on the coasts of the United Kingdom there are at present 134 life-boats, under the management of the Royal National Life-boat Institution, and 52 under other management, making a total of 186 life-boats. There are also 243 mortar and rocket stations, and 402 coast-guard stations provided with Captain Ward's cork life-jackets and life-lines. The rocket and mortar apparatus is supported at the expense of the Mercantile Marine Fund, and is worked by the coast-guard. Captain Ward's life-jackets are being paid for jointly by the Admiralty and Board of Trade.

"The expenses incurred since 1855 in providing apparatus for saving life has been in the

ten years 50,1217. In 1864 the total expense was 7,6601. 148. This sum has been paid by the Board of Trade out of the Mercantile Marine Fund. There were 186 life-boats, 243 rocket and mortar apparatus stations, and 1,889 life-belts in charge of the coast-guard.

"The number of lives saved, and the number of lives lost, during the same period, was as follows:-In 1855, saved 1,388, lost 485; 1856, saved 2,243, lost 521; 1857, saved 1,668, lost 539; 1858, saved 1,555, lost 353; 1859, saved, 2,332, lost 1,647; 1860, saved 3,697, lost 537; 1861, saved 4,624, lost 884; 1862, saved 4,039, lost 690; 1863, saved 5,096, lost 620; 1864, saved 3,619, lost 516.

"In addition to pecuniary rewards the following presentations have been made by the British Government during the year 1864 for saving life, viz. :-Two gold medals; ten silver

medals; twelve bronze medals; seven gold watches; nine gold chronometers; thirty-eight telescopes; six binocular glasses; eleven sextants, six quadrants; one sword of honour. During the same period the under-mentioned Governments have presented the following rewards to masters of British vessels for saving lives of foreigners :-Austrian, two; Danish, one; French, ten; Netherlands, one; Portuguese, one; Swedish, three; United States, three.

In 1864 the casualties were as follows in each month of the year:-In January 171 casualties, 214 vessels lost or damaged, 43,024 tons, having 1,959 hands employed; in February 138 casualties, 176 vessels lost or damaged, 34,674 tons, having 1,555 hands; in March 118 casualties, 148 vessels lost or damaged, 31,053 tons, having 1,303 hands; in April 53 casualties, 69 vessels lost or damaged, 21,911 tons, having 886 hands; in May 63 casualties, 78 vessels lost or damaged, 15,501 tons, having 716 hands; in June 51 casualties, 67 vessels lost or damaged, 14,282 tons, having 759 hands; in July 50 casualties, 65 vessels lost or damaged, 13,927 tons, having 618 hands; in August 67 casualties, 93 vessels lost or damaged, 19,529 tons, having 878 hands; in September 77 casualties, 96 vessels lost or damaged, 16,922 tons, having 815 hands; in October 183 casualties, 228 vessels lost or damaged, 42,779 tons, having 1,952 hands; in November 264 casualties, 296 vessels lost or damaged, 56,616 tons, having 2,565 hands; in December 155 casualties, 211 vessels lost or damaged, 41,855 tons, having 1,859 hands. The total number for the year was 1,390 casualties, 1,741 ships lost. or damaged, 352,143 tons, having 15,865 hands. Of the ships wrecked and casualties, 399 were coasting colliers, 493 other coasters, and 365 over-sea, 7 were passing, 79 were steamers, coasters, and 37 steamers over-sea; total ships registered in the United Kingdom, 1,380; registered in the colonies, 108; total British ships, 1,434; foreign ships, 246; unknown as to country, 61; total, 1,741, against 2,001 in 1863 and 1,827 in 1862. As to cargoes, the 1,741 ships wrecked were as follows:-134 were in ballast not colliers, 523 coals, 99 colliers in ballast, 9 cotton, 74 fishing smacks, 30 fish or oil, 123 grain, oat

meal, flour, and provisions, 103 general cargo, 126 manure, kelp, or oil cake, 28 passengers and general cargo, 15 potatoes or fruit, 32 salt, 8 sugar, coffee, &c., 96 stone, slate, lime, bricks, or clay, 83 timber or bark, 9 wine or spirits, 200 various or unknown.

According to age the 1,741 ships were as fol lows: 149 were under 3 years; 211 were 3 and not exceeding 7 years; 170, 8 and not exceed ing 10 years; 148, 11 and not exceeding 14; 175, 15 and not exceeding 20; 252, 21 and not exceeding 30; 112, 31 and not exceeding 40; 42, 41 and not exceeding 50; 22, 51 and not exceeding 60; 18, 61 and not exceeding 70; 5, 71 and not exceeding 80; 1, 81 and not exceeding 90; and 1, 91 and not exceeding 100. 435 were unknown as to age.

The description and tonnage of the 1,741 was as follows:-136 steam ships, 209 barques, 5 billy-boys, 343 brigs, 162 brigantines, 2 chasse Marée, 8 cobles, 14 cutters, 6 dandies, 7 flats, 11 galliots, 16 ketches, 29 luggers, 1 polacca, 81 ships, 460 schooners, 86 sloops, 116 smacks, 5 snows, 1 trow, 1 yacht, 8 yanots, 34 unknown. 323 were not exceeding 50 tons; 432, 51 and not exceeding 100 tons; 658, 101 and not exceeding 300 tons; 237, 301 and not exceeding 600 tons; 41, 601 and not exceeding 900 tons; 31, 901 and not exceeding 1,200 tons; and 19 ships 1,201 tons and upwards.

The wrecks and casualties took place as follows:-701 on the east coast, Dungeness to Duncasby Head inclusive; 125 south coast, Dungeness to Land's End exclusive; 311 west coast, Land's End to Mull of Kintyre inclusive; 60 north and west coast of Scotland; 6 Scilly Islands; 8 Lundy Island; 15 Isle of Man; 164 Irish coast.

In the case of 204 ships in the foreign trade, and 150 in the home trade, the ships were commanded by masters holding certificates of competency. In the case of 85 in the foreign trade and 190 in the home trade, the ships were commanded by masters holding certificates of service; 694 ships in home and coasting trade were commanded by masters not required to have certificates; 246 ships were commanded by foreigners not holding British certificates; 172 unknown.

Of the wrecks and casualties, 541 vessels were reported to be insured for 662,5021., and

57 cargoes 24,4851.; total amount of insurance 687,4871. 223 vessels and 85 cargoes were reported as not insured; 977 vessels and 1,301 cargoes unknown whether insured or not; 298 were in ballast. The total estimated loss as reported was, 1,035 vessels, 706,0747.; 290 cargoes, 140,9341.; total, 847,008. In 6 years from 1859, the reported loss was 5,139,8201.

TRADE AND NAVIGATION.

Annual Statement of the Trade and Navigation

of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions in the Year 1864.

In 1864 the imports amounted to 274,952,1721.; the exports British produce, 160,449,0531.; foreign and colonial produce, 52,139,1861.; total, 212,588,2391.; total of imports and exports, 487,540,4111. In 1863 the total amount was 445,821,4291. In 1862, 391,885,110. In 1861, 877,117,5227.; and in 1860, 375,052,2241.

The computed real value of the imports was, from foreign countries and British possessions respectively, as follows:-Merchandise

from foreign countries into Great Britain, 176,757,7331.; into Ireland, 4,449,945l.; total, 181,207,6781.; merchandize from British possessions into Great Britain, 93,107,985l.; into Ireland, 636,5091.; total, 93,744,4947.; total into Great Britain, 269,865,7187.; into Ireland, 5,086,4541.; total, 274,952,1721. In 1863 the total amount was 248,919,0201. ; in 1862, 225,716,9767.; in 1861,217,485,0247.; and in 1860, 210,530,8731.

The real value of the total exports of produce of the United Kingdom and of foreign and colonial produce was,-produce of the United Kingdom, declared value 1864, from Great Britain, 160,201,568.; from Ireland, 247,4851.; total, 160,449,0531.; foreign and colonial produce from Great Britain, 52,128,8801.; from Ireland, 10,3061.; total, 52,139,1861.; total from Great Britain, 212,330,4487.; from Ireland, 257,7917.; total, 212,588,2391. In 1863 the total amount was 196,902,4091.; in 1862, 166,168,1347.; 1861, 159,632,498.; in 1860, 164,521,3517. The real value of the total imports and exports of merchandise from and to each foreign country and British possession was as follows:

MILITARY SAVINGS BANKS. Account of the Amount due by the Public to Depositors in Military Savings Banks, on 31st March, 1863, and of the Receipts, Interest, and Disbursements during the Year ending 31st March, 1861. (16th May, 1865.) (289.) THE balance due by the public on the 31st March, 1864, was 292,212l. 15s. 6d. During the year the amount deposited was 144,9551. JOs. 6d. The amount withdrawn was 139,1717. Os. 10d. The total amount of the fund for Military Savings Banks up to the date of this account, was 326,4781. 15s. 7d. The number of accounts open on the 31st March, 1864, was 17,911.

VOL. II.

SAVINGS BANKS. Account of the Depreciation by lapse of time in the Value of all Annuities for limited Periods in which the Savings Banks' Funds have been invested, from the Commencement to 31st March, 1865. (Mr. Ayrton.) (9th May, 1865.) (270.)

THE annuities for terms of years ending 5th April, 1855, created or purchased, amounted to 459,920l. 10s. The consideration advanced for the same by the commissioners for the reduction of the national debt, was 6,883,7501. The present value is 6,430,8127., showing a depreciation of 452,9391. In the Post Office Savings Bank, the depreciation amounted to 84,8311. There was a depreciation in both cases on the Red Sea, and India Telegraph annuities.

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