A Lecture, Or Essay On the most efficacious means of Preserving The Lives Of Shipwrecked Sailors And The Shipwreck

30 I shall be excused, I trust, for adding-, that this plan has received the approbation of all to whom it has been submitted, and some have de- clared that it has overcome difficulties hitherto considered insurmount- able ; in proof of which I subjoin the opinions of experienced persons, in a certificate of the crew of the Yarmouth Life-Boat, who, having practically demonstrated its utility, can well appreciate its importance. Their unbiassed testimonial in its favour, makes it incumbent on me to introduce it to your attention, in the hope that this may lead to its universal adoption. ‘ We, the undersigned crew of the Yarmouth Life-Boat, having examined the plan submitted by Captain Manby, in a simplified form, by forcing the above boat from the shore, through a heavy surf, in violent gales, by means of a warp suspended by a buoy attached to a heavy anchor, are perfectly satisfied that the plan is fully adequate to the purpose intended. * And as we have experienced the result of such a plan, by its enabling- us to go readily from the shore in one of our largest beach boats to the assistance of a foreign vessel, brought into these roads in great distress, that was making signals for urgent necessity, being without stores, fuel, or provisions : we do hereby certify, that we could not possibly have gone to them, in consequence of the violence of the gale and high surf, without the aid above named; and we also certify, that on another occasion we went to the assistance of a collier, driven on the Scroby sands, when all attempts by other boats had failed. ‘We therefore cannot too strongly recommend the plan for enabling boats to go to vessels in distress at a distance from the land, from the persuasion that, if adopted where boats were kept, it will be highly im- portant to the shipping interest of the country for the lives and property that will assuredly be saved by it.’ In addition to this testimony, I must subjoin another communication from the late Commander of the Life-Boat, addressed to me. ‘ Sir, Jetty House, March 3rd, 1830. ‘ I beg leave to state, that your method of forcing a boat from a flat beach by persons on shore, enabled my company and myself, on the 3d of February last, to go off with thirteen hands to the assistance of the James and Theresa brig, of London, that was making signals of