The Institution should also recompense for severe injuries, ascertained to have been unquestionably sustained in the actual performance of such services. Ample and general powers should be given to confer rewards for such other acts as the Committee may consider justly entitled to them. It might, perhaps, also be worthy the consideration of the Institution at large, whether any badge or medal conferred on a man who had saved a life from shipwreck at the hazard of his own, might not have a very powerful effect. To many minds, even in the humblest walks of life, such a recompense would be more acceptable than a pecuniary reward, whilst a laudable ambition might be thus excited in others to imitate so meritorious an example--thus holding out every species of inducement, to the brave and the generous--to the humble but humane, to render their utmost aid to the shipwrecked of every land, in the moment of their extreme distress. To receive applications for rewards, to examine into the nature and extent of services performed, and to make reports, and forward certificates and recommendations to the general Committee, would become one of the most important duties of the local departments, on the judicious and faithful performance of which the honour and credit of the Institution would materially depend. These appear to me to be the principal objects to which the attention of the Committees should be directed, in the original formation of the establishment, and subject to the decision of the general meetings of the Institution, to whom their reports should be submitted.