10 JANUARY 1857, Page 15

THE LIFE-BOATS AT BROADSTAIILS.—ThOTO are calamities which are redeemed by

the noble qualities they draw forth, when the suffering of the few becomes a pledge for the increased happiness of the race. The New York ship Northern Belle was riding at anchor off Kingsgate in the desperate gale of Monday morning. The excited crowd on shore saw a Margate lugger, hovering near to render assistance, swept away with all on board. After ten at night the ship drove on shore. At half-past seven the Mary. White life-boat--a gift of "the venerable Thomas White, the shipbuilder of Cowes "—was launched into the boiling surf. Twenty-three of the ship's crew were found lashed to the rigging of the only mast that still stood : seven were then brought away. The Cullum White life-boat now went off and brought back fourteen more. The captain of the Northern Belle sturdily refused to leave his ship ; the pilot refused to leave "the old man,"—choosing to sacrifice his life rather than the principle that men should cling together. The crew of the Cullum White went out again, and by the risk of their lives extorted the compliance of the captain : they brought him and the pilot to shore. The life-boat Mary White was dragged back on its truck to Broadstairs with the American flag flying at its bows. Mr. John Lang wrote an eloquently simple story of the case to the Times. The Times records the names of the two crews. Mr. Rodney Croskey, the American merchant, sends 50/. for the crews, hoping that others of his countrymen will add enough to make the sum worthy of the acceptance of those noble fellows" ; and General Campbell, the American Consul, of 67 Leadenhall Street, offers to receive any more contributions. When the men coolly and quietly stripped to their shirts for their work, the only " reward " before them was 78. 6d. a piece above their ordinary wages—and the good deed in the sight of God and man.