the boats of HMS _Ganges_, forming part of the British fleet
in the Piraeus, with Lieutentant Breen, Mr Chatfield, midshipman, and
16 men, was returning from the shore, laden with water, she was swamped
and turned over just half-way between the _Queen_ and the east point of
the island of Lypso.

Mr Breen, Mr Chatfield, and most of the men, immediately struck out
for the island, and reached it. The gale increased, and the cold became
so intense that their clothes were frozen stiff upon them. In the
morning they could see the fleet, but were unable to draw attention to
themselves by the signals they were making. One of the men suffered so
much from the cold that Lieutenant Breen generously stripped off his
coat and put it on him. As the day closed, most of the men retired into
a cave; but Mr Breen separated himself from the others, and was no more
seen. On board the _Ganges_ it was thought that they had not put off
from shore; but next night it was known that they had set out, and a
boat was sent to search. As she was passing by Lypso at dawn on the
third day, the wrecked boat was accidentally descried on the beach. Mr
Chatfield and half a dozen men were found in the cave in a torpid state;
Mr Breen was found dead, crouched under a bush, and ten seamen were
missing. There is little doubt that poor Mr Breen lost his life from
his generous act in favour of the suffering seamen. The survivors found
in the cave all recovered.

GALLANTRY EXHIBITED IN PRESERVING LIFE--CAPTAIN WASEY, RN--1860.

On the 22nd of January 1860, the schooner _Ann Mitchell_ went ashore
near Fleetwood. A new lifeboat, not long before placed there by the
National Lifeboat Institution, was immediately launched, when Captain
Wasey, Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, to encourage the men,
went off in her. A strong tide was running in, and a hard gale blowing
from the west-north-west. It was night. Stronger and stronger blew the
gale, the sea breaking terrifically on the shore and over the hapless
vessel. A small steamer was got ready, and took the lifeboat in tow.
Even thus but slow way was made in the teeth of the gale, the tide, and
the raging sea. Still the steamer persevered. Slowly she gained
ground, and at length, having got to windward of the wreck, the tow-rope
was cast off, and the boat proceeded alone on her work of mercy. She
got within a few yards of the wreck, when a tremendous sea rushing in,
struck her and filled her,